That's a solid point about placement—seen that plenty of times myself. But here's another thing folks sometimes overlook: when did you last check the thermostat's calibration or battery (if it's battery-powered)? I've had calls where people swear their thermostat is broken, but turns out it was just a dying battery or a calibration issue, especially with older digital models.
Also, is your thermostat near any vents or heat sources besides windows? Had a client once whose thermostat was placed near a hallway vent. Every time the heat kicked on, it warmed up the thermostat directly, causing it to shut off prematurely and leaving other rooms chilly. Relocating solved it entirely.
Before moving the thermostat though, have you checked if your wiring has enough slack to reposition easily? Sometimes DIY moves sound simple until you open things up and realize the wires are barely long enough to reach. Then you've got a bigger headache on your hands, trust me...
Curious, what type of thermostat are you dealing with—digital programmable, smart thermostat, or old-school dial? Some types are more prone to issues than others and might need different troubleshooting steps.
Good call on checking calibration and batteries first—seen plenty of folks jump straight to rewiring when the fix was way simpler. Also, if you're dealing with a smart thermostat, double-check firmware updates...those can cause weird glitches too. Learned that one the hard way myself.
Definitely agree with checking firmware updates—those smart thermostats can be finicky sometimes. Had a tenant once who was convinced the whole HVAC system needed replacing because the thermostat kept randomly resetting itself. Turned out it was just a firmware glitch, and a quick update solved everything. Saved us both a lot of stress (and money).
Also, don't underestimate the value of giving the thermostat a good cleaning. Dust buildup or even minor corrosion on contacts can cause erratic behavior. I've seen thermostats act completely haywire just because of a little grime inside. A gentle clean with compressed air or a soft brush can sometimes do wonders.
You're definitely on the right track by starting simple and working your way up to more complicated fixes. Good luck sorting it out—sounds like you've got this under control already.
Firmware updates and cleaning are solid first steps, but speaking from experience... double-check your wiring too. I spent a weekend convinced my thermostat was haunted—turned out one loose wire was causing all the drama. Lesson learned: ghosts rarely mess with HVAC systems.
Had a similar issue last month—spent hours troubleshooting software updates and settings, only to find out the previous owner had done some sketchy DIY wiring. Honestly, if you're not super confident with electrical stuff, might be worth calling someone who knows their way around HVAC systems.
