Does Your Mini Split AC Unit Have A Bad Thermostat Sensor?
Ductless, mini split air conditioners are a great choice for many homes. These systems are relatively simple. They consist of a compressor, which sits outside your home, plus an air handler, which is mounted on the wall. The air handler has a part called the thermostat sensor. This part notices when the temperature in the room has risen above the temperature on the thermostat, and it then tells the air conditioning system to turn on. Like all parts, the thermostat sensor has the potential to break. Keep reading to learn the signs of a broken thermostat sensor and what you can do about it.
Signs of a Broken Thermostat Sensor
The exact signs of a broken thermostat sensor will depend on the make and model of the air conditioner that you have. In some cases, a broken thermostat sensor will cause your AC unit not to kick on at all. You can turn the thermostat setting lower and lower, and your AC unit still does not turn on.
In other cases, a broken thermostat sensor may cause your AC unit to keep running and running, long after your room reaches the thermostat setting. The sensor is not recognizing that the temperature has been reached and it is not telling your AC to stop cooling.
Having a Broken Thermostat Sensor Fixed
If you think you have a broken thermostat, call an HVAC contractor who works on ductless mini split units. Many do, but some don't. A repair technician should be able to tell, rather quickly, whether your thermostat sensor is really broken. Usually, the "break" involves fried or damaged wiring, which is easy to recognize.
If you do have a broken thermostat sensor, your HVAC contractor will turn the power off to your unit and then remove the damaged switch. They will then wire a new thermostat sensor into your air conditioner. They may need to solder some wires and replace a few screws to make this happen. Once the new sensor is in place, they will restore power to your AC and test it. They'll make sure the AC unit turns on when the temperature is higher than the thermostat setting and turns off when the temperature is lower than the thermostat setting.
The thermostat sensor is a small part, but an important part of mini split air conditioners. If you think yours might be broken, contact a local air conditioning service.