- Home
- Thermostat placement
Where should the thermostat go?
The thermostat decides when the whole system runs. If it sits in the wrong spot, every room pays for it. Choose a numbered spot on the plan to see why it works — or doesn't.
The plan
Numbers match the list below. Aim for about five feet above the floor wherever it ends up.
Tap a number on the plan
Each spot shows whether it gives the system an honest reading of the house.
What each position does
- Good
1 · Interior wall, near the middle
Reads air that most rooms share, away from sun, doors and supply air. This is where a thermostat usually belongs.
- Poor
2 · Under a sunny window
Afternoon sun and a warm exterior wall make it read high, so cooling runs long while the rest of the house gets cold.
- Poor
3 · Beside the front door
Every time the door opens, a burst of outside air reaches it first and the system reacts to the doorway, not the house.
- Poor
4 · Across from a supply grille
Conditioned air hits it straight away, so it is satisfied and shuts off before the rooms have caught up.
- Poor
5 · In the kitchen, near the oven
Cooking heat makes it think the whole house is warm. Expect cold rooms elsewhere at dinner time.
- Poor
6 · Above the TV or a lamp
Electronics and bulbs warm the sensor from below. It reads a few degrees high for hours at a time.
- Fair
7 · In a back bedroom
Fine if that room matters most, for example at night. A thermostat with room sensors, or zoning, can balance it with the rest.
Moving a thermostat
Moving one usually means running new wire inside the wall to the new spot. Many smart thermostats also need a common (C) wire for power; older homes often don't have one, and we check before you buy.
If moving it isn't practical, remote room sensors can average several rooms or follow the one you're in. For businesses, a locked cover or a sensor in the occupied space solves the same problem.
