HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT THERMOSTAT FOR YOUR SYSTEM?

1. LOOK AT THE BLOWER SECTION NOMENCLATURE

   This can be found on one of the air handler or furnace panels. Heat Pump Air handlers generally use (2) Heat / (1) Cool Thermostats, at least, but can have additional Heating or Cooling modes (e.g., (3) Heat / (2) Cool, etc.) depending on your advanced HVAC setup (e.g., Dual Fuel; Multiple Thermostats; Zoned Systems, etc.). Heat pumps use (2) Heat – that is a (2) modes for heat, heat pump “Heating”, and a mode for “Emergency / Auxiliary Heating”; and, (1) mode for “Cooling”. Note, there is not second or backup cooling mode (unfortunately) on most heat pump or straight cool air conditioners. Furnaces traditionally use (1) Heat / (1) Cool Thermostats, (1) mode for gas heat (furnaces do not have emergency, auxiliary, or back-up heat), and (1) “Cooling” mode for the straight cool system. To learn more, click here.

2. DETERMINE IF YOU WILL NEED A WIFI COMPATIBLE THERMOSTAT

   Each household or business has different needs, but if you need to control your climate remotely, then a WIFI thermostat is for you.

3. !!! ALWAYS TURN OFF THE MAIN PANEL BREAKERS TO BOTH UNITS BEFORE INSTALLING A NEW THERMOSTAT !!!

   You will ruin your thermostat and components in your equipment if your try to install a thermostat with the power on.

4. TAKE A PICTURE OF THE EXISTING THERMOSTAT’S WIRING BEFORE REMOVING IT

   Trust me, you will want this picture to refer to when you go to hook up the new thermostat wiring. Especially to make sure the wires being used are the same colors as listed on the installation instructions, because its possible a wire was swapped because it shorted, at some point, or that the prior install person didn’t use traditional HVAC wiring colors. With a picture, you can always cross-reference what the unit was working using before, and which wire went to which terminal.