At CNET we have lauded the sensible thermostat’s capabilities to economize, revolutionize your property cooling and heating, and connect with different home equipment like dehumidifiers in distinctive methods. But new consumers additionally have to find out about set up.
At first look, sensible thermostat set up can look intimidating, with a number of units of wires and punctiliously labeled contact that it’s worthwhile to get appropriate. That’s a step above putting in one thing like a wired video doorbell however the excellent news is — seems to be apart — most householders can nonetheless deal with it with a screwdriver and a little bit of endurance.
When I reached out to the nonprofit Energy Trust of Oregon, they gave me a number of tips on tips on how to begin: “You’ll need to be certain that the mannequin is appropriate together with your heating and cooling system,” their spokesperson stated, “That’s actually vital, particularly when you have what’s generally known as a multi-stage system or one that allows you to alter the quantity of air blowing into your property with settings like low, medium and excessive.”
But that is simply the beginning of the story. Here’s precisely how one can set up your individual sensible thermostat, tips to make it simple and what to do in case you assume you are in over your head.
Read extra: Best Smart Thermostats: Tested and Reviewed in 2025
Check compatibility before you purchase a wise thermostat
Smart thermostats do have some wiring wants however most ought to be appropriate with your property.
In addition to checking when you have a multi-stage local weather system, there are a number of different vital compatibility checks that it’s worthwhile to make earlier than you click on the purchase button on a brand new thermostat. You should set up sensible thermostats in the identical location as your previous thermostat and the wiring there comes with necessities that may differ a bit from residence to residence. Pay shut consideration to:
- Whether the thermostat wants a C-wire: The C or frequent wire (normally clearly labeled) is a low-voltage wire that may present energy to a thermostat. Some thermostats require a C-wire to work. Others, just like the Nest Learning Thermostat, do not want a C-wire. Learn in case your thermostat decide wants one and if your property has one. Sometimes, you possibly can set up an adapter (Ecobee fashions even provide a package for this) to beat this downside however that is a better stage {of electrical} work.
- Whether the thermostat wants to hook up with high-voltage wiring: Some thermostats want to regulate high-voltage home equipment, notably massive electrical heaters. But the typical sensible thermostat cannot deal with high-voltage present. If you’ve gotten huge electrical baseboards or an electrical furnace, your property is probably not prepared for a wise thermostat. Thermostats are normally labeled 120V or larger, or have L1/L2 contact factors in the event that they’re excessive voltage.
- Whether the thermostat has stranded wires: Some sensible thermostats, like Nest’s, do not help stranded wire connections, that are sometimes uncommon.
Companies do provide on-line compatibility checks to assist with this course of. You’ll in all probability need to detach your previous thermostat and check out the wiring to know for sure — however that is good follow.
Unbox your new thermostat and dismount your previous mannequin
Man takes cowl off thermostat on wall.
Examine the items of your new thermostat. You ought to have a mounting plate, which screws to the wall, and the thermostat face, which attaches to the mounting plate (different equipment can differ). Pay particular consideration to the mounting plate contact factors, which is the place you will be connecting the wires.
Disconnect the ability to the thermostat at your breaker field. Breakers are normally labeled with heating/cooling/HVAC labels, which ought to embody your thermostat, so shut all these off. If your temperature has guide controls, alter them to power the system to activate, and wait a couple of minutes to see if it does (it mustn’t). You need to make sure that each wire within the thermostat is lifeless earlier than you proceed.
If you have not already disconnected your previous thermostat from the wall, detach the quilt gently. Leave the wires related to contacts — don’t take away them right now!
Photograph and doc your wiring earlier than disconnecting
In-depth directions assist information newcomers by way of the set up course of, so long as they’re comfy with some wires.
Use your telephone or get a good friend to assist and take a photograph of the wiring within the previous thermostat’s contacts, with names like Y1, G, AQ-/+, W1, and so forth. Make certain the picture has a transparent view of the contacts and their labels (you possibly can take multiple).
You can even label particular person wires with bits of tape however that is extra time consuming and normally really useful when you have wires which might be the identical colours, otherwise you’re colorblind and like to tag the wires. Good information — many sensible thermostat kits additionally include little sticky labels you should utilize for this objective.
Unscrew and take away the previous thermostat and screw within the new mounting plate
Installing an Ecobee thermostat plate on a wall with wires within the middle
Disconnect the wires (some use screw contacts, others use tabs), then unscrew the previous mounting plate completely (if essential), and take away the previous thermostat completely. Guide all of the wires by way of the central gap of the brand new thermostat mounting place, and screw the plate in utilizing its screws. Use a screwdriver, not a drill. At this level, you could need to convey out a lever and ensure the thermostat is stage earlier than you screw all of it the way in which in.
You could need to drill new holes within the wall however sensible thermostat firms design their mounting to slot in commonplace thermostat gaps so this is not usually an issue. If you do have to drill holes, use a stud finder with wire-sensing know-how to look the hole, so you do not drill into any of the thermostat’s wires.
Reconnect the wires to the proper contacts and mount the thermostat
Google’s app directions facet by facet with organizing Nest thermostat wires.
With the mounting plate screwed in, you might be prepared to attach the wires to the correct contacts. Consult the photographs you took or your tags, placing every wire coloration into the correct contact and ensuring it’s totally related. If the wires are particularly tangled, manage them a bit earlier than connecting. Sometimes wires can have totally different labels than the brand new contact factors: Here’s a information on what wire names imply and one other helpful information on which slot wires go into if labels do not fairly match.
Your wires should not normally require stripping or different upkeep but when they’re in poor situation (cracked, badly cut up, and so on.) you could need to clip and strip with a pair of pliers earlier than this step.
With all wires in the best contact factors, join the thermostat face to the mounting plate. The thermostat ought to lock in place so it is totally related on all sides to the plate.
Connect the brand new thermostat to Wi-Fi to begin the setup
The Google Home app means that you can alter temps, schedules and wi-fi sensors.
With the laborious work executed, flip your energy again on and energy up the thermostat with a contact or twist so it powers on. Head to your app and proceed the setup process, inputting your Wi-Fi password when directed. Your thermostat will in all probability have to use a number of firmware updates right now.
Now you are prepared to begin exploring thermostat options, setting new schedules and selecting settings to assist it study your habits and begin saving cash.
Important notice: The new thermostat could also be a special dimension than the previous thermostat, which suggests it might depart unpainted or unaged wall marks behind once you’re executed. You can normally repair this with a little bit of home paint or by utilizing a thermostat trim package that matches your wall properly.
What if I’m not occupied with putting in my thermostat myself?
You do not need to — sensible thermostats make it quite simple to attach with a neighborhood electrician on the time of buy and organize an set up date, . It can value as much as $200 on common, relying largely in your location.
If you need to save, go searching for offers on knowledgeable set up. Your native electricians could provide these offers in sure seasons. I’ve additionally seen some manufacturers, like Nest, provide a free set up with the acquisition of a brand new mannequin.
For extra data, bounce on over to our items on the perfect sensible thermostat settings for spring, tips on how to save utilizing residence tech and the way a lot cash residence safety gadgets can prevent every month.
