Your thermostat could be the culprit of your home heating and cooling issues. Explore further concerns with Topline Heating & Air at (717) 628-6825!
A thermostat connects to your HVAC system to control the temperature throughout your home. Proper thermostat placement is vital in getting an accurate and ideal temperature reading.
You may benefit from a thermostat installation or replacement if you’re struggling with high or uneven temperature control. Even if you have an HVAC system in good condition, a properly placed thermostat can still be useful.
Without a correct thermostat placement, you risk:
- Inaccurate temperature readings
- Wasted energy from an HVAC system that runs too frequently
- Higher energy bills
- Uncomfortable temperatures from a system that doesn’t run enough
Professionals from a top-rated HVAC company in Douglassville, PA, can help you determine whether your thermostat is in the best possible location for your home comfort demands. Keep reading for professional insight into your house’s best site for thermostat placement.
1. The Most Frequently Used Room
The most frequently used room in your home is ideal for thermostat placement. Considering you’ll spend most of your time in this room, you likely want it to be the most comfortable room in the house. Whether that’s your living room, office, bedroom, or elsewhere, you’ll get the most accurate readings with this setup.
Installing the thermostat in the room where you spend the most time means this room will also control the rest of the house’s comfort. You’ll prevent ghost readings for the most frequented room, but other areas in the home may get too much or too little airflow. You can avoid overcooling or overheating issues by ensuring no direct sunlight or air is on the thermostat.
2. The Central Area of Your Home
The main area in your home is also best for thermostat placement as long as it’s on an interior wall. Excellent airflow circulation is necessary to aid thermostats in accurate temperature readings.
Placing your thermostat in a tight, cramped space allows hot or cold air to build up and create an incorrect reading. Therefore, ensure nothing will block the airflow around the unit.
Regarding thermostat placement, it’s best to find a balance between locations. Establishing a midpoint between open areas, hallways, and enclosed rooms helps maintain reasonable heating and cooling for the entire home. In a central location, all family members can access it as they wish.
3. The First or Ground Floor
Hot air rises, making top floors significantly warmer than the ground or first floors in two-story houses. Careful thermostat placement is necessary to maintain a comfortable temperature between both floors. Placement is less suitable on the second floor as your thermostat could detect temperatures higher than those of the lower floors and waste energy.
Instead, installing thermostats on the first or ground floor will ensure you have a proper reading for both levels. For more accurate temperature control, consider thermostats for both floors. While this setup requires a split HVAC system, you get more flexible control over your home’s comfort.
If you still experience inadequate cooling on the top floor, you may need an additional HVAC system installation for the second floor. Alternatively, switching to a more efficient or intelligent model can facilitate further cooling.
4. Interior Walls
Interior walls should be one of the first places you look for optimal thermostat placement. Exterior walls with poor insulation, cracks, or other physical damage facilitate quicker temperature changes. Installing your thermostat on exterior walls results in inaccurate readings and false activations when the rest of the home may still be comfortable.
An interior wall thermostat installation will result in more accurate readings, even with improper insulation levels. They are less likely to have large temperature fluctuations that produce ghost readings.
Placing your thermostat on interior walls also gives you a better average reading of a room’s temperature. For accurate temperature detection, you’ll need to ensure no air ducts or plumbing sits behind the thermostat.
Unsuitable Locations for Your Thermostat
Placing your thermostat in the wrong location can result in increased HVAC wear and tear and significant energy efficiency problems. Between improper seals allowing outdoor air in and rooms with high-heat appliances creating extra warm, finding the perfect balance for your thermostat placement is crucial. Only the optimal placement can prevent false readings and untimely HVAC operation.
You should avoid placing your thermostat in the following areas.
- In direct sunlight: Direct sunlight shining on your thermostat tricks the unit into thinking the room’s temperature has increased, subsequently activating the air conditioning system. This issue can occur despite fall and winter’s decreased temperatures.
- Near doors and windows: Drafts also prevent accurate readings. Improperly sealed windows and doors contribute to air coming into your home. Installing the thermostat next to the front door also means outdoor air can activate the system, resulting in further energy wastage.
- The kitchen: Heat from the kitchen can disrupt the thermostat’s reading if it’s too close to this significant in-home heat source. Your AC system will cool your home despite already comfortable temperatures.
- Exterior walls: Exterior walls of your home are highly susceptible to outdoor temperature fluctuations. Installing your thermostat here will lead to improper readings. Structural damage may lead to further inaccuracies.
- Hallways: Poor air circulation and less frequent use make hallways an unsuitable space for your thermostat. Without enough air circulation, your thermostat will continuously read the same temperature.
Consider Topline Heating & Air for Thermostat Placement Assistance
We’ve explained the best areas in your home for thermostat placement that provides accurate readings and comfortable temperatures throughout the entire property. However, the only way to guarantee best placement is by getting assistance from a trained HVAC professional. At Topline Heating & Air, we provide individualized thermostat installation services to ensure the best thermostat placement.
Our technicians have years of experience with thermostat placement. We’ll inspect your home, determine the best location, and help you pick the right model.
Get the perfect thermostat installation from Topline Heating & Air in Honey Brook, PA, and Lancaster, PA. Call us in Honey Brook at (717) 628-6825.