Thermostat Upgrade- A Primer

The primary function of your thermostat, such as the Nest thermostat, is to accurately read as well as regulate your home’s overall temperature, keeping it at a stable and comfortable level. Your Honeywell thermostat helps make sure that you stay warm and comfy on cold winter nights and cool on hot and sultry summer days.

As a homeowner, you are now used to living in uninterrupted comfort. This is regardless of what the outdoor temperature might be like. Note that this is why it is essential that you schedule your heating and AC installation, repair, replacement, and maintenance services with trained and skilled professionals.

Also, it is worth noting that even if the HVAC system in your home is working well, you can make some relatively small changes to help you receive better performance levels from your system. Note that upgrading your thermostat is one of these changes. Also, keep in mind that you can easily upgrade your existing thermostat to a model that does a lot more than merely adjust your home’s temperature.

We can define a smart thermostat, such as Nest Learning Thermostat and Honeywell thermostat, as a Wi-Fi thermostat that you can easily control with an internet-connected device, such as your smartphone.

You will be pleased to know that a programmable thermostat, such as Nest Thermostat E, often comes with many advanced and automated features that help you save money and monitor energy consumption in your home.

Reasons to Upgrade to a Smart or Programmable Thermostat

Here are a few excellent reasons why a smart or Wi-Fi thermostat installation can be an ideal investment for your home.

Improve Air Quality

You will be happy to know that smart thermostats indirectly improve the indoor air quality of your home. Did you know that some smart thermostats can also easily track air quality as well as pollen levels in the home and turn on your purification system whenever pollen levels are high?

For example, your Honeywell thermostat reports when it is the best time to change the air filters. Keep in mind that making this important change when you need it will help maintain quality air in your home or living space.

User-Friendly Design and Interface

This is another excellent reason to upgrade to a smart thermostat, such as Nest Thermostat E. It is worth noting that smart thermostats as well as their apps are carefully designed with a clean and simple interface, making temperature management in your home an absolute breeze.

Note that their modern, sleek, and user-friendly appearance and design make these devices visually appealing and straightforward for users to understand and read.

Save Money

You will be able to save money on your utility bills with a programmable thermostat. And you can benefit from even more considerable cost savings if you combine a smart thermostat in your home with a reliable, energy-efficient HVAC system.

In addition to their informative and valuable reports, smart thermostats also provide you with energy-saving tips regarding how you can modify the temperature settings in order to slash energy costs without compromising on your comfort.

More Convenience

Are you looking to make your home better and more convenient with its laundry machines and dishwasher? If yes, you should consider using a high-quality programmable thermostat. Note that these devices are easy to program and allow you to easily set your HVAC system’s overall performance around your personal schedule.

When do I Need to Fix My Thermostat?

If your current thermostat is broken, you will have to replace it. However, note that sometimes, determining whether the issue is with your thermostat or the HVAC unit is challenging. Here are some signs that your thermostat needs replacement.

Your Thermostat is Unresponsive or has no Power

Keep in mind that if there isn’t any change in the temperature of your home when you try to change the temperature, or your thermostat’s display is unresponsive or unlit, your Nest thermostat might be broken, or you may have to replace its batteries.

Your Heater or AC will not Turn on

If your AC or heating unit is not turning on, there may be an issue, such as a wiring defect, in your thermostat. This is one of the most apparent signs of a broken thermostat. If you adjust the thermostat and don’t get any response from your air conditioner, furnace, or heat pump, this may mean that your thermostat is not working.

For example, if your cooling or heating system continuously runs without turning off, it may mean that the thermostat wiring is frayed.

HVAC System Regularly Short-Cycles

Did you know that short-cycling happens when the HVAC system in your home shuts off too early, failing to complete an entire cooling or heating cycle? Note that this can result in poor or ineffective cooling and heating, which means that your indoor temperature and environment won’t be comfortable.

Inaccurate Thermostat Display

You probably know that most thermostats have a convenient display (excluding all non-programmable thermostats). You should know that when this display is blank, not showing standard information like the current temperature, or isn’t reading the correct temperature, this likely means it needs replacement.

Thermostat Buttons are not Working

Keep in mind that if your Nest thermostat has several buttons for programming and these buttons are not working, it may mean that these buttons have faulty or loose wires. Rather than fixing these buttons, sometimes, it is best to simply replace your Honeywell thermostat.

How to Upgrade My Thermostat?

You will be happy to know that installing a smart or programmable thermostat will likely have a considerable effect on your monthly cooling and heating bills.

Remove the Old Thermostat

You should turn off the breaker to your air conditioning and furnace system and remove the cover of your current thermostat to make sure that all the wires connected to the terminals are easily visible. Keep in mind that you might only find 2 wires, or, in some cases, you might find up to 8 wires.

This will depend on the kind of HVAC system that you use. It is worth noting that the covers of many mechanical thermostats easily pop off with any screwdriver. However, some are held securely with one or two screws.

You should remove the screw or screws holding the old thermostat to your wall. After that, carefully pull the old thermostat out, but leave all of its wires connected.

List all the Connections

Note that you will see that each electric wire usually has a different color. It is best to take some time to carefully label all the wires that make up the current installation. You should jot down which colored wires, such as yellow, are connected to each terminal, and also keep this list handy.

Replace the Backboard

After turning off the power supply to your furnace, carefully disconnect all of the wires from their terminals. You should remove the backboard of your old thermostat. After removing it, replace it carefully with the new backboard for your programmable thermostat.

Reconnect Wires

Now it is time to retrieve that list from the second step and reconnect all the electric wires that were connected to your old device to the same terminals of your new thermostat. And you don't have to worry if you find some terminals on your new device that aren’t connected to any wire. Did you know that it is a common practice for many installers to utilize a cable with a few more conductors?

You just have to carefully push all the extra wires right back into your wall and leave only those wires that are connected to the thermostat.

Place Your New Thermostat on the Backboard

Now you have to place your new thermostat on the backboard that you have installed on your wall. You should turn the power on to your furnace and then check your new thermostat for proper and smooth operation. You can now enjoy your new, smart thermostat and the many benefits that often come with it.

Should I Upgrade My Thermostat?

Generally, you would like to upgrade your Nest thermostat because of the same reasons or problems that you upgrade any other component of your home’s systems. It is worth noting that as thermostats tend to age and gradually wear out, they start experiencing similar problems or issues as older air conditioners or heaters.

While upgrading your Honeywell thermostat might seem like a hassle, keep in mind that it will likely save you plenty of money. And that is not all; you will be pleased to know that newer models come with many benefits and conveniences that will help make your home or indoor space safer, more comfortable, and efficient.

Here are some reasons upgrading your thermostat makes a lot of sense.

More Efficient

An upgrade to a Wi-Fi thermostat means considerably more energy efficiency for your home. You will be happy to know that the latest thermostats in the market, such as Honeywell Lyric T5, are programmable and carefully designed to use significantly less energy, reduce costs and prevent waste.

Did you know that these devices are more advanced and usually have better and more accurate control over both the temperature and indoor air quality? Also, you will find many thermostats on the market with energy star ratings.

Some other benefits of upgrading your old thermostat are that it also helps you save the cost of replacing air conditioners, air ducts, and furnaces. Note that replacing large and expensive HVAC equipment is considerably more expensive than simply replacing the thermostat.

Solve Common and Pesky Thermostat Issues and Problems

You may know that another problem or issue with old thermostats is that these devices can experience many complications. It is worth noting that poor thermostat placement, grime, and dirt buildup, as well as poor electrical connections, all lower your thermostat’s efficiency and performance.

However, keep in mind that new programmable thermostats are usually more accurate and tend to last longer without requiring a lot of maintenance. As a result, you will benefit from consistent temperatures without worrying about energy regulation.

Safety

Did you know that unlike old thermostats, most modern thermostats, such as Honeywell thermostats, don’t use mercury? There is no doubt that mercury can be harmful to people and is also toxic to the environment. And new thermostat models are much safer for our environment, too. This is because they are considerably more eco-friendly than older models. These devices use less energy.

Benefit from Zoning Capability

When you pair them with compatible cooling and heating devices in your home, smart thermostats also give you more flexibility. Note that with a smart or programmable thermostat, you will have access to zoning. Keep in mind that zoning allows you to easily set particular temperatures for specific parts of the home.

For instance, using the different settings on your Wi-Fi thermostat, you can easily set the ideal temperature in all the occupied rooms in your home and set different, energy-efficient temperatures in other rooms.

Ease of Use

It is no secret that newer thermostats, such as a Nest thermostat, are simpler to use. These devices feature touch screens rather than knobs and dials.

Smart thermostats also have convenient lights. This means that you can easily see these devices in the dark. This is why there’s no need to wake anyone up just to adjust the thermostat. And note that the data from the smart thermostat is much more accessible when you upgrade your thermostat.

What to Know Before Upgrading Your Thermostat?

You need a Wi-Fi Connection

As a homeowner, you will always require a Wi-Fi network in order to make the most of all the benefits of a programmable or smart thermostat. This is because only Wi-Fi will enable connections to your smartphone, tablet, and many other smart-home devices.

Know Your Voltage System

Did you know that most smart thermostats, like Nest thermostats and Honeywell thermostats, only work with “low voltage” or 24v HVAC systems? It is essential to ensure that your HVAC system is fully compatible before trying to hook up the latest thermostat.

You will need a Mobile App for Smartphone Control

Keep in mind that home installation is not the only part of the installation process. This is because a smart or programmable thermostat also requires installation on your smartphone, laptop, or tablet.

You may know that every smart thermostat, such as Nest Thermostat E, pairs with a free mobile application from the same company that offers remote access.

Consider Your Existing Smart-home System when Determining the Best Model

You likely know that today’s smart or programmable thermostats not just do an excellent job of automating as well as monitoring temperature settings in your home, but they are also more integrated with your home.

You will be happy to know that most are compatible with some of the biggest names in reliable smart-home voice assistants, such as Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, and Microsoft Cortana.

This is why when shopping for a suitable thermostat for your home, it is vital that you choose a model that is compatible with your current smart-home system.

The best thing is that many modern smart-home thermostats can easily connect to multiple systems instead of only one. One great example is Honeywell’s Lyric Smart Wi-Fi Thermostat. This device integrates with Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, and many other systems.

When to Hire an Electrician for a Service Upgrade?

Unlike many older thermostats, most smart thermostats usually require a C-wire. This wire provides 24V of electricity in order to power features like Wi-Fi communication and lighted touch screens. If you’re moderately handy, then you may scoff at the thought of hiring a professional electrician to help upgrade or install a new thermostat.

Note that in most cases, you would be right. However, if you want to install a brand new “smart” thermostat that requires a continuous and uninterrupted power supply, and don’t have a C-wire, then you will likely need professional help in order to install the new device correctly.

Note that many new homes usually have a C-wire; however, some older homes do not. And in those cases, you should hire an experienced electrician to install the unit. It is always an excellent idea to consult with a professional to ensure that your smart thermostat is installed correctly. Also, if something goes wrong, it could damage your home or even lead to an accident like an electrical shock. By hiring a professional, you will have the peace of mind knowing that your job is being done right the first time.