How to Move a Thermostat to a Different Location

So you need to know how to move a thermostat? You may have decided to tackle that bathroom remodel, or perhaps you’re updating your mudroom or living room. Whatever the case may be, you can find out everything you need to know about moving a thermostat for your Warmup underfloor heating system right here!

The Importance of Proper Thermostat Placement

The thermostat is the brain of your heating system; it monitors the room’s temperature and turns your heat on and off, depending on the temperature setting, via a built-in air probe at the thermostat location and/or from a connected floor probe. Proper placement of your thermostat is critical in keeping your heating costs low and your home as energy efficient as possible. 

For example, The coldest areas of your house are near windows. If your thermostat is near a window, it will read a colder temperature than in a more central area of the room. This will cause your heat to run more often than it needs to and unnecessarily increase heating costs. Moving your thermostat closer to the middle of the room and off of exterior walls will improve the accuracy of your thermostat readings.

7 Steps for Moving a Thermostat

1. Plan for the New Location

Whether you’re moving a thermostat to another room or just moving it to another wall, there are a few main things you need to consider:

• Try to install your thermostat near the middle of the room or zone that it is controlling. 
• Avoid putting your thermostat near windows, doors, or on exterior walls.
• Do not put your thermostat directly above or near a heat source.

2. Turn Off the Power

Any time you are doing electrical work, turning the power off at your panel is critical. Touching live wires can be extremely painful and, in certain circumstances, fatal. Don’t take that chance. Follow these easy steps to turn the power off to your thermostat:

1. Locate your home’s electrical panel. If you don’t know where your electrical panel is, try looking in your basement, garage, or mechanical room. 
2. Find the switch for your thermostat. It will probably be labeled similarly to “living room heat.” Flip the switch to the “off” position.

3. Remove the Unit from the Back Panel

Most thermostat displays can be removed from the back panel without tools by releasing a clip or pushing a button. Removing the display from the back panel should not require excessive force and should disconnect easily.

4. Disconnect the Wires

The next step in moving a thermostat is to disconnect the wires. 

1. Unscrew the backplate from the wall.
2. Before touching the wires, always check them with a voltage tester pen to ensure they are dead. 
3. The wires will likely be attached to screws or pushed into terminals, either unscrew or remove, respectively.

5. Run Wires to the New Location

Only licensed electricians should perform electrical work. Electricity is hazardous and can be dangerous if installed incorrectly. 

If you install one of Warmup’s industry-leading underfloor heating thermostats, you will use a 120v supply. Unlike typical baseboard heater thermostats, which only use low-voltage wire, underfloor heating thermostats require you to land your wires inside an electrical box to meet code.

To run wires to your new thermostat location, you will need to:

1. Remove enough drywall to install an electrical box in your new thermostat location. 
2. Cut a pathway out of the drywall that leads from the new thermostat location to either: (a)The old thermostat location.You can use the old electrical box as a junction and put a blank plate over it, or (b) The electrical panel.You can home-run a new wire from the electrical panel to the new thermostat location.

You will need to remove enough drywall to run the load wires from the heating mat to the new thermostat location; load and floor probe wires need to be connected

6. Connect Wiring for the New Unit

Consult your thermostat’s product manual for a wiring diagram. If you are installing a Warmup underfloor heating thermostat, you can find digital versions of their product manuals here.

7. Test and Connect Wifi Features

Testing and connecting Wifi features on your Warmup underfloor heating system couldn’t be easier: 

1. Follow the on-screen instructions until a QR code appears.
2. Download the MyHeating App.
3. Scan the QR code with your Myheating App and follow the instructions in the App to finish your setup.

What is the Cost to Move a Thermostat?

To determine the cost of moving a thermostat, there are two factors that you need to consider:

1. What are your material costs? Material costs should include your new thermostat, wall repair materials, paint, wire, electrical boxes, etc.

2. Will you be hiring any professionals for this project? Electrician? Drywall contractor? Painter? Each of these tradespeople can give you an accurate estimate for their work.

Adding up your material costs and contractor costs will give you the cost of moving a thermostat.

How to Save More on Energy Bills

Warmup’s smart thermostats and radiant heating solutions are not only good for your wallet, but they’re good for the environment too! 

Cutting-edge SmartGeo technology uses your phone to detect when you’re home and when you’re away. This allows your heating system to turn down the temperature while you’re gone and turn the heat up when you’re on your way home—no more returning to a cold house after a long day, no more heating an empty home while you’re at work. 

Weather-based Early Start technology uses your local forecast to intuitively adjust your heating at precisely the right time, keeping your house comfortable and energy-efficient day and night.

Up to 40% more efficient than traditional central heating systems, Warmup’s smart thermostats and radiant heating solutions can save you up to 25% on your energy bill. 

With over 25 years of experience and products in over 2.5 million homes worldwide, it’s no surprise that Warmup is the world’s best-selling floor heating brand. Contact the experts at Warmup today.