How to Make Sure the Thermostat on Your Furnace Is Correctly Calibrated for Winter

Don’t let a miscalibrated thermostat turn your home into a shiver fest during a cold snap in Indiana this winter! You don’t need special tools or a visit from an HVAC company to know the numbers aren’t matching. Here are the signs that something is amiss with your thermostat:

• Rooms aren’t reaching the temperatures you set.
  
• Your furnace is running constantly or short-cycling.
  
• You notice unexplained increases in energy bills.
  
• What you see displayed on your thermostat isn’t consistent with how your house actually feels.

What Causes a Furnace Thermostat to Lose Calibration Over Time?

There are several reasons why thermostats run into calibration issues. It’s usually a case of dust and debris buildup. A good cleaning goes a long way with that. Additionally, it’s possible that someone in your household jarred the thermostat by bumping into it. Outdated batteries or a very old thermostat can also cause your unit to lose calibration.

One commonly overlooked cause of thermostat calibration issues is location. When you place a thermostat near a heat source or in a drafty area of your home, this can actually skew your readings. Even a sunny spot can influence your reading.

Luckily, it usually doesn’t mean your furnace is broken just because you lose calibration. We’ll quickly show you how to troubleshoot and calibrate your thermostat for a winter full of comfortable temperatures at your Indiana home.

How Do You Calibrate a Furnace Thermostat Step by Step?

Here’s your easiest step-by-step guide for how to vet your thermometer’s reading:

1. Tape a reliable thermometer next to the thermostat. You can buy one from any big-box or home-improvement store for a few dollars.
   
2. Wait about 15 minutes before you compare readings.
   
3. To analyze your findings, measure the temperature variance. Typically, a temperature variance of more than 3 degrees means something is off.

The way to test furnace thermostat accuracy is actually different based on the type of thermostat you have in your home. Let’s say you have a mechanical thermostat. The DIY calibration process for mechanical models is to first remove the thermostat cover. This will expose a part called the calibration screw that’s often nested next to the coil inside the unit.

Using a screwdriver, turn the screw clockwise if you need to adjust your temperature reading lower to close the variance. If you need to adjust the temperature higher, turn counterclockwise. Expect it to take up to three hours for the recalibration to catch up and give you an accurate thermometer reading.

How Do You Calibrate Digital, Programmable, and Smart Thermostats?

If your home is on the newer side, you probably have a smart thermostat or digital thermostat. While most smart and digital models actually self-calibrate, there are still manual adjustments to be made. That means you’ll need to access either a settings menu or some kind of app-based menu for calibration.

First, remember that it’s still necessary to prioritize good placement away from drafts, heat sources, or strong sunlight, even if you have a fancier, more modern thermostat. You will also still need an accurate thermometer to check against in order to diagnose a temperature variance. Here’s what to do next.

Find the settings menu to locate an option that will probably say “temperature offset” or “calibrate.” If you’re struggling to find the right setting, consult your thermostat’s owner’s manual. Most designs require you to either select a reset button or simultaneously hold down two buttons. From there, you’re asked to enter your new calculated offset based on the temperature variance. That means subtracting the higher temperature from the lower one. Give it at least an hour before checking back to see if your fix worked.

When Does a Thermostat Problem Actually Need a Professional?

Proper temperature control is quite often a DIY task when the issue is as simple as calibrating your thermostat. However, there are some symptoms that can point to a bigger issue that will continue to cause future problems. Switch from DIY to actual HVAC maintenance in Indiana in these cases:

• You’re having constant calibration failures after trying the calibration techniques shared above.
  
• You suspect your thermostat has wiring issues.
  
• Your thermostat has been around for more than 10 or 15 years.
  
• You notice noises, odors, fluctuating temperatures, and other signs that there’s a problem with your actual furnace or HVAC system instead of your thermostat.

Don’t be frustrated by temperature readings in your home! With a little professional help using a furnace tune-up in Indianapolis, you’ll be confident that what your thermostat says is what’s actually happening in your home. An inspection from an HVAC technician at the end of summer or start of fall is one of the best Indiana winter heating tips for minimizing heat loss and saving money on heating bills.

Homesense technicians check thermostat calibration as part of a standard furnace tune-up to take the guesswork out of temperature control at your home. Contact us today to schedule a visit at a convenient time!