Thermostat and Master Shutoff Inspection – Common Issues
In some thermostats, the contacts are exposed to air and dust. In this case, they should be cleaned periodically, otherwise a dust layer can form on the contacts and prevent them from operating properly. In time, the contacts in some thermostats become worn because of cleaning, and no longer close properly. If this occurs, the thermostats need to be replaced. In newer thermostats, however, the contacts are encased in a glass enclosure or have been replaced by a sealed mercury switch.
If the house has a multi-zoned heating system, each zone will be controlled by a thermostat. Because the thermostat senses only the temperature in the surrounding area, its placement is very important. It must be placed in an area where the temperature is representative of the temperature for the entire house, or at least for that zone. Make sure the thermostat is not placed in a draft or in an area where air circulation is blocked.
According to some research, lowering the thermostat setting five to ten degrees before going to sleep and resetting it in the morning may save you five to 15 percent of your fuel bill, depending on your geographical location. For such cases, a clock thermostat may be more helpful. It will automatically lower the temperature setting each night and raise it each morning, so you don’t have to worry about forgetting to set it. There are also some units that allow a double setback, a very useful feature in houses that are empty during the day.
Lastly, each heating system should have at least one master shutoff switch. Generally, the switch is located near the furnace or boiler, but sometimes you may find it at the top of the stairs that lead to the basement. If a problem with the heating system occurs, this master shutoff switch can be used as an emergency shutoff for the burner.
In addition, the switch is also used by a repairman when servicing the system. If the master switch is turned off, the heating system cannot be turned on by raising the thermostat.