What is a thermostat made of?

An electromechanical thermostat typically contains either a bi-metal coil or a metal strip. When the temperature changes, this coil or strip will move, causing a vial containing mercury to tip to one side. The mercury flows to one end of the vial, signaling that the heating or cooling needs to be turned on.

What metal is in a thermostat?

The two metals, usually brass and iron are welded or riveted together to make one strip. That strip is a switch that works like any other switch by connecting two points to complete an electrical circuit.

Which material is used in thermostat valve?

wax
Functioning. The classic thermostatic radiator valve contains a plug, typically made of wax (forming a wax motor), which expands or contracts with the surrounding temperature.

What are the 2 types of thermostats?

In terms of operation, there are two types of thermostats: line-voltage and low-voltage.

How is a thermostat manufactured?

The bimetal (“two metal”) strip is made of two separate metal strips fastened together: a piece of brass (blue) bolted to a piece of iron (red). Iron expands less than brass as it gets hotter, so the bimetal strip curves inward as the temperature rises. The bimetal strip forms part of an electrical circuit (gray path).

How much mercury is in a 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.

Where is the mercury in my thermostat?

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.

What type of wax is used in a thermostat?

Astorstat® is the world’s premier brand of wax for thermal actuation and thermostatic control devices used in a variety of high-performance and precision applications. These include automobile, marine, and aerospace engines; and home heating and cooling systems.

What is inside a thermostat?

A traditional thermostat has two pieces of different metals bolted together to form what’s called a bimetallic strip (or bimetal strip). The strip works as a bridge in an electrical circuit connected to your heating system.

What is a mercury thermostat?

Mercury thermostats use mercury switches to sense and control room temperature through communication with heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment. Mercury thermostats contain bimetal coils that contract and expand with room temperature.

What are the parts of a thermostat?

The basic parts of a thermostat are:

• Frame and Housing: includes a valve attached to the piston.
• Flange: located in the body.
• Spring: keeps the valve closed when the coolant is not hot.
• Wax element: thermostat core.

Is mercury still used in thermostats?

Many thermostats use mercury switches, but as long as a thermostat is intact, it isn’t dangerous. Electronic and magnetic snap switch thermostats don’t contain any mercury. To identify whether a thermostat contains mercury, remove the front plate.

Is it illegal to have a mercury thermostat?

California law has prohibited the sale of mercury thermostats since 2006, but there is no requirement that you replace your existing mercury thermostat.

Can you throw away a mercury thermostat?

Beginning July 1, 2009, the law requires Manufacturers to make collection bins available at no cost for out-of-service mercury-added thermostats to any local governmental agency that requests a collection bin for use at household hazardous waste [HHW] collection facilities or household hazardous waste events.

Do all thermostats contain mercury?

Are thermostats dangerous? Many thermostats use mercury switches, but as long as a thermostat is intact, it isn’t dangerous. Electronic and magnetic snap switch thermostats don’t contain any mercury. To identify whether a thermostat contains mercury, remove the front plate.

Which gas is used in thermostat?

As the temperature changes, the gas expands and contracts to adjust a control screw, regulating the amount of propane released for burning.

Is there wax in a thermostat?

This most common modern form of thermostat now uses a wax pellet inside a sealed chamber. Rather than a liquid-vapour transition, these use a solid-liquid transition, which for waxes is accompanied by a large increase in volume.

What kind of wax is in a thermostat?

The wax used within the thermostat is specially manufactured for the purpose. Unlike a standard paraffin wax, which has a relatively wide range of carbon chain lengths, a wax used in the thermostat application has a very narrow range of carbon molecule chains.

What replaced mercury in thermostats?

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. It is estimated that by using an electronic thermostat over a mercury filled type, the average homeowner can save up to 30 percent on energy costs alone.

How do I know if my thermostat has mercury in it?

When did they stop putting mercury in thermostats?

October 2009
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.

When did they stop using mercury in 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 is thermostat AC?

The thermostat is a piece of equipment, such as a dial or keypad placed on a wall inside your home, usually located in a hallway or another area that doesn’t get direct sunlight. The thermostat displays the current indoor temperature and uses this information to turn your HVAC system on and off.