- 1). Turn off the circuit breaker to the heating and cooling system. Remove the cover on the existing programmable thermostat. Most programmable thermostat simply slide up and off the thermostat base plate. Some thermostat covers are held in place with two small screws, requiring a Phillips-head screwdriver.
- 2). Place small pieces of masking tape around each of the wires connecting to the thermostat base plate from the wall. Each terminal that a wire connects to has a designating letter. Use the letter as the location identification, and write the location letter of each wire onto the masking tape with a pencil.
- 3). Turn the screws securing the base plate to the wall counterclockwise with a Phillips-head screwdriver. Pull the base plate away from the wall as far as possible without straining the wires.
- 4). Remove the wires from the terminal on the base plate. Most programmable thermostats use a quick-release clip. Press down on the clip with your thumb, and pull the wire away from the terminal. Hold the wires with one hand behind the base plate, and pull the wires out of the base plate. Wrap the wires around a pencil or tape them to the wall to prevent the wires from falling into the wall cavity.
- 5). Position the new base plate for the non-programmable thermostat over the hole in the wall. Mark the location for the mounting screws onto the wall with a pencil. Set the base plate down and drill two mounting holes into the wall with a bit the same diameter as the plastic anchor. Insert the plastic anchor into the holes and tap them flush to the wall with a hammer.
- 6). Thread the wires through the hole in the new base plate, and align the mounting holes of the base plate over the wall anchors. Secure the base plate with the retaining screws. On most non-programmable thermostat, there is a jumper between the terminals marked Rh and Rc. If you have five wires coming out of the wall, the jumper will need to be removed. Pull the jumper out of the two terminals with a pair of needle-nose pliers.
- 7). Connect each individual wire to the appropriate terminal on the new thermostat base plate. The terminals are most often quick-connect terminals. Press the tab on the terminal with your thumb, and insert the end of the wire into the terminal block. Release the tab to lock the wire in place. If your thermostat uses terminal screws, bend the end of the wires and place them over the neck of the terminal screw. Tighten the screw with a Phillips-head screwdriver to secure the wire.
- 8). Remove the small tape tab on the back of the thermostat cover. This tape tab covers the electrical contact on the thermostat cover. Place the thermostat cover onto the base plate. Most slide in from the top, while others snap over the base plate.
- 9). Turn on the power to the heating and cooling system and set the thermostat to the desired temperature according to the manufacturer's instructions.
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