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Open the Box and Check its Contents

Inside the box you’ll find a complete installation kit that includes:

• Welcome guide and installation instructions
• A larger trim plate that covers holes or a paint footprint from your old thermostat
• A metal mounting plate if your existing thermostat is installed on an electrical box
• Mounting screws and wire labels
• The Nest thermostat base and display

After you’ve laid out the contents of the box, line up your tools. Nest supplies a handy little screwdriver that’s great for getting the wires off and on their terminals, but a larger screwdriver for mounting the baseplate and a pair of needle nose pliers for altering any of the wires may also be necessary. The mounting screws Nest supplies seem to work fine in 1/2 in. drywall. But if you have plaster and lath walls or encounter any framing behind your wallboard, you’ll also need a drill with a 3/32 drill bit.

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Power Down

The next crucial step is to power down your heating and cooling system. Usually you’ll find the dedicated circuit breakers for your furnace and air conditioner marked in your electrical panel. If for some reason you’re not sure which breakers to turn off, there is usually a standard shut off switch by your furnace, and a small box with secondary breaker switch by your AC unit on the exterior of your house. Once you’ve done this, it’s always a good idea to check that the power is off by force-cycling your heat or AC with your existing thermostat before removing it.

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Remove Old Thermostat/Mark Existing Wires

If you haven’t already done so, remove the cover of the old thermostat. This can be a little tricky sometimes. Most are a press fit and have side tabs that you press in for removal. Others have small set screws usually found top or bottom.

Once the cover is off, it’s important to note the location and color of the existing wires. You can use the Nest’s supplied stickers to do this, but they can be a bit fussy to apply. Best to take a close-up picture with your phone and then write down the color and location of the wires to be sure.

With the wires properly noted you can now disconnect them. Most thermostats have small terminal screws that you can back off with the Nest screwdriver supplied, others have small buttons that you just press to release the wire. If you see any small jumper wires that go from one terminal to another you can remove and disregard them as the Nest will automatically compensate for their absence. Never insert more than one wire into each of the Nest’s terminal because it can damage your HVAC system and the thermostat.