As the steering wheel is important to a car, so is the thermostat vital to any home. It is a device that every homeowner is familiar with, as its uses are invaluable. One primary function of a thermostat is the heating and cooling of our rooms.
Once there is an unusual change in room temperature, one of the first things to examine is the thermostat to ensure correct settings. The device should be set to ‘HEAT’ for warm air, and for cold air, it is fixed to ‘COOL.’
After this, make sure that the fan is on ‘AUTO’ and check to see that the temperature level is lower than room temperature for cooling and higher than the room temperature for heating. If these settings are in order and your thermostat is still defective, consider cleaning it thoroughly.
A clean home is a happy space, and we all want to be cheerful, which is why we should learn how to clean the thermostat regularly. Dirt and dust can accumulate over this device over time, and it is essential to disinfect it properly.
When next you are sanitizing your home, pay attention to the thermostat. It would help if you were careful while cleaning it to prevent any complications as it is a quite fragile device. Take a clean wet towel, squeeze out the liquid until it is completely damp before proceeding to use it on your thermostat.
The sanitizing process should be approached with caution, as it can get pretty complicated. However, this guide will go a long way to assist you in knowing how to clean a thermostat perfectly.
The Parts of a Thermostat That Require Cleaning
A digital thermostat, due to the absence of moving parts, does not generally require internal cleaning. Nevertheless, the periodic dusting of its LED display screen and other external parts is of utmost importance. That said, a manual thermostat needs to be cleaned internally, and there are parts to pay special attention to during the whole process.
The bimetal coil, a pair of wires, and a contact point that opens and closes. Although the contacts are modulated by a glass vial filled with mercury in most older models, a heat anticipator is also used in some models.
The bimetal coil and contact points are vital parts needing thorough cleaning in a manual thermostat, also known as an electromechanical thermostat. However, that is not to say that other parts of the device are not to be dusted.
Steps to Clean Your Manual Thermostat
Before you begin to wipe down your thermoregulator, ensure you have the following items in your toolbox:
- Cotton bud.
- Screwdriver
- Torpedo level
- Piece of paper
- Spirit
- Compressed air duster.
Once you have these items available, you may proceed to the first step to clean the thermostat.
Step 1: Turn the power switch off
This is more of a precautionary measure than it is an actual cleaning activity. Nonetheless, it is a critical step in the process of cleaning your home thermostat, especially if it is the line-voltage thermostat that controls your heater. So, you must find the circuit breaker in the main panel and switch it off.
Overlooking this step and not turning off the switch could prove dangerous, as you are at risk of an electric shock. So while the thermostat controlling the Air Conditioning unit is not hazardous to one’s health, there is still a risk of damage to some crucial system components of the appliance if left on during sanitizing.
Step 2: Remove the thermostat cover
The execution of this step is straightforward, as all you need to do is find and pull the cover. That said, covers in some models are fastened to the thermostat with the aid of screws. In this case, you can grab your screwdriver to undo the metal fasteners.
Step 3: Wipe the contact points
There are two tasks to carry out in this stage of cleaning. First and foremost, switch the temperature modulator to a higher temperature, and you should only stop when the contacts close. Next, grab the thin piece of paper in your toolbox and pass it gradually between the contacts. Then, move the paper in a gentle back-and-forth movement before it is withdrawn.
If the thermostat controls your air cooler, turn the temperature modulator to a lower temperature until the contacts close again. Repeat the cleaning process, using the thin piece of paper to wipe the contact points. Lastly, you will need to blow away the dirt with a compressed air duster, although using your mouth will suffice.
Step 4: Dust the bimetal coil
With the aid of a soft paintbrush, gradually remove the accumulation of dirt from the surface of the bimetal coil. This exact procedure may be repeated for a heat anticipator – if present. Blow the bimetal coil with the compressed air duster till you ensure that it is clean.
Step 5: Clean the switch contacts
You can clean out the bare switch contacts by slightly swabbing them with a cotton bud dipped in alcohol.
Step 6: Inspect the thermostat level and restore its cover
For proper functioning, your manual thermostat must be level on the wall on which it is mounted. If you have been wondering, this is the point where you use the torpedo level for the needed adjustments. Finally, after ensuring the thermostat is leveled, put or screw the cover back in its place. Then, turn the power switch back on to restore power and check whether the thermostat is running at full speed again.
Caution!
While learning how to clean the thermostat, you must have noticed that there was no mention of the fingers being used to touch any thermostat component. Hence, it is best to avoid handling or cleaning the thermostat with your bare hands.
These are the step-by-step guidelines on how to clean a home thermostat yourself. Without a doubt, the correct application of this knowledge will ensure that your thermostat is sparkling clean and works effectively.
However, a clean thermostat is not entirely immune to malfunctions, and you might be too busy to disinfect your thermostat or be unable to do this cleaning process correctly. Should any of these be the case, there are experts on hand for assistance.
Anderson Air is sure to provide you with quality cleaning and maintenance services to keep your thermostat in perfect shape. You will be provided premium care to that dirty, faulty, or malfunctioning thermostat here. Do well to contact their trained professionals to check and identify the issue with your appliance.
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