The thermostat doesn’t receive as much attention as it deserves as part of a home’s HVAC system. After all, it doesn’t feel like it’s connected to the bigger machinery of the air conditioner such as the blower, the heater, and the ductwork. But the thermostat is the control panel for a comfort system, the “brains” of the heating and cooling. Like any part of the HVAC system, a thermostat can wear down and become obsolete, leading to poorer performance from the rest of the system.
A thermostat will eventually need a replacement. How can you tell when your thermostat is ready for an upgrade?