How Much Does it Cost to Install a Home Thermostat in Boise?

Looking to upgrade your thermostat? Well, the cost to install a new thermostat in Boise is roughly $150–$700. Most homeowners pay around $275.

Your thermostat installation cost will depend on 2 things:

1. The type of thermostat you buy
2. The contractor you hire to install your new thermostat

We cover each factor in more detail below.

Want a price quote to install a home thermostat?

You can buy 3 types of thermostats:

• Manual (least expensive)
• Programmable
• Smart (most expensive)

Here’s a quick breakdown of the pros and cons of each type of thermostat:

Let’s go into more detail about each type of thermostat.

On average, manual thermostats cost $150–$300 to install. You can buy 2 types of manual thermostat:

• Analog (less expensive): These thermostats use bimetallic strips to gauge the temperature, which make them rather inaccurate. You adjust the temperature and heating/cooling mode using 2 small levers or dials.
• Digital (more expensive): More accurate than analog models, digital thermostats are controlled by buttons instead of levers/dials.

You’ll pay around $200–$400 to install a programmable thermostat, depending on which model of programmable thermostat you choose:

• 7-day (most customization): Set a different temperature schedule for each day of the week.
• 5-1-1: Program 3 temperature schedules: 1 for Monday–Friday, 1 for Saturday and 1 for Sunday.
• 5+2-day: Program 2 temperature schedules: 1 for Monday–Friday and 1 for Saturday and Sunday.

The biggest advantage of programmable thermostats is that you can set cooling and heating schedules to save money.

In fact, ENERGY STAR estimates that you can save up to $180 a year by setting your thermostat back 7°–10° while you’re at work and the kids are at school.

For example, let’s say you usually keep your home at 70° on a 40° winter day in Boise. With a programmable thermostat, your unit’s schedule could look something like this (most let you set 4 program periods per day):

1. 8:00 am – You leave for work and your thermostat goes from 70° to 62° (remember, lower your thermostat 7°–10° for the most energy savings).
2. 5:30 pm – Your thermostat starts heating your home to 70° so you come back to a comfortable house.
3. 10:00 pm – You go to bed and the thermostat goes from 70° to 67°.
4. 6:30 am – You wake up and the thermostat goes back to 70° so you’re comfortable while getting ready for work.

Smart thermostats cost anywhere from $350–$700 to install.

Smart thermostats are programmable thermostats that you can control over WiFi from your phone, computer or tablet—allowing you to control your home’s temperature remotely.

While smart thermostats are the most expensive type of thermostat in Boise, they also give you the highest energy savings and include comfort features like:

• Touch screen displays
• Smart hub integration (connect your thermostat to Amazon Alexa or Google Home)
• Dirty air filter alerts
• “Learning” capabilities (where the thermostat automatically learns your daily schedule preferences instead of you having to program them)
• Geofencing (using your phone’s location, your thermostat will set your house to your preferred temperature when you’re on your way home)

Typically, better quality contractors will charge more for their labor.

If you’re thinking about going with the cheapest contractor, just remember that you get what you pay for. A quality tech will properly install your thermostat, which is the brain of your HVAC system. Whereas a poor-quality tech might charge less, but could install your thermostat incorrectly and cause expensive problems down the road.

In short, you’re better off going with a high-quality tech that:

• Gives you a written price quote before any work begins
• Has good online reviews (check site like Google, Facebook and the Better Business Bureau)
• Guarantees their work