changing home thermostat

[huffmuds9320]

The thermostat currently in my house is a non digital one with mercury thermometer (will be disposed of properly). It is very old and the current temperature is not accurate anymore. My house only has heating so no a/c or anything like that. The heater is turned on manually by a switch in the basement. It is a natural gas heater.

So I'm thinking of replacing one with a digital non programmable one. The heater is used only a few days out of the year. I'm looking for one that displays current temperature as well as *C/*F selectable. Nothing expensive or fancy of course. I took off the old one and it has 2 wires (connected to W and RH), the ones I see mostly sold are 3 wires with heating/cooling. So are they all universal use? Any suggestions. Thanks.

 

[LarryD]

Go to Home Depot or Lowes, they should have a simple model that meets your needs. Even if it has a AC option you only have to connect to the W and RH terminals (the replacement thermostats do not have wires, just screw terminals) and forget about the AC switch.

 

[Kestas]

Since you're not going with a programmable one, maybe you can still use the old one you have. Because they're mercury switches and work off gravity, they can be calibrated by rotating the unit.

 

[oilyriser]

Quote:

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It is very old and the current temperature is not accurate anymore.

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What he said. Likely no need to replace it. Digital ones need fresh batteries every so often, and are one more thing to go wrong (especially if Made in C....)

 

[Papa Bear]

Made in Canada ??

 

[oilyriser]

We don't need thermostats. We just set the furnace ON, and take off our parkas if it finally gets warm.

 

[Papa Bear]

Yeah, we open the window.

 

[Trucku]

Bought on from Home Depot for my father in law for less than $25. They even had one for $20. They can control just heat or ac also. You use the features you need. The batteries need replacing every year or so. It has lots of features including current temp and set temp. Has override button and energy save features. More than you would need but very cheap for the price. I upgraded his from a old mercury thermostat also with 2 leed wire.He has had it for over a year with no issues and its easy to use for a 76 year old guy.
you can buy similar for much much more, but your paying for company name. Jeez wish I could remember the model.

 

[1sttruck]

We replaced our almost 20 year mercury thermostat a couple or so years ago with a Honeywell as I recall, a simple model. We wanted to turn the heating off at night and during the day. Works fine so far.

 

[Master ACiD]

those old bimetal thermos are not very accurite. i ended up replacing mine for a digital $20 one because it wouldnt hold the room at 75.
think about it, a mechanical bimetal strip, now accurite could it possibly be? not very sence its subject to vibration, shock, etc.

the digital cheapie i got is sooooooo much nicer.

 

[1sttruck]

I adjusted the old thermostat with a thermometer, not with the numbers on the thermostat, and it seemed to work well enough.

 

[JHZR2]

Id do just as 1sttruck said, given your usage profile - "calibrate" it with a ruler and save your money.

The only good reason to replace one is if it is broken or you want a programmable unit. Just figure out what temperature setting gets you your desired comfort.

JMH

 

[Tosh]

Please be sure to properly dispose of the mercury-filled thermostat. The apartment maintenance people who replaced ours just threw it in our trash!