Changing the boiler thermostat: practical guide and advice
Winter 2022 brought the topic of energy saving to the foreground, and as a consequence the demand: should I change the boiler thermostat? And if so, what should I take? How do I make the replacement?
Do I need to replace my thermostat?
The more appropriate question would actually be, do I currently use a thermostat or a programmable thermostat? While the first allows you to only do "switch on-off", the second allows you to set the switching on and off on an hourly basis and to adjust the comfort and reduction temperatures . For further information you can read: Difference between thermostat and chronothermostat .
The chronothermostat therefore allows you to save energy compared to the normal thermostat (in this article we explain why: How to heat the house while saving ), therefore if you have a simple thermostat, you could seriously consider the idea of changing it, especially in this moment of general increase in the cost of energy.
Another reason for wanting to change the old thermostat could be that of a upgrade of the heating system with the possibility of managing it remotely via app, or integrating it with Alexa or Google Home.
But we may want to replace the boiler thermostat even just because we are tired of it, and we want something new and perhaps with a more modern design!
How to find the right device for your needs
If you have decided to change the thermostat, then the next step is to identify the one that's right for you. Let's see the main categories of devices on the market starting from what the installation needs may be.
Battery thermostat or 230V?
The choice between a battery-powered and a at 230V is mainly linked to the presence of the power cables at the point where the thermostat is to be installed. If the old device is powered by 230V, you have no constraints in choosing the new one. If, however, the old thermostat is battery operated, you will have to check that the power cables are still available, unless you want to carry out building work. Don't know how to do this check? Don't worry, in this post we explain how individual: 2-wire thermostat: how to connect it .
Is a built-in or wall-mounted thermostat better?
The difference between the two lies in the sensitivity to changes in temperature , in general, in fact, wall thermostats are more "reactive" as the temperature sensor is better exposed to the ambient air. In terms of installation however, the choice between the two mainly depends on the presence or absence of a 503 box . In fact, if this was not there, it would be necessary to carry out masonry works to prepare it on the wall.
Daily, Weekly, Wifi, Wireless
Choosing between a thermostat daily , weekly o wifi does not change in terms of installation. The wireless thermostat, on the other hand, requires installing a radio receiver near the boiler. For further information on these topics, please refer to the following article: Chronothermostat: which one to choose .
How to install and replace a thermostat or chronothermostat?
This question in the minds of many brings with it another: " Who replaces the boiler thermostat? ". You should always rely on a specialized technician , plumber or electrician, but if you are a little familiar with cables and electrical diagrams, you can also replace it yourself.
In this case we always recommend proceed only if you are sure of what you are doing . For this reason, below we describe only the two most common situations that can occur when changing the thermostat , i.e. those in which you find yourself with 2 or 4 cables:
- The old thermostat is battery powered. In this case it will have connected only the 2 boiler consent cables . We will then have to detach them and connect them to the new thermostat following its connection diagram. ATTENTION : if the new thermostat is powered by 230V it will also be necessary to connect the power cables to the thermostat.
- The old thermostat is powered by 230V. In this case we should be faced with 4 cables, 2 for consent and 2 for power . We must pay close attention to identify the power cables , usually blue and brown (connected to the L and N terminals) and connect them correctly to the new thermostat, only if this is also powered by 230V, otherwise the two cables will have to be isolated and only the consent cables will have to be connected.
To learn more about the installation steps, you can read this article: 2-wire thermostat: how to connect it .
Once changed the boiler thermostat all that remains is try to see if it works . In this article we explain how to do it: How to check if a thermostat is working .