Where to install the thermostat

Are there points of the room that are more suitable than others for installing a thermostat or are they all much the same? It sounds like a trivial question but it really is not. Indeed, all too often, the thermostats are found installed in the wrong position within the home, which impacts upon their proper functioning. So, let’s look at some steps to take when installing a thermostat or a programmable thermostat.

Choose the location

Normally, the thermostat is installed in the most used rooms, such as the living room, because they are the warmest and the most important in terms of maintaining the right temperature. If we were to install the thermostat in a scarcely-used and thus colder room, we would inevitably have to make annoying adjustments to the room temperature.

Here are some general factors to consider when choosing the installation location:

  • Avoid proximity to heat sources, such as thermostats, stoves, etcetera;
  • Avoid exposure to direct sunlight;
  • Avoid proximity to drafts or other sources of cold air, such as windows, doors, and so on;
  • Avoid particularly cold walls (thermal bridges);
  • Avoid installing the thermostat too low, given that cold air settles – usually, a height of 1.5 metres from the ground is recommended.

All such cases lead to an alteration in the temperature detected by the thermostat, which has several negative effects, including delayed or advanced shutdown of the heating or frequent turning on and off due to the sudden changes in temperate caused, for example, by drafts.

With Seitron thermostats, it is possible to adjust the offset, specifically to deal with ‘unhappy’ installations, but it is good practice to stick to the above if proceeding with installation in a position sans outlet.

Installation tricks

One final consideration. Before choosing a new thermostat, it is important to check the type of power supply. Often, installing a thermostat powered at 230V can entail additional work (and costs). So, let’s look at the two possible cases – replacement or starting installation from scratch.

In the event of a replacement, if the new thermostat is battery-powered, there are no issues and the replacement can be done without any worries (subject to the compatibility of the encumbrance, of course). For a new 230V thermostat, rather, we can quickly proceed with the replacement if the old one is also 230V, otherwise we will have to check that the installation site has two power cables in addition to the two boiler connection cables. If not, we will have to do some wiring!

When completing a new installation, the main worry is whether or not there are boiler connection cables. In fact, even if they are present where you intend to install the thermostat, you can still opt for a battery-powered unit, whereas if there are no boiler connection cables, you can go for a wireless solution that allows the thermostat to communicate via radio with a receiver positioned in the boiler, thus offering the utmost freedom in installation.

Examples of this type are our radio kits or the new hygge Wi-Fi thermostat.