Maintaining an air conditioner involves more than just regular inspections from AC technicians in Cincinnati, Ohio. Several aspects need to be paid attention to daily as well. The primary one being the thermostat. A broken thermostat is a problem that most places are all too familiar with and can occur if the AC is set at very low temperatures. Read on to understand how this takes place.
What Is A Thermostat And How Does It Work?
A thermostat is a device that controls the temperature of a space by turning heating and cooling devices on or off as needed to maintain the desired temperature. Thermostats can be mechanical or electronic, and they can be simple on/off switches or complex proportional controllers.
Thermostats work by sensing the temperature of their surroundings and comparing it to the desired temperature, also known as the set point. When the temperature falls below the setpoint, the thermostat turns on the heating device. When the temperature rises above the setpoint, the thermostat turns on the cooling device.
When the temperature outside is extremely hot, your air conditioner works hard to keep your home cool and comfortable. In order to prevent your AC from overworking and breaking down, it’s important to keep the temperature setting on your thermostat at a reasonable level. During a heatwave, we recommend that you don’t lower the AC’s setting below 68°F. This is already quite chilly for most people, and many would consider it too cold. An air conditioner set this low risk of its coil freezing—and that’s bad news because it indicates that the air conditioner is overworked.
Consider heat gain when you’re setting your AC. The higher the temperature difference between inside and outside temperatures, the faster heat from the outdoors will enter your home. You reduce heat gain by raising the thermostat as high as you feel comfortable.
Inability To Cool
If this thermostat is constantly configured to very low temperatures in a high-temperature climate, it will start to give out. Thus, warranting an AC tune-up in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The first sign of a broken thermometer is when the air conditioner can no longer cool the surrounding temperature to the desired level. Rather, it may not have any effect on the temperature or worse, heat the room instead of cooling it.
This is a confirmatory sign that the temperature sensors are not calibrated properly and are probably causing a range of internal problems. This miscalibration will lead to certain parts like the compressor switching off before cooling. The compressor works in conjunction with the thermostat. Its main purpose is to move the refrigerant from the evaporator and coils of a condenser as per the requirements of an individual.
Another outcome is related to a possible “freezing up” of the refrigerant which is present in the air conditioner. A common rule of thumb is that most models can function properly only above 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Any lower temperature will result in the system freezing up.
In addition to a frosty refrigerant, the piping and coils could also become covered with ice. A frozen air conditioner may subsequently result in higher repair bills and even higher electricity bills. Therefore, one should ensure that the temperature is not set too low.
In addition to this, it would not hurt to get the occasional inspection from experienced technicians. Visit Comfort Solutions Heating/Cooling & Duct Cleaning to receive top-quality AC service in Cincinnati, Ohio.
