Every home’s heating and cooling system must include a thermostat. Do we understand how they work if we know what they do? For nearly as long, Perfect Air Solutions, Heating, and Air have been pleased to offer professional heating and air conditioning services throughout the greater British Columbia region. This helpful guide is designed to provide you with all the information you need regarding the specific operation of your thermostat.
What Is A Thermostat?
A thermostat is a fixture in the home that is connected to the central heating system and is used to control the temperature of the entire system by tracking indoor air quality. Depending on the inside temperature and the thermostat setting, this temperature control device can then turn the central heating system on or off.
Analog, mechanical (with a dial), and their more contemporary counterparts, digital thermostats, are the two main categories of home devices. Some older ones may be electromechanical, meaning they work through a combination of electronic and mechanical mechanisms.
Disposing of some of these older devices can be a little tricky because they sometimes contain mercury. Honeywell is one of the most popular thermostat manufacturers you may encounter in your home.
How Does A Thermostat Work In Your Home?
The science behind the thermostat is pretty straightforward. Things expand as they warm and contract as they cool. Mechanical ones will employ this phenomenon, known as thermal expansion, to turn an electrical circuit on and off. In most devices, bimetallic strips and gas-filled bellows are common.
Two pieces of metal, each made of a different metal, fastened together are known as bimetallic strips. The bimetallic strip acts as a sort of bridge in the electrical circuit connected to your home’s heating system.
Current will flow across the circuit and heating will be activated when this bridge is “down”. The strip will warm with the room and the strip will begin to bend slightly as one metal expands more than the other. The bridge will eventually “up” when the circuit is bent sufficiently to open. As a result, the electricity will be turned off, reducing the heat and cooling the space.
The strip will begin to cool once more, as you’d expect, and eventually, it will return to its original position, enabling the heating to be turned back on. You can adjust the temperature at which the circuit turns on and off using the temperature dial.
It’s important to remember that raising the thermostat only tells the heating or cooling system when to turn it on; It won’t heat or cool your home faster.
How Long Does It Last?
Depending on the type, brand, and model of the thermostat, it can live longer than the average lifespan of 10 years. These systems begin to wear out over time and normal wear and tear, dust collection, wiring problems or rust can cause a thermostat to stop working.
We think that replacing both your heating and cooling systems at once is the best time to buy a new thermostat. The average lifespan of an HVAC system is 15 years, so when you replace your entire system, replace your old thermostat with a newer model that is compatible with your heating and cooling system.
About Us
Perfect Air Solutions, an award-winning Heating & Air company, has been offering quality heating and air conditioning services in British Columbia and surrounding areas for nearly as long.
Are your heating & cooling devices not working properly? For affordable heating and air conditioning repair, maintenance, and installation services, give us a call now!
