Honeywell Thermostat Installation
Honeywell thermostats are known for their simplicity and versatility, making them ideal climate control solutions. Even though these devices are designed to be user-friendly, the idea of setting up a new one can be intimidating. Whether you're installing a new unit or replacing an old one, these Honeywell thermostat installation instructions will help make the process as easy as possible.
These directions are for RTH111 Series non-programmable and RTH6500WF Smart Series programmable thermostats, such as the RTH111B1042 and RTH6500WF, respectively.
Supplies
- Screwdrivers
- AAA Alkaline Batteries (2, if needed)
- Drill (to drill holes, if needed )
- Cell Phone (to take photos of wire configurations)
Removing the Old Thermostat
- Step 1. Turn off the furnace - Use either the on/off switch or the circuit breaker to disconnect your heating and cooling system from the power source to protect the unit and minimize electrical hazards during the installation procedure.
- Step 2. Remove the old thermostat - Pull the existing thermostat off the wall plate by grabbing it on the sides and pulling it forward, leaving the wires and wall plate in place. If needed, see the owner’s manual for more information on uninstalling your existing thermostat.
- Step 3. Label the wires - Mark the wires with the tags supplied with the unit, or take a photo of the current wire configurations for future reference; this will help you reconfigure the wires correctly when installing the new unit.
- Step 4. Detach the wires - Disconnect the wires from the terminals. Depending on the unit, you may have to loosen the screws, push the buttons or flip the switches to free the wires, so refer to the user’s manual for detailed instructions.
- Step 5. Fan out the wires - Uncurl and spread out the wires so they’ll catch on the wall if they fall backward: this will help prevent them from slipping through the hole in the wall.
- Step 6. Remove the old wall plate - Loosen the screws and then pull the old wall plate off the wall, taking care not to push the wires back through the wall.
- Step 7. Drill holes for the new wall plate (if needed) - Make additional screw holes for the new wall plate if the old ones don’t align with the new plate’s layout. Check the owner’s manual for guidance on hole size.
Installing the New Thermostat
- Step 1. Separate the new thermostat from its wall plate - Prepare the new unit for installation by detaching it from the mounting plate it came with, then set the thermostat aside.
- Step 2. Position the new wall plate - Anchor the new wall plate in place with the screws and mounts included with the thermostat.
- Step 3. Configure the wires - Use the tags on the wires or the photos of the previous configurations to insert the wires into the correct terminals, loosening screws and toggling switches as needed. If the letters on the tags don’t match the letters on the terminals, check the user’s manual for details on alternate wiring configurations.
- Step 4. Secure the wires in place - Be sure to retighten the screws and flip the switches to secure the wires in place.
- Step 5. Put in the batteries (if needed) - Add batteries to the unit if necessary.
- Step 6. Set the system selection switch (if applicable) - Flip the system type switch to either gas/oil or heat pump as needed. If your thermostat doesn't have such a switch, skip this step.
- Step 7. Install the thermostat - Mount the thermostat onto the wall plate, making sure it’s attached securely before relaxing your grip.
Preparing for Normal Use
- Step 1. Switch on the furnace - Power on the furnace by using either the on/off switch or the circuit breaker.
- Step 2. Test the unit - Adjust the temperature settings to see if the HVAC system responds; if it does, the thermostat has been installed successfully.
- Step 3. Program the thermostat (if applicable) - Schedule automatic temperature changes by configuring the thermostat as desired if your unit is programmable.
- Step 4. Set up the Wi-Fi (if applicable) - Connect your smart device with your home’s Wi-Fi network so that you can adjust the unit’s settings remotely. If you have a standard thermostat, skip this step.
- Step 5. Use the unit normally - You may now use your new thermostat normally.