Are your kids messing with the thermostat, changing the settings, and messing up your heating and air conditioning? How do you stop them? We have investigated this question and have the answer for you.
Modern thermostats have an option to block access and programmatically prevent temperature changes that a user would introduce. These thermostats must first be unlocked before a user can access settings and change the temperature.
What about older thermostat models that don't have the option to lock the settings through software? In the following sections, we present alternative methods to prevent others from changing the settings on your thermostat.
Keep reading!
How to prevent someone from changing the thermostat?
Let's dive into how to lock your thermostat in the example above, and then we'll talk about other ways to prevent people from changing your thermostat settings.
Sperren des Nest-Thermostats
There are two ways to lock your Nest Thermostat: through the Nest app on your phone, or through the settings menu on the Nest Thermostat itself.
How do I lock the Nest Thermostat from the Nest app?
Here are the simple steps to lock your Nest Thermostat using the Nest app on your phone:
- You must add your Google Nest thermostat to the list of Nest devices in the app before you can lock the thermostat from your phone.
- After adding it to the list of Nest devices, select your Nest Thermostat and go to Settings (gear icon in the upper right corner).
- Scroll down and you will see the Block option. Tap the Block option.
- You will then see a screen asking you to set a 4-digit PIN. Enter your preferred PIN twice.
- You will then see a window where you can set the minimum and maximum temperature, among other things.
Keep in mind that locking the Nest Thermostat from the phone app limits it to a 5-degree range (for example, 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit) for minimum and maximum temperatures.
Locking your Nest Thermostat from the device does not enforce this restriction. So you'll need to lock your Nest on the thermostat and set the temperature there if you want to set it to a single value.
Anyone trying to change the thermostat settings can only change the temperature within the set range. You must unlock the thermostat before you can access settings. The same applies if they want to set the temperature higher than what you have set.
How do I lock the Nest Thermostat from the Nest device?
To lock your Nest Thermostat on the device itself:
- Press the ring on the Nest Thermostat.
- Turn the ring to go to settings. Press Settings to open it.
- Rotate the ring again until you reach the Lock option.
- Press the ring to confirm that you want to enable the lock option.
- Enter a 4-digit PIN that is easy to remember. Enter it again to confirm your PIN choice.
- If you've locked your thermostat in Heat•Cool mode, you'll see the lock icon at the bottom of the screen to indicate that the Nest Thermostat's lock option is currently active.
- If you've locked your Nest Thermostat into heating only or cooling only mode, you'll need to specify a temperature range. Rotate the ring to set your preferred temperature range, then press the ring to continue.
- Press the thermostat ring once to select Done and lock the Nest Thermostat, or select Change if you want to make changes to the lock settings.
- The lock option on your Nest Thermostat is active once the lock icon appears at the bottom of the screen.
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How do you unlock your Nest Thermostat if you forgot your PIN?
It's only possible to unlock your Nest Thermostat when it's online. You will need to contact Nest Customer Care to unlock your Nest Thermostat if you locked it while offline and lost your PIN.
Here are the steps to unlock your Nest Thermostat without your PIN.
- Open your Nest app.
- Select the Nest Thermostat you want to unlock.
- Tap the settings menu at the top right corner of the app.
- Scroll down and tap on the Unlock option.
How do I change the PIN on the Nest Thermostat?
Your Nest Thermostat PIN can only be changed in the Nest app. Follow these easy steps to change your Nest Thermostat PIN:
- Follow the steps in the "How to unlock your Nest Thermostat if you forgot your PIN?" section.
- Scroll down again and tap on the Block option. Once you select the lock option, your Nest app will automatically ask you for a new PIN. Unlocking your Nest Thermostat through the Nest app will automatically reset your PIN and you'll need to assign a new one once you re-enable the lock option.
What additional options are available to prevent users from changing the thermostat?
Not all thermostats have the ability to lock them out via software. Older thermostat models do not have this option.
Here are some of the things you can do to prevent people from changing the settings on a thermostat that doesn't have a software lockout option.
What is a thermostatic locker?
A thermostat safe is a box that can be mounted to the wall of your home around your thermostat. It has a large front opening to allow unimpeded access to your thermostat controls. A locking mechanism is installed at the top or bottom of the box.
It is often made of acrylic or clear plastic. Some people have built their own thermostat safe out of old metal or wooden boxes that have a wide lid that allows unobstructed access to the thermostat controls.
Anyone who does not have the key to the thermostat locker cannot open it and change the thermostat setting.
It's an easy way to ensure control of your thermostat. However, it does have a downside: it can be unsightly when mounted on the wall. This is because the thermostat safe was not designed for cosmetic purposes.
Honeywell Home's CG511A1000 Mid-Range Thermostat Guard, a thermostat locker, is available on Amazon.Check it from this link.
Can you make the thermostat safe yourself?
It can be done at home with any existing locker that is wide and tall enough to secure the thermostat. All you have to do is cut the bottom of the box so you can slide the thermostat in. You will also need to drill holes to be able to screw it to the wall.
One thing to remember when making your own thermostatic safe is that you will need to cut louvers on all sides of the box to allow air to flow freely. Your thermostat needs free airflow to function properly.
What is a dummy thermostat?
Some office buildings across the country have thermostats installed in sight but not connected to the HVAC, they say.united states today.
The actual thermostat is cleverly hidden behind dropped ceilings and other hard-to-reach places. The dummy thermostat simply gives employees a false sense of being in control.
Households can use a similar strategy to prevent people from changing the settings on an older model thermostat. A dummy thermostat can be installed and powered while the real thermostat is hidden elsewhere.
What are the effects of changing the thermostat frequently?
These are some of the effects of changing the thermostat frequently:
Forehead
Respectivelyashley brothers, frequent changes in the thermostat cause HVAC failure. They can cause unnecessary wear and tear on HVAC system components.
Higher energy costs
Adjusting your thermostats forces your air conditioner to work harder to reach the new temperature setting. This consumes more power. An air conditioner or furnace uses more energy to change the temperature than it does to maintain a constant temperature.
Diploma
A thermostat installed in the middle of a wall without anything else can easily attract the attention of children. Unfortunately, rapid and frequent thermostat changes result in higher energy bills and premature failure of heating and cooling systems.
Modern thermostats recognize this problem and have a built-in lockout feature to fix the problem. Older thermostats require a more direct method of preventing access to the thermostat.
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