You're a do-it-yourself kind of person. You've done your fair share of home improvements and appliance installation. You know your way around a crescent wrench. You don't need any help when it comes to thermostat installation.
You've got this. You'll be fine. Everything will be fine. No reason to panic.
Right?
Improper Thermostat Installation & How It Can Ruin Everything
Everything could go wrong, but probably not in the way you're thinking. While it's possible to mess up the wiring of the thermostat, that's not the most common installation problem. The most common way people make mistakes during their thermostat installation is all about location, location, location.Not Too Hot, Not Too Cold
Here are some thing you should keep in mind when you're installing any programmable thermostat:- Do NOT install a thermostat on an exterior wall. If that wall is poorly insulated, your thermostat is going to think it's either too hot or too cold. You'll waste energy in summer and winter. Which is bad.
- Do NOT install a thermostat where there is a steady draft. You don't want your thermostat directly above or below a vent, since that is going to affect how it perceives interior temperature. Again, this is a recipe for wasting money.
- Do NOT install a thermostat in direct sunlight. Ideally, you don't want your thermostat exposed to sunlight at all. This isn't always possible, so minimize exposure as much as possible.
- Do NOT install a thermostat behind an obstruction like a door or bookshelf. Even though that spot might meet other thermostat installation guidelines, you'll come to hate the inconvenience when you want to change the temperature.
- If you're installing a smart thermostat, make sure it is in range of your home Wi-Fi network. There's not much point in paying for smart tech if you can't use it.