July 5, 2016

How To Move A Thermostat Our customers often ask about thermostats, and many of them want to know if it’s possible to move a thermostat on their own. They’re interested in how they should approach moving their thermostat and the potential benefits of moving one.

Fortunately, in many cases, moving a thermostat is a DIY job that requires a few basic tools. In fact, if you’re moving the thermostat to an adjacent wall or replacing the interface, the project may last just an hour or less. In some cases, though, an HVAC specialist may be required for advanced wiring and thermostat installation.

Why Move Your Thermostat?

In general, there are two reasons people want to move their thermostat. First, the thermostat is unsightly. It’s been poorly placed before the homeowner bought the house, or after a remodel, the existing thermostat suddenly sticks out like a sore thumb. In these cases, the thermostat may be moved to a different position on the same wall or moved onto the adjacent surface of the wall.

Secondly, another common reason to move the thermostat is to better balance air. A poorly placed thermostat can cause uneven heating or cooling throughout the house. For example, a room with many large windows heats up much faster than other areas of the house, and if the thermostat is in that room, it may trigger the furnace off before the home is properly heated. Similarly, a thermostat placed near a drafty area like around the garage door, can cause misreading and lead to uneven distribution of air.

Tips for Moving Your Thermostat

There are two instances when moving your thermostat may be a DIY project: Replacements and moving the thermostat to an adjacent surface. In both cases, you do not need to rewire the thermostat, which often requires the help of an HVAC specialist.

Remember to first cut power to your HVAC system before working on the project.

Here are some steps to follow after that:
  • Remove the interface from the back panel, and slowly disconnect the cables.
  • Remove the back panel from the wall.
  • Install the new back panel, before reconnecting the cables to the new thermostat interface. It’s very important that the wires are connected to the correct ports. If not, the unit will not work properly, and in some cases, it may fail.

When moving the thermostat to an adjacent wall, you would follow the same first few steps. Instead of installing the new thermostat though, you would need to drill a hole in the adjacent wall and install the new back panel. Then, using a wire fishing tool, you would pull the wires through the new hole, before connecting the thermostat interface.

When to Call an HVAC Specialist

When to Call an HVAC Specialist Moving a thermostat to a new room far away from the existing cables can be difficult for people with little experience with electrical work. These projects require advanced knowledge of wiring. With wired systems, for example, a cable must run from the HVAC unit to the wall where the thermostat will be installed. This often requires the walls to be opened, which may be a difficult task for some.

Even if you choose a wireless thermostat, a sensor must still be installed on the HVAC unit, which can be difficult for people without the knowledge of the parts of a furnace. If the sensor is not properly installed, the thermostat may perform correctly.

Do you need your thermostat moved to a different area in PA? Comfort Pro, Inc. is here to help. Call us today at (610) 215-9091 or use our contact page for a free estimate!

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