4 Things Every Homeowner Should Know Before Upgrading a Thermostat

When air conditioners were new, and not every household had one, many properties were heated by an electric heater or a single furnace, regulated by a mechanical thermostat that was mounted on the wall. These devices are still selling well and serve their function; however, modern, computerized ones have rendered these older units obsolete. Here is what you need to know before upgrading such a thermostat.

#1. Two Wires May Not Be Enough

A 24-volt mechanical thermostat usually needs just two wires. The first one is the input hot wire from the transformer, and the second one is an outbound load wire. Many smart and programmable thermostats need a third wire. It’s called a common, or C wire. It’s used to supply power for their various functions. If you don’t have a third wire coming from the wall when you remove the old device, you need to purchase and install a battery-powered thermostat.

#2. Moving the Thermostat

The thermostat itself is not the issue; however, its position may be. Possibly it was installed in your kitchen for convenience purposes. If so, the thermostat can turn down the heat, leaving the rest of the house uncomfortably cold. On the other hand, if the device is located near a drafty window or entrance, increasing the temperature in the entire home can be annoying. Moving it to a hallway or a living room requires running new wiring, which can be handled by a professional HVAC technician.

#3. Choosing the Temperature Day

When TVs were new and not every household had one, many properties were heated by an electric heater or a single furnace, regulated by a mechanical thermostat that was mounted on the wall. These devices are still selling well and serve their function; however, modern, computerized ones have rendered these older units obsolete. Here is what you need to know before upgrading such a thermostat. #1. 2 Wires May Not Be Enough A 24-volt mechanical thermostat usually needs just two wires. The first one is the input hot wire from the transformer and the second one is an outbound load wire. Many smart and programmable thermostats need a third wire. It’s called a common, or C wire. It’s used to supply power for their various functions. If you don’t have a third wire coming from the wall when you remove the old device, you need to purchase and install a battery-powered thermostat. #2. Moving the Thermostat The thermostat itself is not the issue; however, its position may be. Possibly it was installed in your kitchen for convenience purposes. If so, the thermostat can turn down the heat, leaving the rest of the house uncomfortably cold. On the other hand, if the device is located near a drafty window or entrance, increasing the temperature in the entire home can be annoying. Moving it to a hallway or a living room needs running new wiring, which can be handled by a professional HVAC technician. #3. Choosing the Temperature Day Anything that can go wrong will go wrong at the most inappropriate time, according to Murphy’s Law. When the temperature outside is way too high or low, you don’t want something like this to happen. You can lessen the impact of unfortunate events by swapping during the milder months. This is the time when the temporary malfunction of the HVAC system will not affect the level of comfort that is needed. #4. DIY the New One Before adjusting the thermostat, the power supply to the HVAC unit must be turned off. If the device is made for a low-voltage central air system, you will not get an electrical shock even if you fail to turn it off. The thermostat’s wiring is easy to understand and color-coded, which is a job that may be done by a DIY enthusiast. Although line-voltage thermostat work at a higher voltage and are capable of shocking people, you won’t get an electrical shock as long as you follow the standard safety procedures for any home electrical wiring. For instance, you shouldn’t touch the wires until you have checked their voltage with a voltage tester first.

Anything that can go wrong will go wrong at the most inappropriate time, according to Murphy’s Law. When the temperature outside is way too high or low, you don’t want something like this to happen. You can lessen the impact of unfortunate events by swapping during the milder months. This is the time when the temporary malfunction of the HVAC system will not affect the level of comfort that is needed.

#4. DIY the New One

Before adjusting the thermostat, the power supply to the HVAC unit must be turned off. If the device is made for a low-voltage central air system, you will not get an electrical shock even if you fail to turn it off. The thermostat’s wiring is easy to understand and color-coded, which is a job that may be done by a DIY enthusiast. Although line-voltage thermostat work at a higher voltage and are capable of shocking people, you won’t get an electrical shock as long as you follow the standard safety procedures for any home electrical wiring. For instance, you shouldn’t touch the wires until you have checked their voltage with a voltage tester first.