Installing a programmable thermostat - how hard?

Couple of quick questions for those that have programmable thermostats ...

What model do you have?

Did you install it yourself? And if so how easy/difficult was it?

I called Whitman Mechanical to inquire about installing 1 and they use the Honeywell T8600 model - they quoted $280 for the unit and the install.

Seems a bit high given that that Honeywell unit is available via the web for ~$120. I can't see an installation costing $160.

So, I'm considering either ordering it online and *gulp* potentially installing it myself, OR hiring someone to install it.

Appreciate your input!

 

I installed one myself in my first home 20 years ago. no real knowledge, just read the directions. it's all low voltage.
Just make sure you know if you have a real air conditioner or a heat pump. it makes a difference which thermostat you buy. the heat pump thermostat is more expensive because it has to bring the temperature up gradually.
BTW, if you have the option, get one with a battery backup so you don't have to reprogram if the power goes out!

 

It's about 6 wires and takes about 10 minutes.

 

I had a feeling it was a simple thing ... I think I'll order it and read the instructions.

Worse case, I'd be willing to pay one of you kind neighbors to install it! *hint hint*

Thanks much!

 

I agree, they are pretty straightforward. We installed Rite Temp thermostats from Home Depot. I think the backlit one was aroudnd $80, and the non-backlit one was about $50.

One word of advice: make sure you have enough available wire in your wall to install the thermostat you want to use. I originally bought a Honeywell model, but it required that I install the wires onto the thermostat before</u> mounting it on the wall. Anyway, when Whitman wired my original thermostat, they only left me with about 2" of wire to work with, and no amount of "pulling" got me any more. I had to return the Honeywell unit and get the Rite Temp one, which allows you to prewire the wires onto a base plate that you install before installing the thermostat itself. If this seems confusing, take a look at a couple of thermostats and you will see what I am talking about.

 

Hmm, that's an excellent point ... and seeing as Whitman also wired my original thermostat, I may be in the same situation ...

 

Right. I got a Rite Temp one also and the base/mouting plate helped out a lot (but i had a ton of wire).

Nobody has mentioned (and I should have at first) that it's almost idiotproof. All the wires and terminals are color coded, so you just match up colors, screw them down and you're done.

Also, you may want to consider the footprint of your current thermostat when choosing a replacement if you've painted recently. If you get a replacement that isn't roughly the same size and a little bit larger, you'll have to touch-up the wall where the old one was that the new one doesn't cover.

One more thing, if you don't want to drill any more holes or install any togglebolts/wall anchors, try to look for one that matches up with your current mounting pattern so you can reuse the anchors that are already there.

These aren't necessary, but it'll cut 15min off install if you don't have to touch up paint and install new anchors.

 

I just checked the Home Depot site and I see the units you're talking about ... I'm going to stop off after work and take a look - I think the GPMG8050 ($39.97 ea) will work perfectly, and should cover the existing thermostat area nicely ...

 

Shoot ... I ordered the programmable's when I had the house built . Of course, this is my third house, and I'd changed out the thermostats in both of the others. I didn't want to do it again !!

Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

Just remember to shut off power to your unit. Otherwise, it's quite easy to blow a fuse in your furnace. Also, if you are going from a thermostat that uses direct power to one that uses a battery, I believe the wiring is a little different as you wouldn't connect the wire that is the source of the power. If I remember correctly, it's the blue wire.

 

I did just that when I installed ours and had a couple days of no heat on one level while I tracked down the fuse. It wasn't carried by Home Depot or Lowe's. The fuse itself was only a couple dollars, and replacing it was easy, but I'd not want to go through it again.

 

By shutting off the power to the unit I assume you mean flip off the breakers in the box in the garage, yes? That's what I planned to do, but just want to make sure that there's not something else that needs to be shut off ...

 

That's all I did. I also cut power to the corresponding A/C unit, too, just to be safe.

 

Okay, taking all of this advice, we're going to install a programmable thermostat. The question is, how to tell if we have a heat pump? We live in the courtyard homes -- is this something standard, or does it vary home to home?

Thanks!

 

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but if you have gas heat, you don't have a heat pump. We are in a Courtyard home and have a dual zone heat/AC system, with a gas furnace and electric AC unit for each zone. I'm pretty sure that you would have the same.

Do any of Van Metre's SFH's use heat pumps?

 

Do you hear the gas light up before the heat comes on? =) That's the easiest way to tell IMO, since outdoor heat pumps and AC units look similar.

Anyways, installing the thermostat is easy.... I want to get one of the cool new ones with the touch screen... that would be niiice =) What would be even better is electric dampers that shut off certain rooms that you aren't in at night, etc. but I guess then you would need a separate temp sensor in each room.... *sigh*, I can dream...

 

Hmm...I think I do hear the gas kick on before the heat comes on. It's a little different here in VA, I'm sure. He already picked up one of those nifty touch-screen models. Let's hope it works!

 

My installs went swimingly! Both thermostats (ritetemps from Home Depot) are working perfectly!

 

After reading these posts I too got my thermostats from home depot. I finished installing in the main level. I am lucky to not blow off any fuse as I forgot to turn off the power. I will be careful when I do the upper level. I didn't realize before that these thermostats run on batteries. Does anyone know how long before I need a replacement. Thanks for all your suggestions.

 

OK, I thought this would be easy since I've installed programmable thermostats before. However, I guess I never did one in a 2 zone house. I bought 2 Hunter Set & Save thermostats. I installed the lower floor and it worked great. I then installed the upper floor and it has not gone so well. I looked in the furnace and noticed that only the red and white wires were connected for the uppoer floor; however, I am certain that the red, white, green, and yellow were attached in the old thermostat so I made the same connections. Still no joy. Anyone else have similar issues?

I have swapped the two thermostats and both work well on the lower floor.