Some people just never get around to installing a smart thermostat, because of their fear of what it entails. They might have visions of reading a complex manual or even of a carpenter in their home, which prevents them from considering adopting the technology.

However, this shouldn’t be the case when it comes to smart thermostat installation. A smart thermostat can be straightforward to install as your traditional thermostat. In other words, there is no need for you to wait any longer to make your home more comfortable!

That said, the quick answer is that it’s not all too difficult to install a smart thermostat. But there are a couple of things you should be mindful of throughout the installation process. This article aims to help answer that question and further walk you through step-by-step on how to install a smart thermostat.

How to Install a Smart Thermostat?

Installing a smart thermostat is not that different from installing a traditional one. The main difference lies in the type of electrical components needed to be hooked to a Wi-Fi connection. You also require a good amount of time to program the smart thermostats, almost 15 minutes.

With the right kind of tools, anyone with basic tech knowledge can easily install a smart thermostat in less than a few hours.

Here are the things you need to get ready before starting the installation process:

A stable internet connection for the smart thermostat through a Wi-Fi connection or Ethernet.
Power supply or AC wires that connect the thermostat with your HVAC system’s existing components and wires. If your system has no C wire, you’ll need to call in an electrical engineer to have it added for you. Never attempt to connect a smart thermostat without a C wire, as it’ll damage your HVAC system.
A flathead and head screwdriver.

Steps to Follow to Install a Smart Thermostat

You might need to follow a few extra steps if you want to install a smart thermostat. If you have the right kind of equipment, it’s rather simple to install a smart thermostat. Depending on your existing wiring and equipment, smart thermostats are relatively simple to install and configure.

Contents

Step 1: Switch Off Your HVAC System

Before you start installing the smart thermostat, make sure you’ve turned off your HVAC system. This prevents any form of electric shocks and reduces the chances of fire.

Step 2: Open the Thermostat’s Flat Plate

By using a flat-blade screwdriver to pop off the thermostat’s flat plate. It’s usually held in place by small clips or screws. You may want to secure the plate by covering its screws with a nylon fastener that can be repositioned with needle-nose oilers or cut with wire cutters.

This way, you can remove the plate covering the clips or screws, and remove the thermostat’s faceplate.

Step 3: Remove the Backplate

You can remove the thermostat’s backplate by losing any bolts or screws that secure it to your ceiling or wall, then pull it away from the HVAC system. That said, do note what wires and attached to what terminals before you disconnect them from the older thermostat.

Step 4: Add in a C-Wire

If you have an outdated HVAC system, there’s a high chance that your current thermostats might not have a standard wire or a C-wire. You will need to add one in for your smart thermostat. However, if you’re unsure of how to go about it, hire an electrician to have them install it for you.

Step 5: Use the Smart Thermostat’s Backplate as a Template

Once the C-wire has been installed, use the smart thermostat’s backplane as a template when installing it on the wall. You can use a pencil to trace the backplate and then cut along the loans with a driller or utility knife.

Step 6: Reconnect All the Wires

Hooking back the wires is perhaps the easiest part of the installation process. Every terminal has a corresponding wire connected to it, connected to a particular location in the backplate.

The backplate is labeled with pictures of these terminals. If you line the wires upright over their corresponding terminals, it should be easy to press them into their place.

Step 7: Install the New Faceplate

Once you’ve connected all the wires and covered them, attach the new faceplate to the wall. Make sure it’s leveled straight, and then screw the faceplate back into place with the screws included with it.

Turn the power on at your circuit breaker. Plug the new thermostat into a wall socket and boot it up.

Step 8: Connect the Smart Thermostat to Your Wi-Fi

To do this, you’ll need to step up the Wi-Fi setting on the smart thermostat. Once connected, the thermostat will use the Wi-Fi connection to communicate with the internet. By doing so, it can retrieve information, which it then uses to adjust your home’s temperature.