Where's the Best Placement for My Home Thermostat?

The location of the thermostat for your home’s HVAC system impacts the way the system functions. Having the thermostat in the wrong place can be the cause of cold or hot spots as well as high utility bills.

Poor locations include areas with temperature extremes that can affect the thermostat’s operation. Make sure the thermostat is located away from drafty windows and doors or fans that can give an incorrect low temperature reading. Similarly, direct sunlight, lamps, air vents, space heaters, televisions and other appliances that generate heat can raise the temperature in the immediate vicinity of the thermostat and cause readings that are too high. Either way, these can cause the thermostat to turn the furnace on or off prematurely, which can decrease the comfort level of the entire home or in specific rooms. Running the furnace unnecessarily will also increase your energy bills.

What is the ideal location for a thermostat?

Interior walls

Exterior walls are often hotter or colder than the rest of the home and experience temperature fluctuations throughout the day that are not evident inside the home. They are also more likely to have doors or windows that let in drafts which will impact the function of the device. Interior walls remain a more consistent temperature and are a better representation of the overall temperature of the home.

Well-used, central location

If the thermostat is in a little or never used room or hallway, the furnace or air conditioner will turn on or off based on the temperature of that area rather than where you spend the majority of your time. This can result in the rooms you occupy being too warm or too cold.

No obstructions

In addition to being away from windows, doors and anything that can affect the temperature directly around the thermostat, make sure there is nothing obstructing the airflow around the device in order to get the most consistent and accurate reading.

In range of Wi-Fi

Smart thermostats require a steady internet connection, so make sure yours is placed in a location with good access to Wi-Fi.

52 to 60 inches above the floor

This represents a good midpoint to gather temperature data. Because heat rises, placement lower than 52 inches can result in readings that are too low, while higher than 60 inches can give a reading that is too high. Similarly, the thermostat should not be on the top level, which may be hotter than the rest of the home, or on a lower level which may be colder.

Questions about the best thermostat for your home and where to place it? Contact the experts at Rheem Pro Partners today. We proudly serve homes throughout Colorado and Wyoming.