Quick answerA smart thermostat install in Spokane takes about an hour when the wiring is right, and longer when the old thermostat had no common wire or the system is a heat pump with backup heat. We confirm compatibility first, run or add the C-wire, set heating stages and auxiliary lockouts, then connect it to Wi-Fi.
Updated September 2026
The part of the install that matters
Screwing a thermostat to the wall is easy. Getting it to run the equipment correctly is where installs go wrong.
Heat pumps add another layer. The thermostat has to know which terminal drives the reversing valve, how many stages the compressor has, and at what outdoor temperature to bring on the furnace or strip heat.
What moves the price of a thermostat install
The three thermostat jobs we do most
Wi-Fi thermostat setup
A standard setup replaces the old dial or programmable unit with a Wi-Fi model, labels every wire, mounts a new base and trim plate over the old paint outline, and pairs the thermostat to your network and phone app. We set schedules that make sense for a Spokane winter, where a deep overnight setback on a gas furnace saves money but a deep setback on a heat pump can trigger backup heat in the morning. You get a short walk-through of the app.
Heat pump compatible thermostats
Heat pump systems need a thermostat that understands the reversing valve, compressor stages and auxiliary heat. We confirm whether your valve energizes in cooling or heating, wire the O or B terminal to match, and set the auxiliary heat lockout so the backup only runs when the heat pump cannot keep up. On dual-fuel systems with a gas furnace, we set the changeover temperature based on the equipment and your preference between comfort and operating cost. Those settings get written on a card inside the furnace door.
C-wire and wiring fixes
When the wall has no common wire, there are three honest fixes. If the cable has a spare conductor, we connect it at both ends. If not, we pull a new thermostat cable from the furnace, usually through a basement or attic path. When neither is practical, we fit a power extender kit at the furnace control board. We avoid power-stealing setups on heat pumps and two-stage furnaces because that is where the flickering screens and random shutdowns come from.
Installing it yourself or calling us
| Do it yourself | Have us install it | |
|---|---|---|
| Wiring with a C-wire in place | Usually fine with the app's guide | Done in under an hour |
| No common wire | Power-stealing models often flicker or drop Wi-Fi | New cable or adapter kit fitted at the furnace |
| Heat pump or dual fuel | Easy to wire O and B backwards or run on backup heat | Staging and aux lockout set for the equipment |
| If something goes wrong | A blown 3-amp fuse on the control board is common | We carry fuses and test every stage |
| Rebate paperwork | Your job | We confirm the Wi-Fi connection the rebate requires |
Older walls, rebates and Wi-Fi in Spokane
Inside the city of Spokane the median home dates to 1961, and in West Central the median is 1938, so thermostat walls often hold a thin two-wire cable left over from a millivolt or early gas furnace. Those homes are the ones that need a new cable or a power extender before any Wi-Fi thermostat will run properly. Avista has offered a smart thermostat rebate that requires the unit to stay connected to home Wi-Fi, so we confirm the connection before we leave.
How a thermostat install runs
- 1
Photograph the old wiring
Every wire is labeled and photographed before anything comes off the wall.
- 2
Check the equipment side
We open the furnace or air handler to confirm terminals and transformer capacity.
- 3
Sort out power
Connect the spare wire, pull a new cable or fit an adapter kit.
- 4
Mount and wire
New base, trim plate if needed, each wire on the correct terminal.
- 5
Configure the system
Stages, reversing valve, aux lockout and fan settings entered for your equipment.
- 6
Connect Wi-Fi and the app
Paired to your network, schedules set, remote access tested.
- 7
Test heat and cool
We run heating, cooling and the fan to confirm every stage responds.
Thermostat questions before you buy
Will a smart thermostat work with my heat pump?
Most will, as long as the thermostat supports heat pump staging and auxiliary heat. The wiring and settings are what matter, so we check both before installing.
What is a C-wire and do I have one?
It is the common wire that gives the thermostat steady power. Pull the old thermostat off its base and look for a wire on the C terminal. Many older Spokane homes do not have one, and we fix that with a spare conductor, a new cable or an adapter kit.
Why does my heat pump keep switching to aux heat?
Usually the thermostat setting is wrong: a large morning setback, a low aux lockout or the unit configured as a single-stage furnace. We reset the staging so backup heat runs only when it is needed.
Can you install a thermostat I already bought?
Yes. We confirm it is compatible with your system, install it and configure it.
Does Avista give a rebate for smart thermostats?
Avista has offered one for qualifying thermostats that stay connected to home Wi-Fi. Check the current sheet before buying.
Other air quality & ductwork services we handle
New Construction and Addition HVAC
Sized, quoted and permitted.
New Construction and Addition HVAC detailsZoning System Installation
Sized, quoted and permitted.
Zoning System Installation in SpokaneVentilation and ERV/HRV Installation
Sized, quoted and permitted.
How we handle ventilation and erv/hrv installationGet the thermostat running the system properly.
Call for smart thermostat installation in Spokane, WA.
