What’s The Correct Height To Place A Thermostat And Why?

thermostat

Are you one of those unlucky Waterford, MI or Oxford, MI homeowners who can’t seem to keep the house at the temperature you want? There can be many reasons this happens but there is one seemingly minor thing that Kotz Heating, Cooling & Plumbing believes doesn’t get enough attention when it comes to HVAC maintenance. We are talking about the location of your thermostat, including making sure it is at the correct height off the floor.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

The thermostat must be located in a spot where it accurately reflects the average conditions throughout the home. That’s not always easy and since the thermostat is the boss of your furnace and air conditioner, a poor location can have a huge impact on your personal comfort. Let’s take a closer look at the two basic commandments when it comes to choosing a location.

On an interior wall & centrally located

  • This is the best way to approximate the average conditions in the home
  • Mounted 52-60 inches above the floor to account for natural air movement as hot air rises and cool air falls.

A location away from temperature extremes

  • This means no direct sunlight from windows, doors, or skylights
  • Away from the air vents
  • Away from exterior doors
  • Away from lamps, light fixtures, and electrical appliances that give off heat

Moving a thermostat to a new location is not a do-it-yourself task. It involves wiring expertise, and you will need an HVAC maintenance professional to do the job for you.

CONSIDER STEPPING UP TO A ZONED SYSTEM

In some situations, a single thermostat for a home, or even one for each floor, will have a difficult time keeping the entire house comfortable. Zoning is always an excellent choice, especially if you are planning a major remodel or are building a new home. Zoning is a system that uses multiple thermostats and a series of dampers in your ductwork to control the temperature in individual areas (zones) inside your Waterford, MI or Oxford, MI house. Call Kotz Heating, Cooling & Plumbing now to determine if zoning or a thermostat relocation is a good choice for your home.