For the Do-It-Yourselfer In You

Replace Your Old Thermostat

An electronic (pogrammable) thermostat is easy to isntall and can help cut your home heating costs.

Your new thermostat should come with a good instruction guide, which should include how to deal with a number of wiring configurations.

Old thermostats are wired at very low-voltage, so there is very little shock risk. But to be on the safe side, flip the breaker to cut the power.

1. Remove the cover from your old thermostat. It might just pop off, or there might be screws holding it in place. Don't remove the entire unit yet, just the front plate or cover.
   
   
2. Inside your old thermostat, there will be a number of wires,all fastened to points inside the unit and disappearing back into the wall. Each wire will be labeled (either on the wire itself, or at the connection point) with a letter. With labels that come with your new thermostat, or pieces of masking tape, clearly mark each wire.
   
   
3. Disconnect each wire, taking great care not to let them fall back into the wall. The labels are likely large enough to keep them from falling through the hole, but you need to watch them. Wrap them around a pencil, or clip them together with a large binder clip. The last thing you need is to have to fish a skinny little wire back up through that hole.
   
   
4. Once all the wires are disconnected and labeled, then you can remove the rest of the old thermostat unit from the wall. You should now have a hole in your wall, with a number of wires sticking out.
   
   
5. Your new thermostat will have a hole in the back for the wires to come through. Pull the bundle of wires through, and place the unit against the wall. Use a level to make sure it's straight and attach to the wall, using the screws provided. You can also use anchors if you wish.
   
   
6. Ok, now you have your new unit in place and it's time to reconnect all those wires. Read the instruction manual carefully at this point. Depending on your existing wiring, you will likely only have to match up the wires (G goes to G, and Y goes to Y, for example). But your manual will explain how to arrange the wires if the letters are not the same. Most configurations can be adjusted for.
   
   
7. Put new batteries in your thermostat, and put the front cover in place. Your thermostat should be up and running at this point. You will need to follow the manufacturer's directions to learn how to program the unit.

Don't Have Time to Replace it Yourself?

At Frank & Lindy, we ALWAYS have time for great customers like you, and that includes answering your questions about replacing an existing thermostat.

If you’d like us to replace it for you – or and add new thermostats as part of a zoning system to help cut your energy costs even more – you’ll save $25 on each new thermostat installation (when you purchase the thermostats from us) with the coupon below. 

Stay tuned next month for another do-it-yourself project to help you save money on your heating, plumbing, and other indoor comfort projects.

914-930-4922
845-809-4025
Click here to ask questions or schedule service now