Why Thermostat Placement Matters

Your home’s thermostat is an important component of your heating and cooling system. It has a sensor that detects the air temperature in the surrounding area and compares it to the target temperature you’ve set for your home. The furnace, heat pump or air conditioner will adjust accordingly and continue to provide warm or cool air until the desired temperature is reached, at which point the HVAC unit will turn off.

Getting an accurate reading is crucial to ensuring consistent indoor comfort levels. Thus, proper thermostat placement should always be considered. Here’s why.

The Potential for False Readings

Your thermostat will read the wrong temperature if it isn’t positioned in an optimal location in your home. Here’s a look at some of the bad locations to place your thermostat:

• Near a window or door – Placing thermostats near windows and doors will only provide false readings because these areas get significant temperature fluctuations. Doors open and close constantly. Windows, even when closed shut, can let drafts inside. This will force your HVAC system to cycle on and off frequently, putting unnecessary strain on your investment.
• Above air vents – Heated or cooled air from the HVAC unit comes out of air vents. Inaccurate readings are sure to occur if the thermostat is located above one.
• Area receiving direct sunlight – If the thermostat is heated by direct sunlight, it “thinks” the room is warmer than it actually feels. In turn, your AC will begin blowing cool air you don’t need. Alternatively, your furnace will remain turned off when you need warm air.

The Ideal Thermostat Placement

Heating and air condition service contractors know how to position thermostats in the correct location. They take the home’s layout into account to determine the right placement of these vital HVAC components. Ideally, they’re located in the central-most room or area of the home’s interior. This way, the thermostats read centrally circulating air, giving households the best average temperature.

Another thing to consider when it comes to thermostats is their remote sensor. Newer thermostats have it either wired or battery-powered. If yours is placed in the wrong spot, you can use the remote sensor to read the temperature in an ideal location. Another option would be to set it up to get the average between the thermostat’s sensor and the remote sensor.

For your heating and AC condition repair needs, turn to EZ Heating and Air Conditioning. Give us a call at (210) 429-9186, or fill out our contact form to request service or an estimate.