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Video: How to install a programmable thermostat

Programmable Thermostat Information

At a recent University of Denver conference on Energy Conservation and global warming that I attended, I learned that household heating and cooling alone accounts for about 49% of household energy use. There are many ways to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Best of all, these ways not only save money, many utility companies will rebate their costs or perform them free of charge. According to the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, those ways include:

Sealing the cracks in your house and insulate exposed areas; this can save an average of $300 a year and 3,000 pounds of CO2 emissions per average household.

Using a clothesline to dry your clothes as often as possible; that will save 1,340 pounds of CO2 emissions and $100 a year.

Replacing the 23 average light bulbs in a home with compact fluorescent bulbs, which reduces CO2 emissions by 2,300 pounds a year and saves $315

Replacing an old furnace with an Energy Star furnace and save 3,011 pounds of CO2 emissions and $370 in heating costs.

Cutting out one 20-mile car trip per week and save 52 gallons of gas, $156 and 1,017 pounds of CO2 emissions per year.

Replacing an old thermostat with a programmable thermostat to save $150 per year.

I am all about saving money. If I can help the environment at the same time, so much the better. Replacing light bulbs, using a clothesline, driving fewer miles and sealing cracks seemed pretty self-explanatory to me. Replacing the furnace seemed to be far beyond my average D.I.Y skills and budget. The idea of using a programmable thermostat seemed intriguing so I set out to learn more about them.

How Does A Programmable Thermostat Work?

Programmable thermostats work by automatically adjusting your house’s temperature. In the winter, they keep the temperature cooler when you are not at home, and during the night while you are sleeping. In the summer, they let the house get somewhat warmer during the day and run the air conditioning system when you are home. During the winter, it pays lower temperature in your house when you are not at home. With home heating oil prices expected to exceed $3.00 per gallon and the expected increases in natural gas prices, now is a wonderful time to install a programmable thermostat and save money. There are many types of programmable thermostat and they range in price from $30.00 to $300.00. Some can be programmed for up to seven days in advance. According to Realty Times, energy inefficiencies can make it more difficult to sell your house.

How to Install a Programmable Thermostat

Programmable thermostats are simple to install. I have included a video clip from Home Depot showing how it is done. Here are the steps:

1. Turn off the electricity – this can be done at the breaker box

2. Remove the old thermostat’s face plate

3. You will see wires attached to the screws. Label the wires so you will know which ones to attach to the new unit.

4. Wrap the wires around a pencil or screw so they will not retract back into the wall when you remove the old thermostat.

5. Remove the old thermostat.

6. Attach the wires to the corresponding screws on the new thermostat.

7. Attach the new thermostat to the wall. Make sure that it is level so that it will work properly,

8. Attach the new faceplate.

9. The old thermostat contains mercury. Dispose of it properly.

I have a heat pump, Can I use a programmable thermostat?

Yes. There are special models of programmable thermostats which are designed to operate with heat pumps. However, they are new to the market and are expensive. Their price should drop over the next few years.

Can we use a programmable thermostat with a hot-water heating system? Do they work with boiler heat systems?

Yes. You can use a programmable thermostat with a boiler to save energy; it just works a little different than with a forced-air furnace. A boiler will have a lag time. (Older systems with large radiators will have a longer lag time than those with newer baseboard systems.) You can compensate for this by turning your heat back sooner and having it come back on sooner. For example, if you want your house warmed to 68 degrees by 7 a.m., try setting the thermostat to turn up the temperature at 6:30 a.m. Adjust as needed.

If you are interested in purchasing a programmable thermostat follow this link.