As providers of heating and air conditioner service in Chicago, IL since 1922, we’re often asked about the best place in the home for thermostat placement. That’s an excellent question as the correct placement of your thermostat is important in ensuring that your home remains comfortable the year around.
The best way to begin answering this question is to first point out some of the places where you should not place your system’s thermostat.
1. In direct sunlight
If the thermostat is exposed to direct sunlight, you run the risk of false readings, referred to as “ghost readings.” The thermostat responds to the temperature in the room where it’s placed and uses that information to judge whether the heating or cooling needs to turn on. If located near sunlight, it “thinks” the room is warmer than it actually feels, causing the AC to turn on when not needed. Conversely, your heater may stay off when you’d like it to be on because the thermostat can’t register an accurate reading. These ghost readings cause your HVAC to waste tons of energy by cycling on and off unnecessarily.
2. Near air vents
Just like placing the thermostat in direct sunlight, placing it near an air vent leads to ghost readings. When close to an air vent, the thermostat is the first to be hit with incoming air and may determine that your home is warmer or cooler than it really is, again wasting energy and leading to skyrocketing utility bills.
3. Near the kitchen
Your kitchen is filled with heat-generating appliances, and the heat emanating from there may cause your AC to run when it’s really not needed.
4. In the hallway
Though often found there, this is really not a good place either. It makes sense to place the thermostat in a place that accurately represents the “real feel” of the places where you live, and few of us live in the hallway!
Ideal thermostat placement
All things considered, the thermostat should be placed in an interior area away from the places we’ve mentioned, near the rooms most used by your family. That guarantees the rooms you spend most of your time in are the most comfortable for your family.
For additional advice on HVAC issues, call the experts at Deljo, providers of the best air conditioner service in Chicago, IL.
