In this video, This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows a homeowner how to install and operate an energy-saving smart thermostat.
Project details
Skill
Cost
Estimated Time
Installing a smart thermostat
- Turn off the service switch on the side of the furnace.
- Remove the faceplate from the existing thermostat.
- Take a digital photograph of the wire connections.
- Use a screwdriver to loosen the screw terminals on the thermostat’s base plate.
- Pull the end of each wire out of the terminal.
- Unscrew and remove the base plate from the wall.
- Screw the base plate of the new smart thermostat to the wall. Be sure the base plate is level.
- Connect each wire to the appropriate terminal on the base plate. If necessary, refer to the photograph taken in Step 3.
- Snap the smart thermostat onto the base plate.
- Turn on the service switch at the furnace.
- At the thermostat, follow the touch-screen prompts to choose the preferred language and internet setting, which allows you to control the thermostat remotely from a tablet or smart phone.
- Next, enter the year when house was last remodeled, then select a name for the thermostat.
- Select the lowest and highest room temperatures for when you’re not at home.
- Adjust the thermostat setting each time you leave for work and return home. After a few days, the thermostat will learn your habits and automatically adjust the heat.
Tool
Tools & Materials
- Screwdriver
