Smart Thermostat Installation Guide: How to Handle It Yourself

At CNET we have lauded the good thermostat’s features to economize, revolutionize your own home cooling and heating, and hook up with different home equipment like dehumidifiers in distinctive techniques. But new patrons additionally wish to learn about set up.

At first look, good thermostat set up can glance intimidating, with a number of units of wires and in moderation classified touch that you wish to have to get right kind. That’s a step above putting in one thing like a stressed out video doorbell however the excellent news is — appears apart — most householders can nonetheless deal with it with a screwdriver and just a little of endurance.

When I reached out to the nonprofit Energy Trust of Oregon, they gave me a couple of tips on find out how to get started: “You’ll wish to make certain the fashion is suitable along with your heating and cooling device,” their spokesperson stated, “That’s truly essential, particularly you probably have what is referred to as a multi-stage device or one that allows you to modify the quantity of air blowing into your own home with settings like low, medium and excessive.”

But that is only the start of the tale. Here’s precisely how you’ll set up your personal good thermostat, tips to make it simple and what to do in the event you suppose you are in over your head.

Read extra: Best Smart Thermostats: Tested and Reviewed in 2025

Check compatibility before you purchase a wise thermostat

In addition to checking you probably have a multi-stage local weather device, there are a couple of different essential compatibility tests that you wish to have to make prior to you click on the purchase button on a brand new thermostat. You should set up good thermostats in the similar location as your outdated thermostat and the wiring there comes with necessities that may range just a little from house to house. Pay shut consideration to:

• Whether the thermostat wishes a C-wire: The C or commonplace cord (most often obviously classified) is a low-voltage cord that may give energy to a thermostat. Some thermostats require a C-wire to paintings. Others, just like the Nest Learning Thermostat, are not looking for a C-wire. Learn in case your thermostat select wishes one and if your own home has one. Sometimes, you’ll set up an adapter (Ecobee fashions even be offering a package for this) to conquer this downside however that is a better degree {of electrical} paintings.
• Whether the thermostat wishes to hook up with high-voltage wiring: Some thermostats wish to keep an eye on high-voltage home equipment, particularly massive electrical warmers. But the common good thermostat cannot deal with high-voltage present. If you may have large electrical baseboards or an electrical furnace, your own home is probably not in a position for a wise thermostat. Thermostats are most often classified 120V or upper, or have L1/L2 touch issues if they are excessive voltage.
• Whether the thermostat has stranded wires: Some good thermostats, like Nest’s, do not make stronger stranded cord connections, that are normally uncommon.

Companies do be offering online compatibility checks to lend a hand with this procedure. You’ll most likely must detach your outdated thermostat and try the wiring to grasp for sure — however that is excellent apply.

Unbox your new thermostat and dismount your outdated fashion

Examine the items of your new thermostat. You must have a mounting plate, which screws to the wall, and the thermostat face, which attaches to the mounting plate (different equipment can range). Pay particular consideration to the mounting plate touch issues, which is the place you’ll be able to be connecting the wires.

Disconnect the facility to the thermostat at your breaker field. Breakers are most often classified with heating/cooling/HVAC labels, which must come with your thermostat, so close some of these off. If your temperature has guide controls, modify them to power the device to activate, and wait a couple of mins to peer if it does (it must now not). You wish to ensure that each cord within the thermostat is useless prior to you proceed.

If you have not already disconnected your outdated thermostat from the wall, detach the duvet gently. Leave the wires attached to contacts — don’t take away them right now!

Photograph and record your wiring prior to disconnecting

Use your telephone or get a chum to lend a hand and take a photograph of the wiring within the outdated thermostat’s contacts, with names like Y1, G, AQ-/+, W1, and so forth. Make positive the photograph has a transparent view of the contacts and their labels (you’ll take multiple).

You too can label particular person wires with bits of tape however that is extra time eating and most often advisable you probably have wires which are the similar colours, or you are colorblind and wish to tag the wires. Good information — many good thermostat kits additionally include little sticky labels you’ll use for this function.

Unscrew and take away the outdated thermostat and screw within the new mounting plate

Disconnect the wires (some use screw contacts, others use tabs), then unscrew the outdated mounting plate completely (if important), and take away the outdated thermostat completely. Guide the entire wires in the course of the central hollow of the brand new thermostat mounting position, and screw the plate in the usage of its screws. Use a screwdriver, now not a drill. At this level, chances are you’ll wish to convey out a lever and ensure the thermostat is degree prior to you screw it the entire manner in.

You could have to drill new holes within the wall however good thermostat corporations design their mounting to slot in usual thermostat gaps so this is not frequently an issue. If you do wish to drill holes, use a stud finder with wire-sensing generation to look the space, so you do not drill into any of the thermostat’s wires.

Reconnect the wires to the proper contacts and mount the thermostat

With the mounting plate screwed in, you’re ready to glue the wires to the right kind contacts. Consult the pictures you took or your tags, hanging every cord colour into the right kind touch and ensuring it’s absolutely attached. If the wires are particularly tangled, get them organized just a little prior to connecting. Sometimes wires can have other labels than the brand new touch issues: Here’s a guide on what wire names mean and every other handy guide on which slot wires go into if labels don’t quite match.

Your wires should not most often require stripping or different repairs but when they are in deficient situation (cracked, badly cut up, and many others.) chances are you’ll wish to clip and strip with a couple of pliers prior to this step.

With all wires in the precise touch issues, attach the thermostat face to the mounting plate. The thermostat must lock in position so it is absolutely attached on both sides to the plate.

Connect the brand new thermostat to Wi-Fi to begin the setup

With the laborious paintings performed, flip your energy again on and gear up the thermostat with a slightly or twist so it powers on. Head for your app and proceed the setup process, inputting your Wi-Fi password when directed. Your thermostat will most likely have to use a couple of firmware updates right now.

Now you are prepared to begin exploring thermostat options, atmosphere new schedules and opting for settings to lend a hand it be told your conduct and get started saving cash.

Important notice: The new thermostat could also be a unique dimension than the outdated thermostat, which means that it should depart unpainted or unaged wall marks at the back of when you find yourself performed. You can most often repair this with just a little of area paint or by way of the usage of a thermostat trim package that fits your wall smartly.

What if I’m now not inquisitive about putting in my thermostat myself?

You wouldn’t have to — good thermostats make it quite simple to hook up with an area electrician on the time of acquire and organize an set up date, . It can value as much as $200 on reasonable, relying in large part in your location.

If you wish to have to save lots of, go searching for offers on a certified set up. Your native electricians might be offering those offers in sure seasons. I’ve additionally observed some manufacturers, like Nest, be offering a unfastened set up with the acquisition of a brand new fashion.

For additional information, soar on over to our items on the most efficient good thermostat settings for spring, find out how to save the usage of house tech and what quantity of money house safety gadgets can prevent every month.