Talk to someone who grew up in Vermont and someone else who grew up in Florida, and it quickly becomes clear that people have different tolerances for how hot or cold they like their home to be. That’s why homes with central air conditioning and heating have a thermostat, so that you can set the temperature where you like it—and then it’s maintained through a feedback system. Thermostats have come a long way in recent years, though. If you want to learn how to install one that will help you cut costs at home, keep reading!
More sophisticated versions can be programmed to adjust the temperature throughout the day, lowering it when you’re at work or asleep. Some can even be adjusted remotely from your phone, so you can save on energy while you’re away, but come home to a warm house. Turning your thermostat down 7 to 10 degrees for eight hours a day (like at night) could save you as much as 10% on energy, or about $180 per year.
How much does thermostat installation cost?
If you want to upgrade your home’s thermostat, you could certainly pay a pro to come do it. Of course, you’ll be charged—typically around $150 to $200—but it will at least guarantee it’s done right.
“If wired correctly, but not properly configured to your current HVAC system, your thermostat may function for cooling and heating purposes, but could cost significantly more to operate,” says Dave Miller, an HVAC specialist in South Carolina. “Also, when thermostats begin to have problems, it is not uncommon for there to be greater underlying problems with your HVAC system. Because of this, we highly recommend that you have an HVAC pro perform this type of installation.”
OK, thanks for the tip/warning! Still, if you pride yourself on being a handy homeowner who can tackle these tasks on your own, this is entirely doable. Just follow these steps for a standard programmable thermostat.
Tools you’ll need
- Batteries (optional, depending on unit)
- Large flathead or Phillips screwdriver
- Programmable thermostat
- Small flathead screwdriver
- Wire cutter
How to install a thermostat
1. Find your home’s circuit breaker panel and shut off any breakers associated with your HVAC system. If your breakers are not labeled, figure out which breaker goes to your HVAC system by turning your thermostat to “fan on,” verify the blower is running, and then start flipping breakers one by one until the blower shuts off.
2. Remove the cover from your old thermostat.
3. Remove the old thermostat from the wall by unscrewing the mounting hardware.
4. Place a piece of tape over each of the wires with the letter code of the terminal you’re connecting it to. The color might not correspond to the letter code (G for green, for instance), so mark the wires with the terminal code that appears on the cover before you disconnect it.
5. Disconnect the wires from the terminals using a screwdriver.
6. Separate the front of your new thermostat from the base.
7. Pull wires through the back plate of your new thermostat, and mount it on the wall using a screwdriver.
8. Connect each marked wire to the corresponding terminals on the thermostat with a screwdriver.
9. Install batteries if needed.
10. Snap on the face plate and turn on the circuit breakers. If correctly installed, the thermostat will power on. Check to see if the thermostat has other required installer settings by following the directions on-screen.
11. Turn on the fan and air conditioning to make sure both the indoor and outdoor unit power up and produce cool air from vents. A delay time of up to 10 minutes is possible for the system to fully configure.
12. Follow the on-screen commands to program the temperature parameters you want for certain times or days. If your thermostat is Wi-Fi–capable, you can connect it now.
