Vestavia Hills, AL – HVAC Expert Answers – Does Placement of Thermostats Matter?

They say don’t sweat the small stuff, but often, it’s what matters the most. When placing a thermostat in your home, location matters. It’s one of the small things that seem unimportant but makes a big difference in the overall comfort of your home. Do not install a thermostat in any random location and suffer the consequences.

The Thermostat’s Job

Thermostats detect the temperature in the home, then send commands to heat or cool to the HVAC system. The placement of your thermostat affects the temperature readings sent to the HVAC unit. If your thermostat is placed in the wrong area, expect uncomfortable temperatures in your home, whether it’s too cold or too hot. Additionally, wrongly placed thermostats cause your HVAC system to work unnecessarily hard, experience more wear and tear, and break down faster.

Where should a thermostat be placed to ensure accurate readings and reduce the risks that otherwise affect the HVAC system?

Where NOT to Place a Thermostat

Before we list the best thermostat placement locations, let’s look at some of the worst places for installation, so you’re sure to avoid these areas.

• Across from a window since sunlight can heat up the thermostat and cause an inaccurate reading.
• Near the furnace or air conditioner. Placing the thermostat in either location can create a false reading leading to your system working harder and creating uncomfortable conditions in your home.
• Although a common placement area for thermostats, hallways are one of the worst spots for them. The temperature in a hallway greatly differs from that in other areas of the home, resulting in a false reading.

Best Place for a Thermostat

Place your thermostat on an interior wall away from windows, doors, and direct sunlight. Ideally, the thermostat should be placed centrally in your home for the most accurate readings.

Consider a thermostat upgrade if you want to improve accuracy. Wifi and smart thermostats are considerably more accurate than traditional thermostats and offer a variety of additional benefits.

Absolute Air offers a wide array of services, including, but not limited to, AC installation, AC repair, heating installation, heating repair, digital thermostat installation, metal fabrication (for all types of ductwork), refrigeration, and gas line installation. Our trained team of technicians can also service and work on equipment brands such as American Standard, Train, Carrier, York, Goodman, Rudd, and Mitsubishi, to name a few. 

If you have a service request not mentioned here, give us a call.