Home Any HVAC Experts Here (Thermostat Advice)

[A.Goldberg]

I need a thermostat recommendation to prevent unauthorized people from changing the thermostat settings, such as...

1) Thermostats with a passcode to lock out temperature changes​

2) Thermostats that can all be placed remotely behind locked doors in a central place and use a secondary temperature sensor in the old tstat location.​

#2 would be much preferred.

This is for an upmarket residential mental health facility that I partially own. It is a four story building with each floor basically having its own heating/cooling system and thermostat. The air handlers are heated by hot water from an oil boiler that accommodates the entire building.

We don’t really need any “smart” features beyond basic scheduling, Simpler is probably better. Wireless sensors aren’t necessary as everything is easily accessible (HVAC closets in the same place on every floor, wires are easy to run).

We have thermostat lock boxes but our clients continuously rip them off the wall, crack them open, changed with hangers, etc. Recently a client stole a thermostat off the wall entirely. Nothing has stopped them- not even the CCTV. This has been a persistent problem since we opened 5-6 years ago. Don’t get me started... ?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[sclawis300]

I don’t think remote sensors are going to be your answer because those things are going to get stolen/destroyed.

 

[A.Goldberg]

I don’t think remote sensors are going to be your answer because those things are going to get stolen/destroyed.

I’m hoping they won’t what they are. If they destroy them then I suppose they won’t have any heat or AC.

I could always install them in metal thermostat boxes, screwed into a wood panel, screwed into 2 studs. I tried a metal box on one of the floors, which is still there but they will use coat hangers to press the buttons.

It has really just become ridiculous at this point.

 

[BrianBaughn]

I'm no HVAC guy anymore but it would seem to me that a sensor wire, hidden above the door frame or something like that, ought to work. However, I've yet to see anything like that. I've seen wire sensors for floor heating systems.

 

[A.Goldberg]

I think I found a solution that should work...

Honeywell TH6210U2001/U T6 Pro Programmable Thermostat, 2 Heat / 1 Cool Heat Pump Or 1 Heat / 1 Cool Conventional

Honeywell TH6210U2001/U T6 Pro Programmable Thermostat, 2 Heat / 1 Cool Heat Pump Or 1 Heat / 1 Cool Conventional

www.amazon.com

Thermostat Remote Sensor

The Remote Indoor Temperature Sensor is used to sense temperature remotely.

www.amazon.com

According to the manual, that is the appropriate indoor sensor. $57 for the thermostat, $22 for the sensor = $79 (x4) + wire. Not too bad. I’ll find an HVAC guy to confirm this with.

Apparently the majority of “home” series Honeywell products don’t have the remote sensor option.

I'm no HVAC guy anymore but it would seem to me that a sensor wire, hidden above the door frame or something like that, ought to work. However, I've yet to see anything like that. I've seen wire sensors for floor heating systems.

The Honeywell sensors are 1 1/2 in. wide x 2 1/4 in. high x 3/4 in. deep. I suppose I could hide them behind some sort of wall art... a canvas picture might work. Alternatively I can do metal lock boxes dropped into studs.

I should have a little flexibility as to where I put the thermostat considering how things are arranged. I might be able to go for a slightly less conspicuous place.

I could potentially also fit it a double gang electrical box in the wall and put a louvered faceplate on it with security screws. That said, I’m not sure it would get ideal air circulation and the thermostat wouldn’t be ideally affixed. Not sure that meets code either...

 

[Weaselboy]

Saw this on Reddit and immediately thought of your post.

 

[A.Goldberg]

View attachment 1710380

Saw this on Reddit and immediately thought of your post.

Hahha. Now there’s a solution.

Maybe I need to stick one of those giant bird cages in the middle of the hallway with the thermostat in the center of it, along with vicious large bird to fend off tamperers.