- Founded in 2005
- Family-Owned & Local
- Honest & Transparent
- Mount Gilead, NC
- Heating & Cooling Specialists
- Residential & Commercial
Your thermostat is the brain of your whole HVAC system. When it goes wrong, the whole house feels it. A blank screen on a 90-degree July afternoon. A reading that says 72 while you're sweating. A heat pump that never seems to shut off.
Here in the Piedmont, that little box on the wall works hard. Our long, humid summers keep the system running for hours at a stretch, and a thermostat that's off by even a few degrees means longer run-times, higher bills, and a home that never quite feels right. A bad sensor or loose wire can fool your system into short-cycling or running nonstop.
EM Contractors LLC has been fixing this for Mount Gilead homes and businesses since 2005. We check the real cause first, tell you straight whether it's a quick wiring fix or a worn-out unit, and charge a fair price. No guessing. No upsell.
Common Problems We See
- Blank or dead thermostat screen with no power to the unit
- Thermostat reading is wrong — it says one temperature but the house feels different
- System runs constantly and never shuts off, or short-cycles on and off
- Set the temperature but the heat or AC won't kick on at all
- Buttons or touchscreen are unresponsive or frozen
- Wi-Fi or smart thermostat keeps losing connection or won't pair
- Replaced the batteries but the screen is still blank or flickering
- Old mercury or builder-grade thermostat that's never read the home accurately
How EM Contractors Helps
We start by checking whether the problem is really the thermostat at all. Plenty of "thermostat" calls turn out to be a blown fuse, a tripped float switch on a clogged condensate line, or a loose wire — common around here when summer humidity keeps the system and its drain working overtime. We check the wiring, the C-wire, the power, and the readings before we ever tell you to replace anything.
If the thermostat truly is failing, we'll show you why and lay out honest options — a straightforward digital replacement, or a programmable or smart model if that fits how you live. We match the new thermostat to your equipment, especially heat pumps, which need a thermostat that handles auxiliary and emergency heat correctly. Then we mount it level, wire it right, calibrate it, and test a full heating and cooling cycle so you know it works before we leave.
Why Choose EM Contractors LLC
We're a family-owned HVAC company right here at 580 Valley View Church Rd in Mount Gilead, and the Mabe family has worked on heating and air in Montgomery County for decades. We know the homes around here — from the historic places downtown along NC Highway 73 to the lake houses out toward Lake Tillery — and we know our humid Piedmont summers put real strain on a thermostat and the system it controls. When you call, you talk to a real local technician, not a call center. We'll tell you the honest truth about whether your thermostat needs a quick fix or a full replacement, and we'll never sell you something you don't need.
Our Thermostats Process
- 1
Tell us what's happening
Call or request service and describe the symptom — blank screen, wrong reading, or a system that won't respond. It helps us bring the right parts.
- 2
Check the real cause
We test power, wiring, the C-wire, and sensors to find out whether it's the thermostat or something else, like a tripped float switch or blown fuse.
- 3
Explain it plainly
You get a clear answer in plain language: a simple fix, a replacement, or a thermostat better matched to your system — with a fair price up front.
- 4
Repair or replace
We make the wiring fix or install the new thermostat, mount it level, and set it up correctly for your furnace, AC, or heat pump.
- 5
Calibrate and test
We calibrate the reading and run a full heating and cooling cycle to confirm the system responds the way it should before we leave.
Local Tips for Thermostats
Honest, practical advice from the EM Contractors crew — the same things we'd tell a neighbor.
Keep the thermostat off the wrong wall
A thermostat in direct sun, near a kitchen, or above a supply vent reads the air around it, not your home. If yours sits in a hot spot, your system runs too long all summer. Moving it to an interior wall away from drafts and sun fixes a lot of 'it never feels right' calls.
Go easy on 'Em Heat' on a heat pump
Most homes here run heat pumps. Flipping the thermostat to Emergency Heat on a chilly morning runs the expensive backup strips full-time, even when the heat pump is fine. Leave it on 'Heat' and let the system bring on aux heat only when it needs it. Save Em Heat for when the outdoor unit is actually down.
Don't set back too far in humid weather
In our long, sticky summers, cranking the thermostat way up while you're out lets humidity build inside. The system then runs hard for a long time to pull that moisture back out, and the house feels clammy. A small setback of a couple degrees keeps the air drier and is easier on the equipment than big swings.
More Indoor Air Quality Services
What Customers Say About Our Thermostats Service
Real, verified reviews from the Mount Gilead neighbors we've helped.
“I have known the Mabe family for 65 years. Father Roger and son Eric have for 30 years provided to me excellent A/C installation and service. EM Contractors are knowledgeable, prompt and courteous. I highly recommend the company.”
“EM Contractors quickly responded to our call for help. Quickly diagnosed the problem, and expertly installed a new Heil Performance Gas Furnace/Heat Pump combination packaged unit. We are grateful for his work.”
“Excellent HVAC company. When I call he is very prompt, professional, and knowledgeable then goes right to work. I would highly recommend Eric Mabe to anyone. Thanks for coming out today.”
Indoor Air Quality Tips From Our Blog
Thermostats Questions, Answered
Often, yes — and it may not even be the thermostat. A blank screen frequently traces back to dead batteries, a blown low-voltage fuse, or a tripped float switch on a clogged condensate line, which is common during our humid Mount Gilead summers. We check the simple causes first before recommending a replacement.
If it's a loose wire, a blown fuse, or a bad battery, a repair makes sense. If the unit is an old builder-grade or mercury thermostat that never reads your home accurately, replacing it is usually the better value. We'll check the real cause and give you the honest answer at a fair price.
Yes. Heat pumps are the most common system around Mount Gilead, and they need a thermostat that handles auxiliary and emergency heat correctly. Using the wrong thermostat can make a heat pump run inefficiently or short-cycle. We make sure the thermostat is properly matched and wired for your equipment.
A miscalibrated or failing thermostat can misread the room temperature and keep your system running, which drives up your bill. It can also be a sensor, wiring, or sizing issue. We test the readings and the wiring to find the true cause instead of guessing.
Yes. We install and set up programmable and smart Wi-Fi thermostats, including making sure your system has the C-wire they often need. If a smart thermostat is the right fit for how you live, we'll set it up correctly — see our smart thermostat installation service for more.
Yes. We're based in Mount Gilead and serve homes and businesses across Montgomery County and nearby towns including Troy, Biscoe, Star, Candor, and the Lake Tillery area. Call us and we'll let you know our soonest available time.
We don't quote a flat number sight unseen, but a basic digital swap on existing, healthy wiring is one of the more affordable jobs we do. The price moves with the thermostat you choose, whether your system has the C-wire a smart model needs, and whether we have to correct old or mismatched wiring, especially on a heat pump that controls aux and emergency heat. We tell you the real cost up front, at a fair price, before any work starts.
More than just screwing a new one on the wall. We confirm the thermostat is actually the problem, match the model to your furnace, AC, or heat pump, mount it level, wire it correctly including the C-wire if needed, calibrate the reading, and run a full heating and cooling cycle to prove it responds before we leave. We also show you how to use it so you're not stuck guessing later.
A straightforward replacement on good wiring is usually done in well under an hour. If we're tracing a wiring fault, adding a C-wire, or sorting out heat pump aux and emergency heat settings, it takes a little longer. Most thermostat calls are same-day or next-day, and we'll give you a realistic time window when you call.
Ready for Thermostats? Talk to a Local HVAC Contractor
Call EM Contractors LLC for honest thermostats in Mount Gilead, NC and the surrounding communities.