With the advancement in technology, digital thermostats are becoming increasingly popular. Offering convenience, energy efficiency, and potential cost savings on heating bills, they are transforming homes into smart households. According to statistics, approximately 40% of American homes have a programmable digital thermostat installed. This article will take you through a detailed guide on how to install a digital thermostat.
Understanding What Digital Thermostat Fits your Needs
Digital thermostats come in different models and sizes. Before choosing one, ensure you understand your home’s heating and cooling system. It is because digital thermostats are not compatible with all HVAC systems. Therefore, you should first know if your house has a furnace only set-up, a furnace and an air conditioner, or a heat pump configuration. It will influence the kind of digital thermostat you choose.
Selecting the Perfect Location
A thermostat’s location can significantly affect its performance. To get precise readings, you should install the digital thermostat away from drastic temperature changes. That means avoiding areas near windows, air vents, fireplaces as well as external walls. You could consider placing it on an interior wall in a frequently occupied room like the living room.
Gather Necessary Tools
For the installation process, ensure you gather all necessary tools ahead of time. You will need a screwdriver, drill bits depending on your wall type, leveler to make sure your device is perfectly aligned, pencil for marking holes and masking tape for securing your wires.
Safety First: Turn Off the Power
Prioritize safety while installing your new digital thermostat. Busts of power can result in electric shocks or damage your HVAC system’s electrical components. Before beginning the installation process, ensure you switch off the power to your heating and air conditioning system at the circuit breaker.
Removing the Old Thermostat
Carefully remove your old thermostat, but keep it connected to its wires. Label each wire with the terminal code it was attached to on the old thermostat, as this will help you match them correctly when installing your new digital thermostat. Taping loose wires to the wall is a good practice to prevent them from falling inside.
Mounting the New Thermostat Plate
Keep an eye on the exposed wires while mounting the right plate of your new thermostat. Place it level against the wall where you want your new device located. Then mark where your screw holes will be, and with a drill create wall-overs for anchoring the thermostat.
Connecting Electrical Wires
Once you have securely attached your digital thermostat to the wall, you need to carefully connect the electrical wires to their corresponding terminals on your new device. Use your labels for guidance and remember if any question arises to consult your user manual or call a professional.
Attach Thermostat to its Plate
After successfully completing all wiring, attach your digital thermostat’s display or control part to its base plate. Ensure it snugly fits and that all connections are secure. The type of attachment might vary depending on your specific model; some may require additional screws while others may simply snap into place.
Reconnect Power
At this point, you can safely restore power. Turn on the circuit breaker and see if your new digital thermostat powers up. If it does not light up immediately, do not panic since some models may take a few minutes to start up.
Program Your Digital Thermostat
Now that you have successfully installed your device, it is time to program it. Digital thermostats offer a variety of programming options for temperature setting. You can set different temperatures for different times of the day, ensuring optimal comfort and energy efficiency.
Test Your Thermostat
Test your newly installed device to check its functioning. Change settings around on your new digital thermostat and see if it responds appropriately by telling your HVAC system to start or stop. If it does not perform as expected, revisit your installation steps.
Seek Professional Help if Needed
While this process may seem straightforward on paper, it might be more challenging in practice. If you encounter problems during installation, or do not feel comfortable performing the steps yourself, do not hesitate to seek the help of a professional.
Enjoy Comfort and Savings
With successful installation and proper usage of your digital thermostat, you are all set to enjoy an enhanced comfort level at home. Not just this, but digital thermostats also contribute to saving energy and therefore lowering utility bills.
The Wrap Up
Installing a digital thermostat may seem daunting, but with care and precision, you can easily equip your home with this smart device. Following the instructions in a careful manner will ensure a successful result, giving you control over comfort and energy savings. Besides comfort, embracing this smart technology contributes to an environmentally friendly lifestyle by reducing overall household energy consumption.
