We’ve all bought stuff over the Internet. And it’s great for certain things. Clothes (assuming they fit), music, airline tickets. The list goes on and on.
It’s almost always a bad idea to purchase items through the internet that require professional installation, such as thermostats. Here is why it is a bad idea to buy thermostats online.
Your professional HVAC contractor has the knowledge to recommend the proper thermostat for your system and the training to install it properly. Just because you CAN buy a thermostat over the Internet does not mean you should. And this is just one example. You are better off paying a little more for the product from somebody who has the knowledge to sell you the right thing, and then install it correctly the first time.
It’s almost always a bad idea to purchase items through the internet that require professional installation, such as thermostats. Here is why it is a bad idea to buy thermostats online.
- Most higher-end replacement furnaces are matched to the thermostat. These thermostats contain more operational functionality than just turning the equipment on and off. If you don’t use the correct thermostat, you will lose furnace and AC functionality that will ultimately result in a reduction in comfort and/or a reduction in energy efficiency. Homeowners lack the industry knowledge to ensure that the thermostat they are purchasing online will properly operate their HVAC system. Many Internet capable thermostats will require additional wiring. This will likely end up costing you more than the money being saved by buying the thermostat online.
- You could hire a “handyman” who may have the ability to install the thermostat, but who would not know if the new thermostat would lower performance. Then when the performance suffers, you would have a lot of finger-pointing between the company you purchased the thermostat from and the handyman.
Your professional HVAC contractor has the knowledge to recommend the proper thermostat for your system and the training to install it properly. Just because you CAN buy a thermostat over the Internet does not mean you should. And this is just one example. You are better off paying a little more for the product from somebody who has the knowledge to sell you the right thing, and then install it correctly the first time.