Installing a Programmable Thermostat

Programmable Thermostats

Overview: You can save money and increase the comfort of your home by installing a digital programmable thermostat. Older model analog heating thermostats are not very sensitive and cause wide temperature swings in your home. As a result you seem to be always adjusting them up and down to get comfortable.

Installing a programmable thermostat will eliminate the need to constantly adjust the thermostat and save you energy by not over heating your home. Energy savings programmable thermostats will permit you to set the heat at any desired temperature and schedule it to be turned on / off or down and up depending on your needs. Many homeowners waste money heating homes when there is no one at home. By installing a programmable thermostat you can program the heat to go off when you leave the house and program it to come back on just before you arrive back home.

A replacement programmable thermostat cost less than $60.00 at most home improvement supply centers and can be installed by the DIY homeowner in a few minutes. The new thermostat can save you as much as 10% on your heating bill. Insure that you look for the energy star label, which means the unit is efficient and helps protect the environment.

Installing the new thermostat:

As always, the first step when working on electrical circuits and appliances is to turn off the power to the thermostat at the main electric panel.
Label the circuit breaker or fuse so no one accidently turns it on while you are working on the circuit.
Remove the old thermostat from the wall and disconnect the thermostat wiring leads from the back side.
Install the new thermostat back plate and attach the wires. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Depending on which model you purchase the thermostat will either snap fit into the back plate or require mounting screws.
Turn the power back on and program your new thermostat to your heating needs.

By installing a digital programmable thermostat you can save on heating costs as well as being able to program the heat to come on or go off as you like. The new digital technology thermostat will also help prevent large temperature swings in your home. I prefer the Honeywell programmable thermostats as they are very reliable and will last you as long as you have your home. I do not recommend a wireless thermostat as there reliability is questionable. The old thermostat most probably has mercury in it, so dispose of it in accordance with your local hazardous waste requirements.

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