Programmable Thermostats

Perhaps the simplest and usually one of first steps in managing home heating and cooling expenses is the installation of a programmable thermostat. The beauty of the programmable thermostat is its ability to intelligently adjust your home’s temperatures depending on your family’s daily patterns and preferences. The concept is simple: there’s no need to heat or cool your home when no one is home!

Product Types

• 7 Day Model

  

• 5-2 Day Model

  

• 5-1-1 Day Model

  

How It Works

Programmable thermostats offer pre-programmed settings that enable flexible regulation of your home’s temperature throughout the day, week, and across seasons. Once installed, the thermostat provides a recommended daily program that automatically decreases and increases the target temperature of the home (and particular areas of the home) depending on the time of day.

The thermostat can be set to turn off or down the heat or air conditioning during the day, when everyone is at school or work, and then bring it back to the desired temperature in time for everyone to return home. The user defines “peak” and “off” times depending on their schedule. An override feature allows for manual adjustment—you’re never locked into a given temperature or plan.

In addition to managing the overall system throughout the day, the thermostat can be used in dual temperature zones to acclimate different areas within your home. A typical program has the bedrooms receiving heat during the evenings and night, and then lowering the temperature during the day. The living room and kitchen would follow the opposite schedule.

Do It Yourself

These basic steps apply to most programmable thermostats, though the manufacturer’s installation guide should be the main source of instruction. 

1. The first step is to turn off the power supply to the thermostat. This is a safety measure—you will be handling electrical wires!
2. Carefully remove the old thermostat; old thermostats may contain mercury and should be disposed in accordance with your local recycling standards.
3. After removing the wall plate, you will be able to distinguish either two or four wires. Label the wires based upon where they were attached on your old thermostat. Knot or otherwise secure them to the wall to prevent them from falling back into the wall.
4. Install the new wall plate using a drill, level, and/or drywall anchors if where necessary.
5. Connect the wires as directed in the owner’s manual and install batteries, if required.
6. Mount the unit to the wall plate and restore the power to your thermostat. You will need to follow the manufacturer’s directions to program the new unit. Most come with preset settings and require only slight personalization.