In this article, we are going to show you exactly how to remove a Honeywell thermostat from your wall.
If you want to install a new thermostat, removing the old one is the first step. While you could leave the old model on the wall, it would look rather odd to have two thermostats next to one another.
Luckily, removing a Honeywell thermostat from a wall is simple if you know where to start and have everything you need.
We’re going to take you through everything you need to know about removing a Honeywell thermostat from a wall.
Read on to learn more.
What Is a Honeywell Thermostat?
A Honeywell thermostat is a thermostat that’s manufactured by Honeywell.
Honeywell thermostats are similar to other thermostats and provide you with a temperature reading for your home. Some Honeywell thermostats also allow you to customize heating and air conditioning settings to help your home reach your desired temperature.
Most Honeywell thermostats are small and compact boxes that can be mounted on the walls of a home. There are also several different models but each one has similar wires and installation requirements.
Therefore, removing a Honeywell thermostat from a wall is a similar process regardless of the type of thermostat you have.
Honeywell Thermostat Wiring
One thing that makes Honeywell thermostats different from other thermostats is the wiring. While there are industry standards for thermostat wiring, many Honeywell thermostats have color-coded wires that indicate the part of the HVAC system they’re connected to. Below are color codes for Honeywell wires:
- White wire: Connects to the heating system
- Yellow wire: Connects to the compressor
- Green wire: Connects to the fan
- Orange wire: Connects to the heating pump (not all homes have a heating pump)
- Blue wire: Common wire (C wire)
- Red wire: The red (C wire ensures the flow of electricity to the air conditioner, while the H wire connects to the heating system)
When removing a Honeywell thermostat from the wall it’s important to disconnect these wires. It also helps to know the colors for each wire when it’s time to install a new Honeywell thermostat.
How to Remove a Honeywell Thermostat from a Wall
Removing a Honeywell thermostat from a wall is not difficult and you can do it without much technical experience.
However, if you feel stuck or are worried about the wires you can always work with a licensed technician.
Below are the steps to remove a Honeywell thermostat from a wall.
1. Turn Off the HVAC System
When working with electrical systems it’s important to turn off the electricity that’s flowing through the HVAC system.
Otherwise, you increase the risk of being shocked and injured when you start disconnecting wires. For this reason, we recommend cutting the HVAC system off from the circuit breaker.
In most homes, you can have power flowing through the rest of your home as long as you flip the switch that correlates to the HVAC system. If you want to take safety a step further, you can turn off the power that’s flowing through the wall that the Honeywell thermostat is mounted on.
Once you turn off the power you can get started with the removal of the Honeywell thermostat from the wall.
2. Check for Mercury
Older Honeywell thermostats have mercury vials. Before removing the cover and other components, you need to check for the mercury vial. If the thermostat has a mercury vial you need to remove it from the thermostat carefully before removing the Honeywell thermostat from the wall.
Depending on the Honeywell thermostat the mercury can be removed once the cover is removed from the device.
You also need to be careful when you dispose of the mercury vial. Because mercury can contaminate the environment, it’s important to check with state regulations before tossing it into a trashcan.
If you’re unsure of how to dispose of mercury you can also contact your waste management company, which will provide you with detailed instructions for mercury disposal.
3. Remove the Honeywell Thermostat Cover
Next, it’s time to remove the Honeywell thermostat’s cover. Each Honeywell thermostat has a unique cover, so you need to check the owner’s manual for instructions about how to remove it properly.
If you have an older Honeywell thermostat and don’t have access to the owner’s manual, you can find the instructions online.
To do so, you’ll have to locate the Honeywell thermostat’s model number. The model number for most Honeywell thermostats is located on the face of the thermostat but some Honeywell thermostats also provide product information on the digital screen.
Depending on the type of Honeywell thermostat, removing the cover is simple. Typically, a Honeywell thermostat has finger holds. These are small indents on the cover that can be pressed in.
The location of these holds changes based on the model but most Honeywell thermostats have them. To remove the cover, press on the finger holds and pull the cover off.
Make sure you pull the cover straight off of the thermostat; bending it can damage the cover and thermostat.
4. Mark the Honeywell Thermostat Wires
The next step is to mark the wires that connect the Honeywell thermostat to the HVAC system. These wires need to be marked because doing so will help you connect your new thermostat to the HVAC system.
You can skip this step if you’re running new wires through the wall or plan on mounting a thermostat to a different section of your home.
If you’re going to mark the wires we recommend using something small and easy to read. So, use something like masking tape to label each wire. The wires should be visible once you remove the faceplate and cover but that’s not always the case.
If you can’t see the wires after removing the cover and faceplate grab a screwdriver and remove the plate that’s covering the wires.
5. Disconnect the Wires
Once the wires are marked and most of the Honeywell thermostat is disconnected, it’s time to disconnect the wires. Depending on the type of Honeywell thermostat, disconnecting the wires will vary.
For example, some Honeywell thermostats have screws that hold the wires in place, while other models have push-in terminals.
Honeywell thermostats that have push-in terminals require a pen or small screwdriver to push the tabs in. Once the tabs are pushed in you can disconnect the wires.
On the other hand, Honeywell thermostats with screws holding the wires in place require a screwdriver to disconnect the wires. For these models, simply turn the screws to loosen and remove the wires.
6. Remove the Bracket
The last step is to remove the bracket. Most Honeywell thermostats have a bracket that secures the thermostat to the wall.
You can remove the bracket by removing the screws and pulling the Honeywell thermostat off of the wall. Be gentle with the thermostat to ensure that the thermostat and wall don’t get damaged.
Once the Honeywell thermostat is off of the wall there will be marks and damage from the screws. We recommend repairing the damage before mounting a new thermostat to the wall.
Doing so will give you a fresh area to work with. You can use spackle or paint to restore the wall to its former condition.
There are a few different types of Honeywell thermostats, so there might be some variations in the instructions. If you’re unsure about how to proceed, you can always check the owner’s manual.
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Final Thoughts
Removing a Honeywell thermostat from a wall is simple as long as you follow the appropriate steps. Always remember to be safe and disconnect the power from the HVAC system to prevent injuries.
While most Honeywell thermostats can be taken down with minimal technical experience, some models have advanced features that are more complicated to handle.
For these cases, we recommend working with a professional technician. That said, following the steps above will help you remove the majority of Honeywell thermostats from the wall.
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