The Most Ideal And Worst Placements For Your Thermostat

Despite your best efforts, are you having trouble maintaining a pleasant indoor temperature? Does it seem like there’s no end in sight to the rise in your energy costs? You must be attributing the problem to your HVAC system, but before you call a service, check the location of your thermostat.

Your HVAC system depends on your thermostat to keep everything at the right temperature.

Thermostats keep track of the typical indoor temperature and communicate your desired settings to your HVAC system. The placement of thermostats is crucial since they can detect the ambient temperature. Thermostat measurements are impacted by environmental elements like heat, cold, and light.

Incorrect placement of your thermostat results in inaccurate or ‘ghost’ readings of the temperature, making your HVAC system run either too often or not enough. It can lead to increased wear and tear and uneven heating and cooling. Moreover, it can cause unnecessary energy wastage, leading to high AC bills.

So, what should your thermostat location be and where not to place it? Let’s find out.

Placement Instructions for Thermostats

When looking for the appropriate location, you should consider the following general thermostat placement recommendations:

• To avoid ghost readings and unneeded short cycling of your machine, read the manufacturer’s installation instructions.
• Avoid placing your thermostat close to heat-producing devices like ovens, televisions, lamps, etc.
• Make sure your Wi-Fi is accessible to them and that the signal is strong enough to maintain a connection if you’re using a smart thermostat or smart AC controller for ductless units.
• Do not place your thermostat in the room with the highest or lowest temperature in your home. You want the average reading to be taken by your temperature control system. It is advised to avoid placing objects in extremely hot or cold environments.
• It’s better to avoid placing your furnishings near the thermostat or below it because they obstruct airflow.
• Avoid placing your thermostat close to plumbing or supply ducts. The temperature changes as a result of the water or air passing through the pipes heating or cooling the walls around them.
• Install the sensors away from obstructions, such as behind a door or inside a bookcase.

Location Of The Ideal Thermostat

The performance and efficiency of a thermostat can be impacted by where it is placed. It should ideally be placed in a prominent area that you frequent and where there is good natural airflow.

Install your thermostat between 52 and 60 inches high. Placing it above 60 will produce high readings, and placing it below 52 will provide lesser readings. This is because the measurement will be impacted by the temperature swings as hot air rises and cool air sinks.

Consider adopting a smart thermostat or smart AC controller for maximum comfort. They let you maintain perfect temperatures, humidity levels, make schedules, manage AC using your phone, and do so much more!

The optimal locations for your thermostat in your house are those listed below:

1. In The Middle Of The House

A central location more accurately depicts your home’s climate. The thermostat should be placed in the middle of your home because it gauges the average temperature there. A middle location also maximizes thermostat accuracy, assisting your HVAC system in performing at its peak. Another advantage is that everyone in the family would have easy access to a focal point.

2. Room That Is Used Often

Your commonly used space should be as cozy as possible. This makes it the ideal location for your thermostat installation. No ghost readings will interfere with the operation of your thermostat, allowing your room to be cooled or heated exactly as you choose. Just make sure there aren’t any big windows with cold drafts or direct sunshine shining on the appliance.

3. On A Wall Inside

Unlike the outer wall, the interior wall is not impacted by varying cold or hot temperatures. They also provide a better idea of the temperature within your home on average. They might also serve as your first choice for thermostat installation.

4. The Ground Floor Of A Two-Story Home

The second story of your home typically seems warmer because hot air rises. When your house isn’t actually becoming warmer, a thermostat set upstairs will think it is.

Instead of installing it upstairs, think about putting it in a prominent spot downstairs, like your living room. A two-story building’s balanced environment depends on this location. However, installing dual-zone thermostats for improved climate control would be the perfect answer.

Places To Avoid Putting Your Thermostat

The sudden temperature changes can throw off your thermostat, whether they are caused by a draft from the windows or the heat from your kitchen. As a result, reading the ambient temperature in your house will be next to impossible. You shouldn’t put your thermostat in any of the following locations to prevent this:

1. Near Windows And Entrances

Direct sunlight or drafts coming in via windows might make it difficult for your thermostat to accurately measure the temperature. Similarly, your thermostat will read your home as being considerably colder than it actually is if cold air enters through cracks and gaps in the doors.

Furthermore, it’s a bad idea to place your thermostat close to a door that opens to the outside. Your thermostat will be exposed to either chilly or warm air each time you open the door. As a result, your AC will keep turning on and off without reaching the settings you desire.

2. In Direct Sunlight

The bright, direct sunshine hitting your thermostat can significantly skew the measurement. When sensors detect that a room is getting warmer, they will tell you to turn down the air conditioning. Your unit’s operation is impacted by this incorrect calculation, which results in energy waste. The sun’s rays can affect sensor readings even on a frigid day, preventing your heating system from turning on when you need it.

3. The Warm Kitchen

Due to the heat produced during cooking and baking, your kitchen is most likely the warmest room in your home. Your thermostat won’t be able to provide an accurate reading if you set it to this setting. Even when you don’t need it, your air conditioner will operate. On the other hand, your heating system will work hard to maintain a comfortable temperature inside your home, leaving you and your family shivering in the cold.

4. Around The Vents

The vents are one of the sources that can alter your thermostat’s reading. False readings are caused by placing your smart climate control device directly above or below the vents. The hot and cold air coming from the vents directly touches your thermostat, causing an inaccurate readout. Your unit will stop functioning even before your home reaches the intended temperature because it will cool or heat up more quickly than the rest of your house.

5. Outside Wall Of The House

Particularly if they are uninsulated, exterior walls are more susceptible to the weather. Air leaking from the wall’s cracks and gaps can affect the reading on the thermostat. Therefore, mounting your thermostat on an interior wall would be preferable.

6. Vacant Hallway

Another undesirable location for thermostat installation is your hallway. Your thermostat won’t be able to take precise readings in a corridor because it is a long, tight space with little to no airflow. Additionally, you don’t actually spend much time there, and it’s usually deserted.

The Lesson

A thermostat needs to be centrally located, away from drafts, doors, windows, and other areas where the temperature changes, in order to function well. You may assure optimal heating and cooling to maximum energy savings by adhering to the above-mentioned thermostat positioning recommendations.