Thermostat vs Thermometer
My thermostat is not showing the correct room temperature.
A thermostat’s function is to read the current room temperature and control your HVAC system in reference to the temperature and fan mode you have set (aka your desired temperature). It does this by reading the room’s temperature with an onboard thermistor. Now, here’s the catch - it can ONLY read the temperature where it is located. So, while it may be 22 degrees by your couch, across the room on the wall it is mounted on, it may be 20 degrees. This does not mean your thermostat is malfunctioning - there’s a chance it may be poorly located, or that there are other design elements of the home affecting the temperatures (ie windows/sun, doors/draft, appliances etc.)
These thermostats also have algorithms which use what’s called an internal “set point and set back,” to maintain consistent temperature and prevent excessive cycling of your HVAC unit.
The bottom line - whatever number you have to set it to in order to be comfortable, set it to that. DO NOT obsess over the numbers! Think of them as a reference and not an actual reading. If the unit still won’t maintain a proper temperature or the thermostat tops/bottoms out (aka reads too high/low) you may have to have it relocated or possibly even add a hardwired remote sensor.
Alternatively, if using a newer Smart thermostat such as NEST or ECOBEE, you have the option of installing additional wireless sensors which can help take readings from multiple locations therefore providing a “truer” reading of the home’s temperature.
