Want to learn how to calibrate a thermostat? We have outlined a few guidelines for you.
Your boiler thermostat can lose calibration after some time. This can come as a result of a number of different things like dirt or accidental bumping. Loss of calibration will affect the thermostat temperature, moving it slightly away from the correct room temperature. As a result, a room that reads 70 degrees might be read by that thermostat at 73 degrees, or too low at 67 degrees. A thermostat reading that’s too high can increase your energy bill by about 10 percent, and a reading that is too low will make the room feel cold even with the heater running. If your boiler is unnecessarily running more than it should, it is wasting energy and you are wasting money. This can be corrected through a simple solution: calibrating the thermostat.
Even if you are not a professional engineer, you can learn how to calibrate a thermostat so that you can do it yourself. We have outlined a few simple steps for you.
How To Calibrate A Thermostat
Learn how to calibrate a thermostat following these easy steps.
- Find out what type of thermostat you have. There are two types of thermostats: one contains magnetic contacts and a calibration screw, and the other employs a mercury switch.
- Clear the area. Clear the area around the thermostat. Check for things that might be interfering with your thermostat’s reading. A candle may be too close or there may be a cold draft from a window close to the thermostat.
- Check the thermostat temperature. Turn the thermostat on and place a thermometer on the wall a few inches away. You can stick the thermometer to the wall by taping it. Make sure the thermometer tip does not touch the wall to get an accurate reading. Leave the thermometer on the wall for 15 to 20 minutes. Then compare the thermometer’s reading to that of the thermostat. If there is a difference of more than one degree, you will need to know how to calibrate a thermostat and perform the recalibration.
- Clean the thermostat. Remove the faceplate and clean around the edges and the top. You can use a brush or a cotton swab. Clean around the connections, and other dust, dirt and obstructions. Do not vacuum. This can cause the wires to pull away and damage the thermostat.
- Calibrate: Screw thermometer. Use a wrench to keep the dial straight as you slowly turn the calibration screw. The screw is located in the middle of a thin, curled piece of metal. Turn the screw left and right until the contacts open and remove the screwdriver. Wait for a second then insert the screwdriver again. Turn it until the contacts close. Remove the wrench. You can now try heating again.
- Calibrate: Mercury-switch thermostat. Check that the thermostat is completely level. Use a standard spirit level and adjust the thermostat as needed. You may need to readjust the screws holding the mounting plate to the wall.
If you are not confident at all in doing this job yourself, get a trained engineer to do it. Call RJ Gas and we’ll have someone from our team – who knows how to calibrate a thermostat – help you out.
