5 Signs You Need To Replace Your HVAC Thermostat
August 4th, 2021Your thermostat is one of the most integral parts of your HVAC system. It monitors the current temperature of the air in your household and regulates the output of cold and warm air. A faulty HVAC thermostat can cause a variety of problems, and therefore must be at full working capacity at all times.
There are many indications that your thermostat needs to be replaced. It’s essential to keep an eye on its functionality, especially at the beginning of our Hawaiian tropical climate shifts. Ultimately, your HVAC unit is what makes your home comfortable, and your investment should work for you, not the other way around. Let’s get started!
5 Signs That It’s Time To Replace Your HVAC Thermostat
Staying cool in the sweltering summer heat and staying warm in the chilling winter months are comforts that your investment in an HVAC unit should provide. At the center of these commodities is your thermostat. Take some time to become knowledgeable about the indications your unit’s thermostat needs to be replaced. Here we go!
1) Your HVAC System Turns On And Off By Itself
No one wants a system that has a mind of its own. This isn’t iRobot. The main function of your HVAC thermostat is to send signals to your unit to either decrease or increase temperatures. If your unit has stopped communicating with your thermostat, don’t blame it on your HVAC system. This is a sign that your thermostat has stopped working, most likely due to its wiring becoming frayed or damaged. Expert technicians are able to provide solutions for faulty wiring or wiring that has become damaged over time.
2) You’re Experiencing Indoor Temperature Shifts
When an HVAC thermostat isn’t functioning correctly, it has a hard time maintaining its settings. If you lower the temperature of your system and the output of cold air isn’t matching that of your thermostat, you may have a rogue AI. That’d be something, wouldn’t it? But no, if your cold air output isn’t matching the adjustment to a cooler temperature setting, it may be time to call a professional.
3) Faulty HVAC Thermostat Readings
When the thermostat for HVAC systems is working correctly, your living area will never be too hot or too cold. When your thermostat starts misreading temperatures, temperature shifts begin to occur, and it might be time for a replacement. Do a quick test, check your home’s indoor temperature with a separate thermostat, and compare it with your current thermostat for your unit. If the readings are different, it’s time for a replacement.
4) High Energy Bills
You may be experiencing an influx in kilowatt usage. Ask yourself if you’re altering the temperature of your unit more often. While your system may be working overtime, the thermostat could be the culprit of its insufficiency and your increased Hawaii utility bills.
5) Your HVAC Thermostat Is Getting Old
The lifespan of most HVAC thermostats ranges from 10-15 years. We suggest replacing them as they get older and staying up to date on newer and modernized thermostats with more features. The latest technology will help to ensure that you’re taking full advantage of energy-efficient updates.
How Do I Replace My HVAC Thermostat?
Replacing your thermostat isn’t by any means a do-it-yourself type of task. When in doubt, have an HVAC technician figure it out! The technicians of Island Comfort are vetted experts with years of experience. Our team takes pride in providing professional service to those who need it. Contact us today!
Why Is My AC Unit Blowing Hot Air? Check These 6 Things First
December 18th, 2019
Aren’t Hawaiian “winters” the best? We can save money on our electric bills by just popping open the windows to let those cool island trade winds blow through the house.
When that first scorcher of the season hits, that AC unit needs to work and it needs to work well. No one wants an AC unit blowing hot air in their face!
6 Reasons an AC Unit is Blowing Hot Air
1. The Settings Got Messed Up
It may sound simple, but you’d be surprised how many times we get to a customer’s home and realize someone has just bumped the settings and screwed things up.
Always double-check the settings first. Sometimes, they may need to be calibrated by a professional too.
Remember that if an AC unit is set to “on” rather than “auto,” it may keep blowing room temperature air when it’s not cooling – like a fan.
2. The Intake Vent is Blocked with Debris
If the unit is covered with leaves or dirt, that means it isn’t getting air which can lead to an AC unit blowing hot air. Cut off the electricity and clean off the intake vent.
3. The Coils are Dirty or Fins are Bent
Even if an AC unit looks clean, that doesn’t mean the coils aren’t clogged up with gunk.
For window units, cut off the electricity and pop open the back panel. Vacuum out any dust, hair, and dirt. Use a brush and some cleaner to wipe down the condenser fins. If they’re bent, use a special fin comb to straighten them out.
Make sure to wear leather gloves for this.
4. The Filter Needs a Change or Cleaning
While the AC is open, we recommend cleaning or changing the air filter. It’s important to clean your AC filter once a month during the summer when it’s running all the time.
5. The AC Unit Needs Refrigerant or Freon
For an AC unit blowing hot air, icing over, leaking, or triggering sky-high electric bills, freon might be the culprit. This is a fix best left to the professionals, so give us a call.
6. There’s an Electrical Issue
Power outages can lead to blown fuses and brownouts. Remember that AC units draw a ton of power!
Check the fuse box to make sure all the switches are on.
Inside the unit, faulty wiring is also common.
Whether an AC unit is tipping the circuit breaker or needs an internal wire fix, this is another job only a professional should handle.
AC Unit Still Blowing Hot Air?
In many cases, we can fix an AC unit blowing hot air with a simple tune-up so there’s usually no need to replace the whole thing. Our experts will conduct a 32-Point Safety Inspection & Tune Up to diagnose the specific problem and get your AC running icy cold again!
Schedule an appointment for a 32-point tune-up on either Oahu or Kauai today!
Why Is My House So Humid in the Summer?
December 18th, 2019
Hawaii is known for its ideal weather. Cool nights and sunny days.
It isn’t always humid on the island, but when that humidity kicks in, it’s bad.
“But I’m running the AC non-stop. Why is my house so humid?” We recommend looking at the AC unit first to see if that’s the problem.
What’s the Ideal Home Humidity Level?
For humans, 40% to 50% is the perfect humidity level for homes.
If the humidity level drops below 30%, it can cause viruses to spread, make dry skin, worsen eczema, or lead to respiratory irritation.
If the humidity level jumps over 50%, this can cause mold growth and dust mites, so bringing down the humidity level is critical.
Why Is My House so Humid in the Summer and How Can I Fix It?
Keeping the humidity level in a normal range is important to reduce the spread of mold and keep your house healthy. Check these three things first before you call us.
The AC Unit Is Too Big
With AC units, bigger doesn’t always equal better, whether it’s central air or a window unit.
AC units have something called an evaporator coil, which cools the air’s temperature and removes humidity.
The thing is, these processes happen simultaneously, and removing humidity from the air takes time. If an AC unit is really big and cools down the room within 10 minutes, that means it hasn’t had the chance to remove all the moisture from the air.
Schedule an appointment and we can get to the bottom of it.
The AC Coils Are Frozen or Dirty
Air conditioners need regular maintenance to function properly – just like a car! If an AC unit’s coils are clogged up with dust, dirt, hair, or frost, it can’t do its job dehumidifying the room.
Cut off the electricity to the unit and pop open the cover. Make sure the fins aren’t smashed, clean out or replace the filter, and ensure there’s no visible ice anywhere.
It’s Not the AC – It’s You
Many people don’t realize that moisture seeps into the air of their home from basic appliances and activities. Keep these things in mind:
- Houseplants – especially when overwatered – can push moisture into the air.
- Coffee pots, clothes dryers, and boiling water
- Cracks in the walls and poor insulation – both notorious across the islands
- Those signature Hawaii jalousie windows that lack an airtight seal
- Steamy showers
- Talking, heavy breathing, and parties (large groups of people)
I Still Can’t Figure Out Why My House Is So Humid
Still wondering “why is my house so humid?” Island Comfort Air Conditioning can help!
Our experts will conduct a 32-point Tune-Up & Safety Check to make sure everything is running smoothly. We always work on YOUR schedule and show up on time.
Schedule an appointment now and let our experts handle it!
In Hawaii, most of us are lucky enough to enjoy cool breezy nights–even in the summer.