How to Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat without Changing the Wiring | Ask This Old House

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey replaces an old thermostat with a smart thermostat without replacing the original two wires in the wall.
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Time: 2-3 hours
Cost: $300
Skill Level: Difficult
Tools List for Upgrading a Smart Thermostat:
Drill driver [amzn.to/2RNofUq]
Small flathead screwdriver [amzn.to/36N95Cy]
Shopping List:
Smart thermostat [amzn.to/2tcUF0S]
Thermostat wire [amzn.to/31kxP4g]
Steps:
1. Start by turning off the service switch at the furnace.
2. Remove the old thermostat.
a. Pull off the front cover.
b. Unscrew the screws inside.
c. Disconnect the wires.
d. Pull off the back cover.
3. Mount the hub in a convenient location near the furnace using a drill and a few screws.
4. Disconnect the wiring from the thermostat to the furnace and run that wiring to the hub. There’s an obvious place on the hub to screw the wires in properly.
5. Run the thermostat wire from the furnace to the hub. The red wire goes to R, the white wire goes to W, and the blue wire (common wire) goes to C.
6. Mount the new thermostat back cover at the location of the old one. This might require drilling for new screws.
7. Using the old two wires, wire the new thermostat and connect it to the back cover.
8. Turn the service switch back on at the furnace.
9. Download the smart app and program it to the thermostat following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Resources:
Richard installed the InvitaTM Wifi Thermostat 564, which is manufactured by Tekmar Controls (www.tekmarcontr....
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From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. Ask This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment-your home.
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How to Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat without Changing the Wiring | Ask This Old House
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[@X0thisismyusername0X]

Hired a professional plumber to install, after about 2 hours said this was not compatible with my Independence boiler. But hey, I got two free holes in my wall for my trouble.

[@beetle72]

A good practice is to snip the bare wire shorter so there's non visible once connected to the faceplate. There looked to be at least 5-10mm bare wire shown at 5.58 and these could easily connect and cause a short or even a fire when pushing the housing back into position. This is why the wire has the plastic insulation in the first place.

[@jmr]

I thought they left those wires a little long myself.

[@jmr]

@@Ampacityelectric I can't imagine there's enough amperage to start a fire even if they touched but I like the practice. Cut corners here it's a short trip to doing it elsewhere.

[@jmr]

@@Ampacityelectric I wasn't referring to arcing. I was saying that without enough amperage a low voltage wire like this won't start a fire even if the wires touch. For instance a 12v wire won't create a large arc but it sure will start a fire with enough amps and a dead short. EDIT: I guess I should add "and with a conductor this size".

[@davepane7306]

An even better practice is to choose your battles buddy. There's no danger in that installation at all.

[@beetle72]

@@davepane7306 no point in having the wire insulated at all then is there if there's no danger. It's there for a reason.

[@joemoreno1409]

Cool option for older homes. But seriously the best part of the video was the the baby picture behind them!

[@frontcentermusician]

LOL

[@angellas.1314]

I agree. So cute!

[@LowsJuan]

I learned more in the comments than I did in the video. There are so many variables in this kind of installation, I quess that this shows us a basic install. Probably the biggest issue is whether you and your wife like the same temperature not so much if you can use your phone to set the stat!

[@bobvila6706]

Thank you for this. My friend was actually looking for something like this and no one has recommended anything close... I remember watching this show 25 years ago with my dad.

[@woodygotem]

😳 25 years ago.

[@heywoodjabozoff9383]

it might've helped if you showed how the original wires were connected to the furnace relay.

[@Russwig]

I bought one of these for a little more than $225. Works great and installed as easily as Richard's did. I too only need it for furnace, no AC.

[@lydialas8756]

@Hello Russwig how are you doing

[@Kuwandi]

I need to do the same - since I’m skimming through this info what is the brand that you got that works for you -appreciate it✅💯😊

[@Russwig]

@@Kuwandi it's a Watts 561. Works great! Easy to install.

[@kalijasin]

$225? 😮

[@Russwig]

@@kalijasin for a WiFi thermostat, at the time, it was a pretty decent price.

[@CortexGaming]

Glad the setup was so easy! Turn the power on and the app will install itself and pair to the thermostat!

[@casperunnerup]

4:18. I might not matter in this instance. But please don't strip the insulation that far back. Plus the copper of the red wire is nicked, making it easier to break.

[@Russwig]

As far as remote sensors go, many houses have wiring for land-line phones to multiple rooms. I have not used my land lines for several years now, since every family member has a cell of their own. The existing lines could be Isolated from the telephone network and repurposed to connect remote sensors to the central interface. Locations may not be ideal but...

[@billcrawford4547]

Interesting idea. Might work for cable coax as well. Hmmm?

[@agate_jcg]

This is great, but it locks you into this brand of thermostat. Another great option is the Fast-Stat Common Maker. It's a pair of devices, one at the furnace, one that hides in the wall behind your thermostat, that adds a common wire and lets you use any smart thermostat you like (Nest, Ecobee, etc).

[@TimothyNaugher]

Honeywell also has a stat that uses an interface module where you only need two wires to their thermostat. So there are a few brands similar to the one in the video.

[@ericbauer4897]

@@TimothyNaugherdo you by chance know which Honeywell item that is? Currently trying to use a nest with the power adapter, but I do not see any of the wires (at the heater itsefl) that match the Nest instructions.

[@Engineer9736]

Strange location, that thermostat box on a toolboard. Toolboards are meant for tools not for thermostat boxes. And he should have cut off a bit of the copper going into that box at 4:50. It will be ok, but leaving so much bare copper sticking out is a bad habbit.

[@BigHayes7771]

nhcq in my area it won't pass code resting on ducting

[@davfree9732]

Not to mention, if the homeowner wants to reconfigure his tool storage, he has to remove the box to get the pegboard off.

[@travisball3736]

That is what we call lack of quality of work. Someone that cared about the way their work looked would have cleaned the exposed copper up.

[@turbo3492]

A house fire waiting to happen,that's not the way to wire correctly the insulated part of the cable should completely cover the exposed copper to it's entry into the wire hole in the device.

[@jeffreyjohn2037]

And should have trimmed the wire upstairs. Absolute hacker.

[@leroybrown9143]

This solution is about as costly as having a professional run new wiring, in my area the estimates were $350 and up. So I went to Home Depot and bought 50 feet of 18/5 thermostat wire for $21 and fished it through the wall myself by tying it to the existing 2 wire (R and W) that the old thermostat used. I've never done it but with a little patience it's not difficult. Every connection is labelled on both the furnace and the thermostat (I need C, R and W and didn't have a C at all). You just plug the wires accordingly. Now I have both a sleek new Honeywell smart-thermostat and future proof wiring to the furnace without all the extra or a giant bill for an HVAC guy.

[@greg_216]

Your approach is probably going to work for most folks. Furnaces tend to be centrally located and thermostats tend to be centrally located, so it's usually not a complicated run from one to the other. However, some folks have houses that are labyrinthian and trying to pull new wires after old might simply be impossible. Another alternative is to just move the thermostat someplace where it can be more easily connected to the furnace and then use a remote sensor to get a temperature reading that's more representative of the centroid of the house. In this case, the sensor could have gone where the thermostat is (only needs two wires), and the thermostat could have gone down in the basement.

[@leroybrown9143]

@@greg_216 Agreed, I knew it would work because it had already been done, I could trace the wire and see it was a straight shot. Had I not been able to run the wire up the wall I would have simply gotten a thermostat that communicates to sensors and moved it to a basement wall. I might replace this thermostat now because it doesn't support sensors and there is a slight, but noticeable temperature difference between upstairs and down. At any rate, it would be better to do the labor yourself than to pay a HVAC guy to do it because they will charge a pretty penny for what really is a moderately difficult, DIY job. Put the money into better technology instead.

[@pauldzim]

There is also an "add-a-wire" device that creates a "virtual" 3rd wire over the two existing wires. It's a lot less expensive than this thing.

[@leroybrown9143]

@@pauldzim True the Honeywell T9 comes packed with one I believe.

[@bairdjc]

That's the *right* way to do it in the grand scheme of things. It always amazes me the lengths builders will go to in order to save a bit of money while at the same time making simple tasks SO much harder - they could probably have run 4 or 5 wire, at a cost of pennies per foot (at the time) and just left all the spare wires in the wall for future proofing. I had a similar situation upgrading my tstats a couple years ago, but the builder had run 7 wire to the second floor but only 4 wire to the first floor. So, getting a C wire to the second floor was easy (just connect to C terminal) but getting one to the first floor required another run of cable. In my new place, it seems I will have to run new cabling to the second floor as it's 2 wire only, and I don't want to be tied to one of these esoteric tstats, and I also don't want "add a wire" transformers looking ugly all over the place. It's not that bad though, as I had also planned on running a central conduit from the attic to the basement to facilitate ethernet wiring; a few small TC wires won't take up much space.

[@FightingSioux]

Interesting device. I had a similar issue with my Nest thermostat and old 2 wire boiler. I ran wires to a new location and used an external transformer to power my thermostat.

[@webbandrus7824]

How did you hook it up

[@evanski2271]

I have the same issue, can you explain how you did yours?

[@tjlovesrachel]

@@evanski2271 gotta run a common wire… it’s just a constant 24v off of the appliances transformer

[@dpielick]

What is the name of the product use in the video?

[@SonicOrbStudios]

Interesting solution, this could have saved me a few months ago while working with a client

[@jp99301]

"Usually when you think of smart thermostats, you're thinking of this really sleek looking Nest" "Ok, great" "But instead we're going to install this chunky, ugly, way less user friendly one" "Oh"

[@thatkidmingming7390]

Even when the nest supports two wire systems 😬😬😬😬

[@coryturner9140]

The nest is garbage. Turn off the scheduling and still wake up sweating because it’s set its self to 70 when you set it at 65. It’s going away today…

[@uclajd]

Except with the Nest, you support an evil company whose entire business model is selling your data.

[@jp99301]

@@uclajd Yeah, because supporting companies like Honeywell or Emerson is way better, give me a break.

[@jp99301]

@@coryturner9140 I never had this problem with my Nest learning thermostat.

[@common_c3nts]

Why would you install it on the peg board instead of a more permanent location like one of those studs? You also take up space on the peg board. Also, too much installation was stripped off. You can easily short the wires.

[@rshoe1023]

Yes the fact that he mounted it on the peg board, didn't seem quite right to me either. But then again I've seen worse workmanship unfortunately.

[@jej3451]

7:18 Richard with wise words on why wireless isn't always the best.

[@x_over_it]

Glad I wasn't the only one who noticed that

[@lordgarth1]

Lol. Battery technology is fine these days.

[@jej3451]

@@lordgarth1 Who wants to have to change batteries when you can just wire it up and forget about it?

[@lordgarth1]

jej3451 Because it’s not always convenient to wire it up. I leased a condo and it had five wires but if it only had two I’d happily use something that needed batteries. There are many different situations but I’m laughing at the battery comment. I have a battery powered door lock with fingerprint reader that’s been going for almost a year and is still over 50% and it gets exercised all day long.

[@Engineer9736]

The European version of the Nest thermostat uses WIFI and two wires for power. Nearby the heater there is the Nest Heatlink which has all the connections. Similar to the thermostat in this video. Best of two worlds.

[@wholeNwon]

My T-stats run on 120. I don't know of a "solution" that wouldn't require transformers and relays. But I get along very well with just simple programmable units that don't risk hacking. Batteries last years.

[@virgil3241]

Go with an Ecobee. They have an adapter for the C wire for these older systems so you can have power, and it comes included in the box. You just attach the adapter to the furnace control board. And the sensors are wireless, way easier then this one

[@richardk7379]

Do you have model #? I went to their web site and was not able to find the thermostat you described. Thanks.

[@virgil3241]

@@richardk7379 Well this is a comment from 3 years ago, so their models have upgraded. I used the Ecobee 3 Lite, they dont manufacture that model now

[@richardk7379]

@@virgil3241 it doesn't seem like much of an upgrade if it won't even work with a simple two wire system that has been around for 50 years.

[@virgil3241]

@@richardk7379 Who says the wont, get the C wire adapter. Post from 3 years ago is now todays hit?

[@jeffreyrichardson]

Al's oil installed a new Roth oil tank, and digital thermostat in my home. $2,800. They did an excellent job.

[@rawbacon]

Most old wires are probably stapled on and run thru tiny holes, otherwise you could use the old wire to pull a new one.

[@GeeTheBuilder]

It’s why it’s often better, but more work, to install in conduit if you ever think a cable might need an upgraded in the future and to change the cable would mean a lot of redecorating work But rarely do ppl use conduit

[@GlitchedPepsi]

Joe Stacks it has to be stapled

[@rupe53]

@@GeeTheBuilder … You make a good point but 40 + years ago who would have though about adding AC or a digital T-stat? I mean, 20 years ago it was common to pull a 5 wire to a T-stat and only use what you needed at the moment. IOW, you had spares for the future, but you just know (gut feeling) that some wise guy will come along in the next 20 years and that will be obsolete as well. People are paying extra right now to pull CAT-5 wire for smart appliances and over the next generation that too will change.

[@aaron74]

Still probably worth fishing new cable, even if it means abandoning the old 2-wire cable.

[@Neubs-xv8tw]

It looks like it would have been pretty easy fishing a new line to that thermostat.

[@jakemeyer6047]

When you said "It's got smarts", I pictured Rodger saying "Smaahts"

[@ryanning4529]

lol, I think the word he's looking for was "brain."

[@paulhenrycnd1]

Thank you, clean helpful info on a now ever increasingly common problem. Wish I saw this years ago, would have saved me a few burned out transformers.

[@ThirstyBacon]

That electrician is an excellent salesman. But also can't most men and woman homeowners figure this out? It's really extremely understandable. The directions will see you though. Why give up the satisfaction of knowing you did it yourself? Then build on those skills? You'll be doing really advanced stuff in no time thanks to KZbin directions. The pride that comes with doing this sort of work makes you feel so great!!!

[@ineedhoez]

Because people don't even know this box exists. Not everyone cares about the satisfaction of doing things themselves. For example, my love language is convenience! I don't get off on doing it myself. I get off on it being done and not having to worry about it.

[@bluestar9463]

Drink a shot every time Mr. Customer says, "Great!" - You'll be drunk in no time.

[@alexanderastafyev3615]

He was a programmable robot - his speech gives him away. Same words spoken with a wrong speed....

[@sweetpina3875]

And he’s just staring lol 😐

[@PEACEANDLOVE450]

Every electrician is screaming right now🤣🤣😅😅

[@GeeTheBuilder]

Joe Stacks so why is he doing this - and doing it so badly?

[@wholeNwon]

My uncle is and he's dead.

[@unclefreddieDied]

@@wholeNwon I'm back

[@851995STARGATE]

@@GeeTheBuilder I mean its low voltage so most HVAC guys do similiar

[@gloriamaiolini9507]

Electricians do not run the wiring for the furnace plumbers do so they would know more about where the wiring can go.

[@sanrasuzumaki942]

Great video and I think this will help convince my In-Laws to make the upgrade, I think I can do it too, thanks a lot.

[@rud]

I have been doing it all wrong. I just stripped the wires to just outside the connector. I now realize that there should be no insulation at all.

[@alphiedane]

Haha 🤣

[@wholeNwon]

Live and learn, right?

[@rud]

wholeNwon exactly. always open to admit when I have been doing something wrong.

[@tmb2163]

I love how he has a Nest Thermostat and doesn’t use it even though it will work with only the two wires. Also it’s a lot cheaper than what he’s installing

[@davebrown1972]

I have a two wire setup using a nest, works like you said

[@SpringfieldMa]

Tim Barnett was thinking the same exact thing lol.

[@scrapmetal58]

Wait, how do you get it to work with just two? Please help I want to get one and only have the two wires (baseboard heaters)

[@ikkuranus]

Yes it's cheaper but you forfeit the fan only modes with forced air systems on 2/4 wire setups.

[@jaredwilliams8621]

@@scrapmetal58 The nest has a battery and charges the battery whenever it calls for heat. When the battery is low but no heat is needed, it pulses the wire to charge, but (hopefully) not trigger the furnace to turn on. This has had mixed results depending on the furnace.

[@dd___dc]

Letz just mount diz here on da particle board 🤔🤔😂😂

[@tphvac87]

Oh man I hate showing up on a call and seeing a nest, nest belong in trees guys not as a thermostat! Tekmar is a good control though glad he chose that instead. 😊 I would’ve used an EIM module by Honeywell for that and a Honeywell 8000, but nice work anyway. Also probably would’ve cut those wires back so you don’t see any of the conductors.

[@spikeydog624]

I think you need more cooper showing on those terminals

[@GeeTheBuilder]

Richard is a much better plumber than he is an electrician Way too much copper showing when he fitted the wires to the new unit in the pegboard.

[@skippymagrue]

Doesn't matter because there's not enough voltage to do anything.

[@maienduo]

It's a 24 volt relay, no big deal

[@GeeTheBuilder]

Both (at the time of writing) comments saying “it doesn’t matter” are completely missing the point. Good practice is good practice with electrics.

[@gloriamaiolini9507]

Plumbers usually install furnaces and wiring for the furnace NOT electricians.

[@GeeTheBuilder]

@@gloriamaiolini9507 and? what’s your point?

[@Spencer1609751]

If only they posted a link to the product they Used!

[@SonicBoomC98]

Everyone doesn't have old wiring and thermostats. For those people the thermostat companies should make it easier on people. They should make wall plates that will work with a variety of front plates

[@Tom-ej8bb]

Big issue is new stats maintain within.5 degrees, which leads to constant on and off. Too much cycling! Why can’t manufacturers use heat anticipators like the old Honeywell types. I did just that and now have a 2 degree swing which has reduced my cycling in half. I’m talking Michigan weather too! I don’t notice the swing at all!!

[@STXVIEC]

if you have a 4 wire system, you could change the fan wire to a C Power wire. The fan turns on automatically when the thermostat calls for heat or AC

[@Negative13Prod]

No it doesn’t. The thermostat powers the fan for cooling. (Heat fan kicks on by time, cool and fan on, is controlled by the thermostat)

[@kendog52361]

While it's good for an upgrade, I kinda like the idea of, in a new build or "bare stud remodel" such as what's normally shown on This Old House, that "mother box", acting as the "central control unit" of the HVAC System while the thermostat(s) can be simpler. Basically, in a server-client model, that "mother box" is the "server", while the various thermostats and/or temp sensors are the "clients". Also, if you ever wanted/needed to upgrade it, swapping out the (one) "mother box" seems easier than swapping however many "thermostat controls". Don't get me wrong, I would still want to run the wires to each thermostat, but this still seems like a better setup, overall.

[@take1one]

The white Nest E thermostat runs fine with a 2 wire system. Or at least mine has for 2 years. Just charge it before you instal it.

[@rosaliedipietro1319]

What is the brand of thermostat you're using? Also, would this work on a steam boiler?

[@reviveddk]

Seeing him leaving that much of the power wires stripped makes me quite uneasy.

[@aaron74]

Yes! Sloppy!

[@aaron74]

​@Joe Kinchicken I think most people already understand that. It's more of a question of professional workmanship, which is where Trethewey fell short (no pun intended).

[@barberhvac3438]

Yea I didn't like that either

[@KR-ne1bl]

It’s low voltage, nothing will happen

[@reviveddk]

Krish Maharaj that’s irrellevant, it’s bad practice and a short is a short regardless of voltage.

[@cjhification]

Nest in the UK is in two parts, the part shown is either wireless or wired with 2 wires in the house, then the base unit is installed by the boiler.

[@boby115]

I'm not sure what planet Richard is living on but there are a lot of Wi-Fi thermostats that don't need a common wire "C". You may need to replace the double A batteries once a year but that is about it.

[@howtodoitdude1662]

That is true but If you use the wifi often enough, the battery will drain without the common wire. Without the common wire, the battery only charges when the thermostat is used (on/off).

[@boby115]

@@howtodoitdude1662 , Emerson Electric ( White-Rodgers), Honeywell and quite a few other brands have that problem resolved. Personally my Emerson Electric Scensi thermostat will go well over a year on good alkaline batteries and I use the Wi-Fi all the time. The engineers for Emerson Electric, right here in St Louis knew they had to solve that problem, because with Condominiums, Apartments and finished basements getting a common wire would prove difficult at best. My daughter is going on 2 years with her batteries ( I will remind her again to change them).

[@nuggetthebeagle]

@@howtodoitdude1662 and if there's no AC the thermostat would be off all summer and dead for sure come fall, is that what you're saying?

[@JeanPierreWhite]

Great video. This is a very neat solution to a common problem and the solution is future proof because you can add a more capable furnace later or humidity control and be setup and ready. The best part of the video for me however was the discussion at the end and I saw a Clipper Creek EV charger on the wall in the background. Ahhh.....

[@Scrib1979]

I love how he uses a old battery drill instead of a impact

[@kylewilliams8631]

He could have still used his two wire heat only setup and just changed his thermostat. I use a programable wifi connected Nest thermostat with just the two wire (red and white), gets the battery charging power from the 24vac on the red wire, works fine.

[@howtodoitdude1662]

True, but the battery only charges when the thermostat is used. If the wifi is used often, the battery drains. That’s why they recommend adding a common wire or a transformer to supply constant 24v to keep the battery charged.

[@nuggetthebeagle]

@@howtodoitdude1662 what is the product he's installing in the basement? I have electric baseboard heat with old analog thermostats in each room, but I only use the heat in 2 of the rooms, the living room and bathroom, anyway I'd been hoping to install a smart thermostat to control those 2 or install 2 thermostats whichever, but I only have the 2 wires also and was wondering what products he's using?

[@SteS]

5:18. Drilling 2 inches deep above and below the wires when the wires probably run one of those directions. He got lucky 🍀.

[@بوفارسبونورا-ص7ه]

I'm like you Rechard . I love a clean beautiful wire carries digital .

[@negritorican]

I come here for the comments. All the "experts" putting in their two cents is hilarious.

[@James_Hough]

I’m gonna mount this to the peg board...’cause who you kidding about using these tools?

[@frontcentermusician]

Just lost my coffee on that one! LOL

[@angellas.1314]

Looks can be deceiving, 😉, I’m a petite lady and have many power tools that I use on a regular basis, successfully!

[@paulfarrell1976]

Great video, just thought it was funny they left the front door open for the whole video :-)

[@604jroe]

Yeah that was great! "... I recently had an energy audit done ..." He's like, "Babe, I wonder why our heating costs are so high? Should we close the door, or should we get someone in to do an energy audit?"

[@GotWire]

Could have just used a flex bit and drilled down into the basement from inside the wall and ran a new wire. Also why did he strip so much of the wire back on the thermostat it looks like the wires will short together

[@Stavrosmct]

That baby with the duck picture really scares me.

[@bigsparky65]

Very interesting setup

[@raminator157]

I just had this same thermostat installed with my new furnace and heat pump. A word to the wise, this thermostat relays on the internet for the outside temperature. It does not really update the outside temperature correctly. It has been off by 10 degrees for me and yes the zip code is correct. If I go in and refresh the zip code it will pull the proper temperature again. They make a outside sensor, I think I’ll be asking my service person who installed this put it in. As I need it to read properly so my heat pump or furnace kicks on during certain temperatures outside.

[@oldcyclist5880]

That old thermostat is the same model I removed from my house last week.

[@idcccccccc]

I have a nest with out a C wire working perfectly. This is extra but sure it's good for some applications

[@Arieeeee]

google "power stealing" and its dangers. It may work, but it can also shorten the life of your equipement.

[@idcccccccc]

@@Arieeeee hmm I did not know it could damage my equipment, thanks for the info. We bought out house with original furnace from 1964 so we did plan on switching it out at some point.

[@Arieeeee]

@@idcccccccc The jury is still out about whether it actually causes damage or not but the possibility is there so it's good to be informed. You might also be able to add a secondary transformer for the thermostat itself so it's powered.

[@Mr.Martini549]

I love Richard. He’s an absolute legend, but my first thought was, you’re letting a plumber do this?😅

[@pauli6043]

I had to chuckle at Richard drilling pilot holes for those 1" screws that just bite into drywall. Why?

[@jeffreyjohn2037]

Because he's a hacker

[@JeanPierreWhite]

I would the same. It helps keep the screw going where you want it. Straight.

[@tbone587]

lol just like others have said, why on the peg board?? i would hate that

[@stevent7944]

Has an energy audit done, wants to be more efficient. Leaves front door wide open. LOL

[@sellC1964]

The setup is about $650. For that price I'll run the wire to the transformer for 24VAC.

[@maggot238]

Dude, I see a big issue. There is still some wire coating left on those wires. Think ya need to strip em back more

[@BoilersRock]

I think it best to remove all of the original insulation coating and replace it with aluminum foil covering. That way all of the RF stuff stays trapped, and warm.

[@michaelmiller3224]

The old thermostat uses a bimetallic temperature sensor, and the switch is still mercury filled for make and break of the circuit. The comment was that some thermostats use mercury. Line voltage thermostats do not always use mercury bulbs in older thermostats. Low voltage thermostats for many years almost always had mercury.switches.

[@uclajd]

I love those old analog things. They remind me of the "space age" before transistors were built. Or even earlier.

[@frontcentermusician]

The LUX/GEO unit I just bought has three power choices. Battery,USB or Base module that is included.

[@nnittyllojkoo917]

What was the product that you used?

[@adamcraig1568]

So my dude has no AC but he could use a new programmable tstat to “save” money lol

[@BobbieGWhiz]

I like 0:45. He’s hardly changed!

[@Alexander-lv2mi]

To much copper visible

[@zachosborne6577]

As an hvac mechanical journeyman, these videos are always good for a laugh. Can’t tell you how many houses I’ve been to where they “watched a video” but shorted the wires and blew a fuse now “it doesn’t do anything but the lights are on”. Lol These guys help throw me some easy calls from time to time.

[@rshoe1023]

Yes as you will notice in the comments he got beat up pretty good for excess exposed copper on some of his connections. I didn't comment on that, figured he got the point and didn't want to pile on lol.

[@zachosborne6577]

Wasn’t trying to call him out on it. Just meant in general that happens a lot with people trying to put a nest in, in our area. Have ran a lot of service calls, love it they’re easy money

[@rshoe1023]

@@zachosborne6577 I understood what you were saying. I'm a journeyman industrial electrician and know that leaving to much exposed copper on connections can be a recipe for disaster. Just commented on how he got beat up good for this mistake. As he should have lol.

[@davidstumpf7375]

@@zachosborne6577 yea Zach you have fun with the people who don't want to pay your high prices. I imagine you charge a little extra when you see someone who bodged things up just trying to save some money.

[@zachosborne6577]

If it’s an easy fix of an issue a homeowner created I don’t charge extra. I expect to redo the connections, clipping and stripping, every time I change out a thermostat. I would charge them a little extra for the fuse they blew, I think we charge like $5 for the fuse.

[@fortunatedad7695]

Great video! Where does a guy buy a hub? Thanks

[@etalsnart3202]

Pros leave a little copper showing, but 1/8" is good enough! Way too much copper showing! The show should make a correction in future episodes!

[@Jaze2022]

I just looked up this product, it is wireless isn't it? You're pretty much providing power by the existing wires and then have a wireless communication for everything else.

[@johnnyjax6444]

I saw videos where people directly connect the two wires to the Nest thermostat to W & R why we need the HVAC Interface module 564 ?

[@MrMaxpowernow]

The Nest will often work with the 2 wire configuration.

[@Arieeeee]

It uses "power stealing" which completes the circuit through the resistance of the equipment. The problem with that is that in order for it to work, it has to run small amounts of current through the equipment and that can potentially damage them. A friend of mine who has a zone damper system tried that because the C wire was in the damper controls instead of the air handler and it was hard to find but his blower motor was constantly humming when off which was very off-putting. We ended up finding the zone control board and connected the C wires there.

[@exshvezdickou]

Or just use any thermostat that can have external indoor probe and put just probe to interior by those two wires.

[@4legdfishman]

Question... What if my furnace only has two wires marked "T" for thermostat?

[@mbreault34]

your furnace has a transformer in it that can power the 564. you may need a tech to assist you in locating that

[@113stumpy]

Can different zone thermostats be connected the module ? Is the thermostat programmable for off/on? Thanks.

[@jamesjannell8706]

As always great stuff guys.

[@aaronshensky9385]

Wires were stripped back way too far. Could cause them to contact. I would of ran new wiring.

[@aaronshensky9385]

@@Kevin-mp5of boohoo

[@Private-GtngxNMBKvYzXyPq]

The problem with many of these controls is that to use them remotely one is required to use a server outside the home. Tekmar and Honeywell are just two like this. Not everyone wishes to have everything in their private lives be tracked, monitored, or monetized.

[@GDanielCho]

So the whole point of this thermostat is that running wires from the unit to the furnace could be troublesome? The furnace was compatible to run the needed wires so why not just tie and tape a 18/5 wire to the existing 18/2 wire and pull through the staples? Ive done it a couple times and it never fails, seems like a lot of unneeded work /:

[@mbreault34]

some wires are stapled, run thru multiple floors, or walls and while can be done, not all the time, and heaven forbid if the splice gets stuck or seperates. this is a fast easy solution

[@Boswd]

after you made the new conncetion you could have used the nest and it would have been a perfect solution for it.

[@Guardducks]

That looks just like my old ipod that i still have and works.

[@bulletproofpepper2]

Thanks for sharing

[@chj915]

So those 2 existing wires are now purely for digital communication between the hub (near the furnace downstairs) and the new thermostat box (upstairs)? For future if we need to add cooling systems, fan wire, etc. that would be the wiring between the hub and the furnace only? I assume this is the exclusive product features for this "tekmar"?

[@mbreault34]

correct, no changes are needed, all wiring now takes place in the mechanical room at the HUB.

[@lawriehahnsuperdry]

I thought Richard was a plumber not a sparky??? In the US, is he allowed to do sparky work as well?

[@ablake0072]

Which I saw this today before replacing the whole wire.

[@davidbryant2872]

I thought blue was usually associated with heat pumps and that black was the more usual color for the "C" wire....?

[@chadschafer3890]

That furnace is installed improperly. The return is coming off the back which is not allowed by any manufacturer

[@DevonWildZillaTeschJr]

Chad Schafer Nice try, it’s called a lowboy furnace return comes from the back from manufacturer.

[@chadschafer3890]

@@DevonWildZillaTeschJr I didnt notice that it was an oil furnace

[@TimothyNaugher]

NTI GF200 can be connected off the back.

[@lokologico]

will this work on a nest..???? I only have two wires and an old oil blow air furnace

[@warrensteel9954]

Nests have an internal battery that can allow it to work with a two wire system like this. The downside is it can only charge when calling for heat so you may lose your Wi-Fi connection during the summer as it will stoptransmitting to keep from killing the battery. You can pull it off the wall and charge it up with a USB cable though when getting ready for winter or manually turn on the heat the first time of the season and it will reconnect when it's finished charging.

[@mbreault34]

its a proprietary communications, both parts are sold together and the nest lacks any communications protocol in it to work withthe HuB

[@oldtwinsna8347]

Only came to read comments about how Richard knows nothing about low voltage electrical wiring.

[@jamedlock83]

take a shot everytime he says "great"

[@jrelectrician4387]

Thank you for the info 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍✌✌✌✌✌✌✌✊✊✊✊✊✊

[@Eric-sj8rn]

Does this work with Oil Heat/Burner and a water based Baseboard heating? I also just have 2 wires and it's line voltage.

[@gginnj]

I've got 2 wire 220v baseboard heat thermostats - I want to put in wifi controlled ones, but the only ones I see are about 90.00 to 150.00. Since each room of the house has its own heater and controller, I'm looking at around 1000.00. Suggestions on doing this cheaper?

[@JasonW.]

Look for a multi zone control unit.

[@tjlovesrachel]

That’s prob a line voltage thermostat…. I would be careful if I was you

[@nr3rful]

I have all electric heat with a thermostat in every room. Is this "smart" thing for me also ?

[@JasonW.]

No, you have more effective heating control now

[@garyjones6843]

Been struggling since i dont have a control board just messy wire connections. Have 3 wires to thermostat one unused but it looks like it was connected to a ground but snipped.