Replacing a thermostat

7 years ago

We want to replace our thermostat. I'm going to be a bit ignorant of what questions I need to ask here.

Our current thermostat must manually be changed from heat to cool and we want one that does that transition automatically. We would like it to be wireless (wireless, yes, Nest NO!) so that we can move it some place else (possibly multiple places as we remodel different rooms).

We normally have a spring/fall service and we were thinking of piggybacking this change on that service. The question I have is can we get a thermostat and have it ready for the service person? If so, what do I need to know when shopping for a thermostat?

I know that different thermostats have a different number of wires at the control box. If we go wireless, do we need to get a wireless unit that mimics our wire configuration?

Also, any recommendations about what to buy? We want reasonable cost, not $$$. No changing from heat-cool (ie furnace/AC manually). We would prefer something that has more like a 3-5 degree swing before kicking on rather than one that kicks on everytime it drops 1 degree below target.

Basic programability - we don't need fancy stuff - we are already considerably more efficient than anyone in the neighborhood. Preferably high level of security.

Thoughts?

Featured Answer

Elmer J Fudd

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

I always push back on people who try to sell something with fear, as the tone of preceding post does.

I had some HVAC work done recently, including replacing stats. I found what I wanted (a device made by a well known and long respected big name in the market) and told the contractor the brand, model and price I found. The next day, the response was "I can't give you such a low price, go ahead and buy it and we'll install it". Done.

Thermostats these days are digital devices, either they're broke when new or they'll last for 20 years. In fact, one of the pieces of equipment I received was defective and I needed to return it and get a replacement. The manufacturer's warranty is adequate in most cases. Besides, most honest HVAC contractors don't want to be bothered with stat problems, it's small change profit-wise and a time commitment with little pay-back if there's a problem.

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Comments (8)

sktn77a
7 years ago
Call your service company first to see if they will install a user-provided thermostat. Most won't.
mike_home
7 years ago
What would be the purpose of buying a thermostat and handing it to the service tech to install it? Are you trying to save some money? The service company is probably not going to install your thermostat, but if they did then you run the risk of having them install something with which they have no experience.

I think the Honeywell Vision Pro has an auto changeover feature. The factory default is the feature is turned off. It has to be turned on during the installation.

The WiFi and auto changeover are "fancy" features in my opinion. You should expect to pay about $250 if you bought the thermostat yourself. Thermostats with WiFi usually need a C wire (ground). Your current thermostat may not use this wire and it may not be available. If a spare wire is not present then an additional wire will need to be run from the furnace.
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That is an old thermostat. I have never seen a thermostat with soldered connections! Is the HVAC system the same age as the thermostat? If it is I would love to see pictures of that too. If you have heating and cooling, and you can control the fan, then you need at least 4 wires (Power, heating, cooling, and fan). If you have independent transformers for heating and cooling, then you need two power connections which makes 5 wires. It is difficult to tell how this thermostat is connected. Do you have any documentation? Can you trace the wires back to the furnace and AC? At the very least you will have to figure out the function of each wire. See if the terminals are marked at either end. I don't think the color of the wire is going to help. Most WiFi thermostats required a ground connection. I can't tell if this thermostat has one or not. I am not aware of any WiFi thermostats selling for $100.
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I did a little shopping. I'm a contractor but a big Ebay fan as well. Try this link and see if this will help HERE. This is a nice Carrier thermidistat. I'm not familiar with this particular model but service systems that use this series and they're great. Also, if you have trouble replacing the thermostat, I have step by step instructions on my DIY blog, HERE. Replacing a thermostat is a snap as long as the contractor that installed the last one used a standard wiring protocol. You may already know this, but: R - Red. This is the switching leg of the low voltage controls Y - Yellow. This is the cooling input. If there is a Y1 and Y2, this is for first and second stage cooling G - Green. Fan wire W - White. Heat O or Bl - Orange or Blue. This is for the reversing valve. Most manufacturers use O, meaning the reversing valve is energized in cooling mode. Rheem/Rhudd is an exception. Bl - Blue. Usually this is common but not always Check out the step by step instructions on the link above. It's really easy. Also, hope the link to ebay helps. This one is $150, not bad.
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Mary Townsend
Original Author
7 years ago
We are remodeling our entire house. We already had to move the thermostat once and had to have the service people come out to fix the fact that we didn't get it right after we put up new drywall. We want to avoid this with a "wireless" thermostat NOT a WiFi thermostat.

We are looking to have zero wires from the furnace to the thermostat so that as we move the thermostat from wall to wall as the remodel progresses, we do not have issues.
mike_home
7 years ago
Sorry I misunderstand what you meant by wireless. I think you can get a Honeywell Vision Pro thermostat which has a wireless connection to the thermostat. Honeywell calls it their Redlink technology. You will have to wire the Redlink interface module at the furnace so it can communicate with the thermostat. Once that is done the thermostat can be moved to anywhere in the house.
PRO
Austin Air Companie
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Any product you buy 'on your own', the warranty of that product becomes your responsibility. If you buy a thermostat at Home Depot or Lowes for example their return policy is about 90 days. This is 'if' you can find someone willing to install your thermostat.

Something you supply isn't covered by any warranty from who installs it. Given the type you are looking for you will likely have to buy it over the internet to go the route you a trying to go... any problems buying the wrong thing leads to more return hassles.

This is why it's 'almost' always better to buy directly from your HVAC service provider so that you get the full warranty from them, because we deal directly with Thermostat manufacturer's there are no return hassles in the event of a bad thermostat. (while problems with stats are low, they do fail just like anything else.)
PRO
Austin Air Companie
7 years ago
Some thermostats will not work with all types of equipment. If the system acts up regardless if it is a stat problem or not who are you going to call for service?

The manufacturer? no.

The web portal? no.

The HVAC contractor? ... you're getting warmer.
Elmer J Fudd
7 years ago
I shortened the typing to keep it simple. I'd spoken to the HVAC contractor before starting to look, to be sure I considered only compatible models with the right features.

The new ones are Honeywells and were installed as part of a complete equipment replacement job. They replace Honeywells that I put on 25 years ago. (Honeywell makes many of the stats that are sold with equipment company nameplates) I don't expect anything to "act up" but if there is a problem, of course I will call the contractor.

Replacing a thermostat

Elmer J Fudd

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