If you have noticed that your home’s hot water and heating are not functioning as they should, it may be time to replace your boiler thermostat. Fortunately, replacing your boiler thermostat with a new and improved programmable boiler thermostat is more cost-friendly than requiring an entire boiler replacement.
With that in mind, here is everything you need to know about your boiler thermostat, including how to know when to replace it, what to look for in your boiler thermostat replacement and whether you can install it yourself at home.
What Is a Boiler Thermostat?
Your boiler thermostat is, in essence, a switch. The changing temperature in a room operates this switch and turns it off. This boiler thermostat is responsible for heating both the air and water inside your home.
How Does A Boiler Thermostat Work?
Many thermostats function by allowing the expansion and constriction of minerals caused by rising or falling temperatures to both make and break circuits.
The two most common parts used in thermostats are bimetals and wax.
Bimetals are two metal strips that have been joined together. They use the contrast of expansion rates between the two different types of metal, for example, steel and copper.
Wax, instead, relies on the physical expansion to push on the valve.
Some thermostats do not have moving parts inside. Instead, they detect temperatures via semiconductors, thermistors, and thermocouples.
Though most thermostats do, not all of them have a standard on-and-off function.
Those without this function are designed to open and close gently as a means of controlling the fluid that runs through them. As with all thermostats, these are also reacting to heat. However, they are designed for more specific control over temperature balance.
What Is The Difference Between A Boiler and A Water Heater?
- A water heater is responsible for heating your water only.
- A boiler, on the other hand, heats your hot water andyour home.
Signs You Need To Replace Your Boiler Thermostat
Your boiler thermostat controls the temperature of both your water and the heat inside your home. A faulty boiler thermostat means you have little control over both boilers’ temperatures, so it is important to know when a replacement is needed.
1. Your Water Is Cold Even When Switched To Hot
If you are running hot water but it is coming out of the faucet as cold, your problem may be with your boiler thermostat rather than your boiler itself. This, when considering the big picture, is a more favorable problem to solve. Replacing your boiler is a far more costly scenario than that of a boiler thermostat.
1. Your Water Is Too Hot To Touch, Even When Cold Water Is Running
The opposite of the above demonstrates that your boiler thermostat needs replacing, too. If the water that you are running is too hot to touch, even when you are running cold water, your boiler thermostat may be struggling to send the appropriate signals to your boiler. In this case, it is time to replace your boiler thermostat.
2. Your Living Space Is Not Warmed Up After Switching The Heating On
Your boiler is responsible for the temperature of both your water and your home. If you switch on your heating and nothing happens, this could suggest that your boiler thermostat needs to be replaced.
This symptom often sparks panic in homeowners as they believe their boiler might be broken, however, it could be a far easier-to-solve issue with your thermostat, instead.
3. Your Heating Will Not Turn Off
If you have switched your heating off using your thermostat and your space is still being pumped with hot air, your thermostat may not be sending the proper signals to your boiler. If this is the case, you will need to replace your boiler thermostat to avoid discomfort in the home as well as sky high energy bills.
1. Your Boiler Thermostat Is Not Turning On, Even After Changing The Batteries
A clear symptom that your boiler thermostat has stopped working and needs to be repaired is that the mechanism simply will not turn on. After you have changed the batteries to ensure it is not a power supply problem and your boiler thermostat is still not responding, it is likely time to replace it.
How To Test Whether Your Boiler Thermostat Is Faulty
Before replacing your boiler thermostat, you should undergo a test to make sure it is the thermostat causing the problem rather than the boiler itself.
Follow the steps to test whether your boiler thermostat is faulty:
- Shut down the system entirely
- Adjust the temperature control to zero. Do the same for any in-room thermostats if you have them.
- Switch your thermostat back on, but do not run hot water. This way you can first focus on your heating.
- Increase the temperature on your boiler thermostat.
- Assess whether your boiler is firing. If it does not, this indicates a problem with the boiler.
- If the boiler does fire up, wait 15 minutes and see whether the room has warmed up.
- If your boiler thermostat uses a remote control unit, replace your batteries. Dead batteries or those low on energy left will prevent signals getting through to your boiler.
- After new batteries are installed, see whether the problem is resolved.
- Now, test your hot water. Is it running cold? Or is it too hot to touch even when running cold water? If either of these scenarios is true for you, it is time to replace your boiler thermostat.
How Long Does a Boiler Thermostat Usually Last Before It Needs To Be Replaced?
All thermostats have a shelf life. Your boiler thermostat is no different. Your boiler thermostat will reach the end of its life after ten years. At this stage, repairs will be costly as problems continue to grow.
As a result, if your boiler thermostat is ten years old or more, get in touch with a member of SWAN Heating, Plumbing and Air to install a new one.
How To Choose Your Ideal Boiler Thermostat Replacement
When opting for a new boiler thermostat as a replacement, there are three core components to consider before purchasing.
1. Opt For A Programmable Boiler Thermostat
Programmable boiler thermostats are superior due to your ability to create optimal comfort.
The programmable aspect of these boiler thermostats allows you to configure temperature variations that run throughout the day, taking place automatically.
As an example, if you spend most of your day at work, you can set up for your heating to switch on at your desired temperature half an hour before your return, allowing you to come home to a warm house in the colder seasons without wasting energy throughout the day.
Programmable boiler thermostats allow your configurations to save you money and maximize your personalized comfort.
2. Ensure Your Replacement Boiler Thermostat Is Compatible With Your Existing Boiler
If you are unsure, it is best to consult with a professional who can guide you and, after purchase, install your new boiler thermostat for you.
3. Assess Your Requirements To Decide Whether You Would Prefer A Wired or Wireless Boiler Thermostat
Smart thermostats connect to your smartphone, which allows you to control the temperatures inside your home even when you are not there yourself.
If this is important to you, a wireless boiler thermostat might be preferable.
If, however, you spend most of your time inside the home and you are happy to use your thermostat from one set location in your house, a wired boiler thermostat may be a simpler (and less expensive) option for you.
How Challenging Is It To Install A Programmable Boiler Thermostat Myself? Do I Need Professional Installation?
If you have experience in DIY, you may be able to install your programmable boiler thermostat yourself. However, it is important to remember that no installations are risk-free.
A professional understands and has experience in installing a wide range of makes and models of boiler thermostats. They also know how to keep themselves and your family safe while installing them.
If you do choose to install your boiler thermostat yourself, you should read the instruction manual carefully and adhere to all safety regulations. Make sure, too, that you turn off the breaker to your HVAC equipment.
The vast majority of thermostats use low-voltage wiring. However, these wires can be dangerous if treated without care. Depending on the model, thermostats contain anywhere from two to ten wires that will need reconfiguring from your old boiler thermostat to your replacement.
After reading through the instruction manual, if you are unsure of anything, please do get in touch with Swan Plumbing Heating and Air so a member of our experienced team can install your new boiler thermostat for you in the Denver and/or Loveland area.
