Is it possible to move my thermostat from one position to another? This is one of the most common questions that thermostat owners ask. The answer is yes. You can easily change the position of your thermostat on your own without the need of a professional.
If you are a DIY enthusiast, then you will definitely enjoy this job. Notably, it does not need a lot of time, roughly between 30 minutes to 1 hour only. There are several reasons as to why one may want to move their thermostats. Whether you are moving it to an adjacent wall, to the hallway of your house or to another room, the job is easy.
Besides, always take note of the best locations of installing it before deciding to move it from the previous position. Thus, this article digs deep into the process of how to move a thermostat.
Reasons For Moving a Thermostat 
What makes you want to change the position of your thermostat? One reason may be because you are shifting houses and need to move with your thermostat into your new house.
Also, if you are renovating your house, there may be needed to move the thermostat to another place that you desire.
Secondly, if your thermostat is not performing efficiently, then you should move it so as to achieve better air balance. At this point you need to know that the positioning of your thermostat largely affects the air circulation in the house or particular room.
So if it is in the wrong position, make sure to move it as it will cause you a lot of discomfort. Later in this article, you will get to learn where to place the thermostat and where not.
You might be interested to read also: How to Unlock a Honeywell Thermostat
How do you benefit from moving your thermostat?
- Reduced energy costs
Placing your thermostat in the wrong position may cause it to produce cold and warm air in excess. This in turn makes it to be in operation for longer than usual hence increasing the energy costs. When you move it to an appropriate position, it will operate normally and help in reducing the costs of energy.
- Improves décor
If you need to alter the décor of your house, moving the thermostat to suit that is a good idea. It changes everything about the room’s appearance.
- Enhances comfort
Once you move the thermostat to the right position, you will start enjoying the appropriate room temperature and this will ensure comfort for you and your family members.
How to position your thermostat
Before mounting a thermostat on the wall, you first need to identify the best possible place to put it that makes it work efficiently. The best place to position it is where there are no obstructions that will distract the working of its sensors.
First things first, identify the rooms that you regularly use then install the thermostat in the interior walls.
If you have a smart thermostat, make sure to place it next to your Wi-Fi router so that it does not lose its connection and stop working like it should. Moving a thermostat to an adjacent wall is easier than moving it to another room because there is no need to add extensions to make the wire longer.
Areas where you should not install your thermostat
a) In the kitchen
The kitchen gets so hot because this is where you do the cooking from. So if you install your thermostat in the kitchen, it will sense the hot temperature
b) Near doors and windows
Placing your thermostat near doors and windows may give it an impression that the house is warmer or colder thereby giving wrong temperature readings.
Also open windows will allow sunlight to penetrate through and reach your thermostat which will think the house is experiencing warm temperature.
c) In hallways and rarely used rooms
It is not advisable to install thermostats in hallways and rooms that you rarely use mainly because they will only give readings within the closed space and not the entire house.
d) Exterior walls
Exterior walls may be hotter during the summer and colder during winter and this is what the sensors in the thermostat will detect thus giving inaccurate readings.
e) Next to obstructions
Obstructions in your house including furniture, book shelves, curtains and cupboards among others will block the thermostat from performing optimally. This is because they have a tendency of distracting the sensors of the thermostat.
Steps to follow when moving a Thermostat
Now that you know why it is beneficial to move thermostats from one point to another, it is time to learn how to do it. By following the steps below, you will safely move it from point A to point B without the help of a professional.
Step 1: Identify suitable location
Where is the new location for your thermostat? This is the first thing you should consider. Using the information above concerning thermostat location, identify the best place to position it. To make your work easier, move it to a wall adjacent to the previous position.
Step 2: Cut off power supply
You need to switch off the power supply to your thermostat before moving it to avoid any electric hazards.
Step 3: Pull off interface from back panel
There is a rear fascia where the thermostat interface attaches to using clips. Use a screwdriver to snap the thermostat off this fascia. The next thing to do is to carefully disconnect the wires. When disconnecting the wires label them using a tape so that you will not confuse the polarities when connecting them once more.
Step 4: Get rid of the back plate
Take the rear fascia off the wall and drill a hole on the new position of the thermostat. To be precise, you can measure the size of the hole you plan on drilling. But it is usually safe to drill a bigger hole to have an allowance for the electric wires.
Step 5: Mount the thermostat once again
Mount the back plate to the wall once more and reconnect the wires. Ensure that the wires coincide with the respective ports. You can use a tool for wire fishing that assists you to run the wires through the old to the new wall. If you hook up the wires to the incorrect terminals, your thermostat will not work. After hooking the wires, get the interface back to the rear fascia.
Step 6: Turn the circuit breaker on
At this point, you are free to turn on the circuit breaker and test whether your thermostat is working like it should. If it does, you are good to go. In case it does not power on, repeat the procedure or contact a professional to help you out with this.
When your thermostat is on, you can now tell if there is a difference in temperatures and if it is working normally. If there is still no change in its new position, shift it again till you get comfortable.
Conclusion
Moving your thermostat from one position to another is key in helping you attain comfort in your home and save on energy bills. As you notice above, it is not a complex procedure and you can thus do it on your own adequately. Always select the best locations to install your thermostats.
