Wiring, terminal and control-setting specs on Thermostating trace to a manufacturer document or a standards body. Guides that touch wiring, gas or line voltage tell you where DIY ends. And when a page says it was technically reviewed, a credentialed HVAC professional checked it and approved that exact version. Here is how each of those works.
Who writes our guides
Our guides are written and maintained by a small editorial team. Several were first published on SmartHeatSolution.com, which Thermostating acquired in 2024, and are kept current by the same team.
- Andrew Sikana, HVAC specialist, founding editor (HVAC specialist, founder of Thermostating.com)
- Alan Williams, HVAC writer (founder of SmartHeatSolution.com, acquired by Thermostating in 2024)
- Dan Golden, Editor (editor; creator of HomeDoc and HomeEnergyPlanner)
How we verify specs
For thermostat wiring and terminals, control settings, and the thermostat models and HVAC system types we cover in depth, every spec is recorded with the claim, a source URL, a source tier and a verification date:
- Tier 0: the manufacturer’s or standards body’s own document: installation guides, spec sheets, the code itself.
- Tier 1: a recognized industry body such as AHRI, ACCA, ENERGY STAR, DOE, EPA or the NEC.
- Tier 2: a reputable secondary source. Allowed for context, never enough on its own for anything safety-related.
A safety-relevant claim needs a Tier 0 or Tier 1 source, and a record past its re-check date is flagged. We’re extending this across the site, and where we don’t have a sourced answer yet, we say so. The full method and current coverage are on How We Verify Thermostat and HVAC Specs.
How expert review works
Some guides carry a review credit at the top. There are two kinds, and they mean different things:
- Technically reviewed by: a credentialed HVAC professional checked the page against our technical checklist: terminals and wire colors, voltages and electrical safety, refrigerant and gas boundaries, code references, and whether each procedure is correct and in a safe order.
- Reviewed by: an editor checked clarity, sourcing and links. This is not a claim of trade expertise, so it never uses the stronger label.
The rules behind both:
- A reviewer’s name only appears on a version they approved. If we don’t make a change they asked for, the credit doesn’t go on.
- Every credit shows the date of the review.
- If we make substantive technical changes after a review, the page goes back for re-review. Until then, the credit keeps its original date.
- Reviewers check accuracy. They don’t choose the products we link to, aren’t endorsing them, and receive no affiliate revenue.
Reviewers are HVAC professionals with a verified credential, such as a state license, EPA Section 608 or NATE certification. They review the guides they choose, and we don’t pay them. They get credit, a public profile and a link to their business. About the Expert Reviewer Program.
Safety comes first
Thermostat work lives on the 24V AC control side. Anything past it gets a clear stop sign: line voltage (120/240V), gas valves, refrigerant, sealed combustion, and control-board replacement. Every procedure that touches wiring starts with turning power off at the breaker and confirming the display is dead. We don’t coach anyone through brazing, charging refrigerant or opening a combustion chamber. That’s where you call a licensed HVAC technician.
How we use AI
Research and first drafts on this site are AI-assisted. They’re then checked against the sourcing standard above and reviewed by our team before anything publishes, and our editor is responsible for every page on the site. Review credits are only ever given by people.
How we make money
Some pages link to products we recommend. If you buy through one of those links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Recommendations are made by our editors. Brands can’t pay to be included, reviewers aren’t paid by brands through us, and we don’t sell placements on reviewer profiles or anywhere else.
Corrections
If something on a page is wrong, especially anything about wiring or safety, tell us through our contact form with the page link and what’s wrong. We check it against the source, fix it, and update the page date. Safety-related reports are handled first.
