Wifi Enabled Thermostat

For the longest time I have wanted to get a wifi enabled thermostat, but have never really needed one. This past summer my old thermostat went and I was forced to get a new one. While I was at Home Depot looking for a new one I noticed the various different types. First you have the cheap $20 - $30 ones with don't do much more than adjust your temperature. Next you have the mid range which do a little more and they run from $40 - $70. Finally you have the wifi enabled ones that run about $99. As I looked at these models I decided that its not that much more to go with the wifi one.

After several months of owning this thermostat, I can truly say that it is awesome. Install, download the app and bam you can set the temperature in your house from your phone no matter where you are. The app is available for your Android, iPad, iPod Touch, iPhone and from any web browser. 

Specifications

• Assembled Depth (in.) : 1.7 in
• Assembled Height (in.) : 4.5 in
• Assembled Width (in.) : 5.9 in
• Automatic Heating/Cooling Changeover : N
• Backlit : Yes
• Batteries Included : No
• Battery Back-Up : Yes
• Battery Operated : Yes
• Battery Type : AA-Alkaline
• CSA Listed : No
• Color Family : Whites
• Daylight Savings Time Ready : No
• Depth (in) : 1.4 in
• Display height (in.) : 1.5
• Display width (in.) : 2.9
• ETL Listed : No
• Energy Star Compliant : No
• Height (in) : 11.3 in
• Item Package Type : Plastic Container
• Item Weight : .48 lb
• Lockable : Yes
• Low Battery Indicator : Yes
• Manufacturer Warranty : 5 year Limited Home Depot warranty
• Number of HVAC Zones : 1
• Periods per Programmable Day : 4
• Product Depth (in.) : 1.7
• Product Height (ft.) : 4.5
• Product Width (in.) : 5.9 in
• Removable Interface : No
• Returnable : 90-Day
• Shape : Rectangle
• Thermostat Type : Heating and Cooling
• Touch Screen Programming : Yes
• UL Listed : N-No UL Code Rating
• Vacation Mode : Yes
• Voltage Rating : 1 millivolt to 24 volts
• Wi-Fi Capability : Yes
• Width (in) : 11.0 in

Requirements:

All remote access features require working WiFi network with internet access and a "C" or common wire connected to the thermostat for power.

Installation:

Installation will vary for different thermostats, but I will give you a general walk through. Also before you start, you need to make sure you have a "C" or common wire as mentioned above. The easiest way to know if you have a "C" wire is if your current digital thermostat can run without a battery. When I say digital thermostat, I mean one that has a digital read out and not a dial or slide knob setup. If you have a dial type thermostat, it is going to be more difficult to know if you have a "C" wire. The "C" basically supplies the power to the thermostat.

Step 1

Turn off the power to your thermostat. I flipped the switch on my furnace to power it down and then turned off my breaker switch.

Step 2

Remove the face plate or thermostat from the wall. This will vary depending on your setup

Step 3

I recommend taking a picture of the current wire setup, so you can remember how it all was.

Step 4 

The new wifi thermostat comes with instructions to show you the wire conversion chart. I won't go into much detail on this because there are a lot of variations. Basically you just need to look up which wires are what and compare them to the current wiring on your thermostat. 

Step 5

Once you figure out all the wires, you can then label them with the provided labels that come with the wifi thermostat.

Step 6

With wires now labeled, disconnect all the wires from old thermostat and reconnect them to the proper places on the new thermostat. 

Step 7

Insert the wifi card on the side and flip the switch, download the app and you are ready to go. 

Now of course I am leaving a lot of steps out such as the wifi configuration and such but this is all covered in the setup guide that is provided with your new thermostat.