How to replace your old mercury thermostat with a new digital one

I go through the steps on how to successfully install a digital thermostat in your house.

[@tracybrowner5121]

Great video, you may have save me alot of money, & thank you for the lesson

[@ambrichard100]

Thanks. I will subscribe. Now if only I could figure out why my old York is not heating consistently. It seems to have a mind of its own, starting and stoping. Some problem with the "lock outs". My "trusted" furnace guru replaced the induction fan on it and charged us $750 and it did not fix the problem. It's New Furnace time, I suppose ($$$$). Keep up the youtube tech tips. They are a great service to all.

[@shaneloveday1769]

Hey Bill, 👋 you may not remember but we use to work together. I didn't know you had a KZbin channel I just happened to come across one of your videos. Thanks for the help! I'm your 500th subscriber! Lol

[@mybatterhalf6614]

Hey Shane! Yes I do remember you. It's good to hear from you. How have you been? Thank you so much for subscribing. I really do appreciate it.

[@garbizzi6868]

That was a great video buddy, i just had my old honeywell Mercury switch thermostat break , the temp guage pinned itself all the up and now it wont turn ac on so im gonna replace with a digital one today and your video is gonna help me tremendously thanks!

[@mybatterhalf6614]

Hey Garbizzi, Thank you for watching the video and for your awesome feedback! I'm very glad to hear that the video is going to serve as a guide for you when you change out yours. For me that's what's it's all about...helping people do the jobs themselves and save a ton of money in the process. I would love to hear back from you when you're done with the install. I have several more DIY videos that you might find interesting so please consider subscribing if you haven't already. Again thank you. Bill

[@garbizzi6868]

@@mybatterhalf6614 yes i will give u an update on the install , ill be glad to get rid of that old thermostat its like a fossil, and i am definitely going to subscribe, thank u !

[@LOVELLiE]

How did it go? I also have a mercury type thermo and came across your post @@garbizzi6868

[@frankbever3460]

As usual you’re sharing something that will save a lot of people money. Don’t have to hire an electrician or heating and air guy. Good job!

[@mybatterhalf6614]

Hey Frank, Thank you so much! I appreciate that.

[@margaretwicker4909]

You are very easy to understand. I took my faceplate off but don't have wires like yours or anyone else's. It looks like a clothesline cord with frayed ends. Any suggestions?

[@mybatterhalf6614]

Hey Margaret, Thank you for watching the video and for your awesome feedback! So you mentioned that you took the faceplate off but have you actually removed the unit from the wall yet? All the wires and letter codes are actually on the backside of the unit.

[@margaretwicker4909]

@@mybatterhalf6614 thank you

[@mybatterhalf6614]

@@margaretwicker4909 Thank you so much for the kind and encouraging words.

[@frankbever1788]

Bill, learn something from each one of your videos, thanks!

[@RenzorTheRed]

When you turn off the breaker like that, then install the new thermo, do you need to light the furnace and/or water heater pilot lights again after turning the breaker back on? Or is it automatic?

[@marcelinolinares4583]

Thank you

[@mybatterhalf6614]

Hey Marcelino, Thank you so much for watching the video and for the awesome feedback!! Helping people save money with "do it yourself" jobs around the house is what it's all about! I have several more videos that I think you'll love so please consider subscribing if you haven't already. Again thank you. Bill

[@pappafrita9269]

Thanks buddy

[@mybatterhalf6614]

Hey Pappa Frita, Thank you for watching the video and for your awesome feedback! I hope the video will serve as a guide for you as you upgrade your thermostat. I have several more DIY videos that you might find interesting so please consider subscribing if you haven't already. Again thank you. Bill

[@polaris1114]

Thankyou for the video. My heater is gas and ac is electric. So do I need to switch the button between the gas/electric depends on the weather?

[@mybatterhalf6614]

Hey Polaris, Thank you for watching the video and for your inquiry. Yes you are correct! Just switch the button depending on which unit you are using. Again, Thank you! Bill

[@calebshaffer2283]

This may seem like a stupid question, but I'm genuinely curious: Do you have to turn the breaker off? I understand there's a risk of shock to user but is there a risk of shorting out the system?

[@sytesmedia504]

What if your old mercury thermostat only had 2 wires white and black? Where would I connect the wires to?

[@ambrichard100]

All is good BUT I think straightening out the wire lead ends before connecting to new thermostat is good idea. This will reduce the possibility that neighboring wires will "kiss" each other causing a malfunction.

[@mybatterhalf6614]

Hey Albert, Thank you for watching the video and your feedback. You are the first person to mention this and I agree with you 100%! I actually did go back and fix the wires so they wouldn't come in contact with each other. I probably should have mentioned that on the video or even filmed it but unfortunately I didn't. I appreciate you bringing that up though. I would greatly appreciate it if you would subscribe to my channel. Have a great day.

[@scotts9654]

I have an older mercury white rogers thermostat for my gas fireplace. I find it works great until the fireplace is warm then if I turn off the switch it won't turn back on till it is completely cold. any idea why?

[@mybatterhalf6614]

Hey Scott, Thank you for watching the video and for your inquiry. It sounds like you need to adjust the anticipator on your unit. If you take off the face plate you should see a circular dial with the words "Longer Cycles". If its getting too cold before it kicks back on then you would need to adjust it clockwise. Clockwise would make the thermostat kick on more often and counter clockwise would make it kick on less often. When adjusting the anticipator I would only do it in 1/4 inch increments until you find the perfect setting. Another thing that might be wrong is the unit may not be level on the wall, in which case you would just need to level it. If neither of those fix your issue then you probably just need to replace it with a digital unit. Hopefully that will help you. Let me know how everything goes. I have several more DIY videos that you might find interesting so please consider subscribing if you haven't already. Again thank you. Bill

[@brandonblubaugh4390]

Does it work the same if you have a boiler/radiant heat? Or is it different?

[@josephwilson2952]

There’s a switch on the thermostat inside of it that can switch some settings like that

[@NipplWizard]

Will this method work with an old White Rogers thermostat? Mine is mercury too.

[@mybatterhalf6614]

Hey Jrotckid, Thank you for watching the video and for your inquiry. The answer to your question is yes. It will work with your old White Rodgers Mercury thermostat. I have several more DIY videos that you might find useful so please consider subscribing if you haven't already. Again, thank you. Bill

[@tardis4125]

My new thermostat says "you must install a jumper wire between R and U1 if the stage of heating or cooling is powered by a system transformer". I don't know if I should do that or not

[@mybatterhalf6614]

Hi @tardis4125, I never heard of a jumper wire associated with U1. You will definitely need to find out what the U1 wire was providing power to. I would definitely do some research on that. Sorry I don't have a definite answer for you.

[@loudspeakertestsmorebyaida3804]

What temperature did you set your AC at?

[@mybatterhalf6614]

Hey Loudspeaker, Thank you for watching the video and for your inquiry. I ended up setting it at 74° F.

[@timlist4173]

Hmm, what color is used for the C contact?

[@joshuajoshua1314]

Blue

[@MrColeman631]

How is this thermostat working for you

[@mybatterhalf6614]

It is working perfectly. No issues at all.

[@lukesnyder9015]

what is RH

[@mybatterhalf6614]

Hey lukesnyder9015, I appreciate you watching the video and for your inquiry. The RH stands for "red heat". The wire connected to these letters would controll the heating in your house. If you have the letters RC then that would controll the cooling in your house. I hope that answered your question. Thank you so much

[@BlazenBM16]

An electrician told me we needed new wiring to replace a mercury thermostat to a new smart one ? But I don’t see u needed new wiring ? Only reason I need help is because my wires aren’t labeled 😢

[@mybatterhalf6614]

The only reason an electrician would tell you that is to gain your business. You definitely don't need new wiring. As far as the wires not being labeled, you can lebel them yourself. When you get the old thermostat off the wall, before you disconnect the wires, notice where they are connected on the back. The connections will be labeled, and that is what you want to label the wires as. I hope that answered your question. Thank you for watching the video and for your inquiry.

[@shiprek03]

Thermostat is NOT level, but still good info

[@mybatterhalf6614]

Hey shiprek03, You are actually the first person to pick up on that. Yes, you are exactly right. It's not level. However, it's only off by a nose hair and at first glance you really can't tell. I do appreciate you watching the video and for your feedback. I have several more DIY videos that you might find interesting so please consider subscribing if you haven't already. Again thank you. Bill

[@shiprek03]

@@mybatterhalf6614 The photo at 6:33 of the video shows it off a little more than a hair, maybe too much military training as a forward observer! LOL

[@kalimeli9457]

You don't you would just be thrown away a good thermostat. This new snap stuff and nest thermostats ain't worth a darn. Especially the nest because if you're in a neighborhood or you have got crowded radio interference signals it'll mess with your thermostats every time. To top it off if your electric company gets a hold of it anyway shape or form they can control it from their end and they can just shut your heat off. They're already starting to control the electrical grids to knock down high users in certain areas.

[@theblondepractitioner]

I agree! We have the ecobee and its TERRIBLE. Were switching back to regular digital.

[@Mike-om4tv]

Lol its ILLEGAL to do what you suggested..turning the heat off lol.

[@kalimeli9457]

@@Mike-om4tv you're right it is illegal but they're doing it anyway. Thermostat aside: Most people are asleep right now consciously until they break free of the grip and realize what's going on around them. It's all about manipulation and control.

[@kalimeli9457]

@@theblondepractitioner smart thinking and kudos to you. I would recommend the Honeywell T 87 thermostat. Especially if you have a generator that can run your heating and air conditioning. The 87 requires no batteries and you can regulate heat without worrying whether your batteries will die. The only other method I know of is crossing your wires and putting power to either your hot or cold depending on how you are wired at your main board at the air handler. I grew up in an area where are we didn't depend on the electric company. Are electricity was generated by 4 Cooper Bessemer engines in case of a blackout. Each about the size of a small yacht. They powered and 50 houses and a industrial plant. If we lost electricity through the REA then those engines would come online providing a heat as long as has a mechanical thermostat. If that was lost we went to all gas floor furnace and a large basement furnace which provided heating for the whole house in the winter. There was a type of thermostat that was mechanical even on those that works much the same way water heaters do. . To this present day I don't even depend on HVAC people. The whole industry is a big scam.