Programmable thermostats help you save money and energy by allowing you to preprogram temperature settings for maximum efficiency during the day and night. These can easily replace single-setting thermostat models, as they also work with standard central air and heating systems.

Here is how to replace your older model with a programmable device:

1) After making sure power to the furnace is disconnected, remove the old thermostat’s cover, unscrewing any screws that fasten it in place.

2) Carefully disconnect each wire from the thermostat, and bend them slightly so they do not sink behind the base. Place a small label at the end of each wire, writing down the letter that is next to each wire’s terminal.

3) Unscrew and remove the base of the thermostat from the wall, and hold onto the wires as you do so. Secure the wires around a paper clip, pen, or other similar object that will weigh them down enough so that they do not slip backwards into the hole in the wall.

4) If they are not already stripped, strip about half an inch of casing from the end of each wire. Rub the exposed copper with something made for cleaning metal, such as an emery cloth or a steel-wool sponge.

5) Holding the new thermostat, detach the base from the cover. Unfurl the pen or other object you have used as a weight from the wires, and loop them through the new base so that they appear under the terminal block. Reattach the weighted object to hold the wires in place.

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6) Stuff a few paper towels into the hole in the wall behind the thermostat. (This will protect your device from drafts.) Place the base against the wall, and put a level on top to ensure it is evenly in place. Using a pencil, mark the areas where you will set your screws. Proceed to screw the base to the wall, using regular screws for wood and anchor screws for drywall.

7) Connect the wires, following the instructions in your new thermostat’s manual and keeping wires separate from one another. If called for, install batteries into the device to provide a backup power supply. Attach the cover.

8) Turn the power back on, and program your thermostat according to the manufacturer’s instructions.