Forget the
stock market. Few hour-long
home-improvement projects will pay
year-in, year-out cost-savings
dividends like replacing your old
thermostat with a new programmable
- or "automatic setback"
- model. Depending on the severity
of the winters where you live, you
could realize a savings of up to
35 percent on your yearly energy
bills. Who wouldn't want to do
that?
Quick tip: when shopping for your
new thermostat, check the
thermostat package to ensure it is
compatible with your home's
system.
SKILL
SCALE Easy
TIME
REQUIRED
You
can buy, install, and program your
new thermostat all in the space of
a morning.
TOOLS
Screwdriver
MATERIALS
Programmable
thermostat
Masking tape
STEPS
Turn
off the power to your heating and
air-conditioning system at the
main service panel. Remove the old
thermostat cover plate.
Unscrew
the thermostat mounting screws,
and remove the thermostat body.
Label
the low-voltage wires to identify
their screw-terminal locations
using masking tape. Then
disconnect the wires.
Remove
the thermostat base by loosening
the mounting screws. Tape the
wires to the wall to prevent them
from slipping into the wall cavity.
Thread
the low-voltage wires through the
base of the new thermostat. Mount
the thermostat base on the wall
using the screws included with the
thermostat.
Connect
the low-voltage wires to the
appropriate screw terminals on the
thermostat base. Follow the
installation diagram in your new
thermostat's owner's manual.
Locate
the low-voltage transformer that
powers the thermostat. The
transformer usually is located
near the heating/air-conditioning
system or inside a furnace access
panel. Tighten any loose wire
connections, and make sure the
wires and sheathing are in good
condition.
Install
the battery or batteries in the
thermostat body, and attach the
body to the thermostat base.
Restore power, and program the
thermostat as desired.
