manufacturers in the U.S. General Electric, Honeywell, and White-Rodgers. These companies reported that they phased-out the manufacture and sale of mercury-added thermostats in October 2009. Since 2001, many states have passed legislation restricting the sale of mercury-added thermostats.
Do old thermostats have mercury?
While many older, manual slider or knob style thermostats contain mercury, most digital thermostats do not. If they do, it is frequently noted on the packaging with an Hg marking. To safely remove your mercury-containing thermostat: Turn the thermostat entirely off.
How do I know if my thermostat has mercury in it?
To identify whether a thermostat contains mercury, remove the front plate. If one or more small glass bulbs are inside, they contain mercury. These bulbs are called tilt switches. Each tilt switch contains roughly 3 to 6 grams of mercury.
Are old thermostats accurate?
These are sometimes thought of as old-fashioned thermostats since they are not electronic.Myth:Mercury-bulb thermostats should be replaced because they are inaccurate. Fact:Mercury bulb thermostats are among the most accurate for temperature control within the HVAC industry.
What replaced mercury in thermostats?
The Best Alternative to Your Mecury Filled Thermostat
A digital electronic thermostat has no moving parts, no mercury, and will always remain efficient over its lifespan, which can be longer than 15 years.
Are mercury thermostats still available?
Most thermostats sold today don’t contain mercury. Programmable electronic thermostats and many manual thermostats are now mercury-free.
How much mercury is in an old thermostat?
According to the Thermostat Recycling Corporation (TRC), mercury thermostats contain an average of 1.4 mercury switches (i.e., components), with a minimum of 2.8 grams of elemental mercury per switch. Therefore, the total amount of mercury used in a thermostat is approximately four grams.
Are mercury thermostats legal?
California law has prohibited the sale of mercury thermostats since 2006, but there is no requirement that you replace your existing mercury thermostat.
Can a mercury thermostat go bad?
The Honeywell mercury thermostat has been installed in homes and businesses for decades, though it is used less often since the digital programmable thermostat became popular. Mercury thermostats are extremely durable and long lasting but do wear out and develop problems occasionally.
When did Honeywell stop making mercury thermostats?
manufacturers in the U.S. General Electric, Honeywell, and White-Rodgers. These companies reported that they phased-out the manufacture and sale of mercury-added thermostats in October 2009. Since 2001, many states have passed legislation restricting the sale of mercury-added thermostats.
What was used to fill thermostats before mercury?
Long before mercury filled thermometers, brandy was used to tell the temperature. Other interesting finds: 97% of US bills contain traces of cocaine.
How long do analog thermostats last?
The lifespan of most home thermostats is 10 years. However, you may need to replace yours sooner as newer, more efficient thermostats enter the market.
Can you replace mercury thermostat with digital?
Sometimes you have to flip the switch on the back of the thermostats depending on which type of system you have. If you’re going from mercury to a modern age digital thermostat the process can be simple if you just watch what you’re doing to pay attention.
Can I replace my old thermostat with a digital one?
In short, to replace the analog thermostat with a digital, you’ll first need to turn off the power in the house, remove the faceplate from the current thermostat, label the wires, detach the wires and remove the cover, mount the new thermostat, rewire it, and attach the faceplate.
What happens if mercury touches you?
Mercury is a very toxic or poisonous substance that people can be exposed to in several ways. If it is swallowed, like from a broken thermometer, it mostly passes through your body and very little is absorbed. If you touch it, a small amount may pass through your skin, but not usually enough to harm you.
When was the mercury thermostat invented?
1620
Possibly the earliest recorded examples of thermostat control were built by the Dutch innovator Cornelis Drebbel (15721633) around 1620 in England. He invented a mercury thermostat to regulate the temperature of a chicken incubator. This is one of the first recorded feedback-controlled devices.
What is a mercury thermostat?
Mercury thermostats are manual thermostats, usually rectangular or circular in shape.If you see a little glass ampule full of silvery liquid, it’s a mercury thermostat. (That little ampule contains up to 12 grams of elemental mercury, making it the single largest source of mercury in your home.)
When should I replace my thermostat?
9 Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Thermostat
- Your Thermostat Is Analog.
- Your Thermostat Isn’t Programmable.
- Your Thermostat Is Older than Ten Years.
- Your HVAC Turns On and Off.
- Your Energy Bills Are Unusually High.
- Your Thermostat Gives Faulty Readings.
- Your Thermostat Doesn’t Respond to Settings Changes.
How do I know if my outboard thermostat is bad?
Symptoms of a failed thermostat (open position)
- Engine slow to warm up.
- Engine not reaching its correct operating temperature.
- Poor cold weather performance.
- Water flowing from the exhaust pipe at idle.
What are the symptoms of a bad thermostat?
5 Symptoms of a Bad Thermostat (and Replacement Cost)
- #1 Temperature Gauge Reading Higher (or Lower) Than Normal.
- #2 Sudden Air Temperature Changes Inside Vehicle.
- #3 Coolant Leaking.
- #4 Rumbling Noises.
- #5 Heater Malfunction.
How do you clean a mercury thermostat?
Sprinkle sulfur powder over the contaminated area and rub it gently all over the surface and into the cracks with a paper towel. Sulfur powder binds with mercury. Use a paper towel dampened with water followed by wiping with another damp paper towel to clean up the sulfur and mercury.
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