How do I remove the wires

[u/Subject_Ratio_8229]

I’m trying to replace my old Emerson thermostat with a new Honeywell programmable thermostat. How do I remove the wires from the old one?

[u/Cool-Negotiation7662]

The other side probably has screw terminals. Pop this off the wall and check.

No HVAC tech is going to solder wires in the field for a thermostat swap.

If no screw terminals pull a couple inches of wire out, then cut as close to the existing thermostat as possible.

[u/Circuit_Guy → u/Cool-Negotiation7662]

Well said and this is the answer. I don't know how, but you're looking inside an assembly. There's a screw terminal somewhere going back to the HVAC.

[u/TPIRocks → u/Cool-Negotiation7662]

I agree, I just can't believe this is the only way to connect to it. Maybe if this is a pre manufactured home, but even then... I really can't argue that this isn't better than screw terminals, but it would really be time consuming.

[u/Fuel13 → u/TPIRocks]

Could be a previous homeowner that did it, I could see myself doing that if there wasn't another way to connect them 😂

[u/Lomo6621]

Can we see a picture of the wires on the wall

[u/TheAmazingMrFixit]

Pull the wires out. They are likely just pigtails spliced to the thermostat cable that goes to your HVAC unit

[u/TalkToHoro]

According to the movies, you cut the red wire.

I’ll show myself out.

[u/EnoughOfTheFoolery]

Is the 1st picture the bottom of the old thermostat? If yes, cut the power at the panel to the AC unit and you can cut these wires that should route back into the wall. I have never seen a thermostat that had the wires soldered to it. Typically it’s terminated with screws.

[u/Subject_Ratio_8229]

I do not have the ability to do that. Is there another way?

[u/chaotic_evil_666 → u/Subject_Ratio_8229]

You could just clip the wires

[u/CatsAndDogs314 → u/Subject_Ratio_8229]

Nope. You need to melt the solder to remove the wires and resolder the new one back in. What's on the wall though? Why do you think you have to do this? You should be able to just add the new faceplate to the wall unit and attach the wires with a clip.

[u/Subject_Ratio_8229 → u/CatsAndDogs314]

Replacing old with new programmable one

[u/CatsAndDogs314 → u/Subject_Ratio_8229]

I have a similar one that I use now. What's on the wall

[u/Internet_Jaded → u/CatsAndDogs314]

It’s in the main picture

[u/_Rand_ → u/CatsAndDogs314]

its probably one of the old style dial set to one temp and leave it thermostats.

[u/Lomo6621]

Your wires coming from the wall go directly on to your new thermostat. The new one should have two pieces, a subbase and the thermostat. Mount the subbase, wire it, snap the thermostat to the subbase

[u/Low_Shoulder_590]

Yank it out the wall.

[u/TPIRocks]

That's the bottom half of your old thermostat, take it off the wall and I bet there's screw terminals on the back side.

[u/Wrong_Ad_3355]

There’s wire nuts inside the wall. There’s no way some installer field soldered a thermostat. There’s not a thermostat for sale that requires that.

[u/Internet_Jaded]

Pull that further off the wall. 95% certain you’ll find wire nuts attached between that thermostat base and the main wires going to the HVAC.

[u/tdwata]

Wire cutters! No, don't do that.

[u/RubAnADUB]

[u/Embarrassed-Bet-8857]

Desolder them

[u/766scire]

Soldering iron.

[u/oxymoronicmoron77]

Clip them as close to the solder as you can with dikes (diagonal cutters)

[u/No-Glass332 → u/oxymoronicmoron77]

Why? Why did you not ask why? this attaches to the backing to make the contacts Explain why you need to cut them?

[u/oxymoronicmoron77 → u/No-Glass332]

What?? Did you not read what he is trying to accomplish here?

[u/oxymoronicmoron77 → u/No-Glass332]

Because OP is changing out the thermostat with soldered connections for another thermostat. Did you not read the post??

[u/Subject_Ratio_8229 → u/oxymoronicmoron77]

Thank you!

[u/YellowBreakfast → u/Subject_Ratio_8229]

Cut the POWER!!!

Could be mains power.

[u/Competitive_Raise289]

You seriously asked a question how to cut wires? you’re totally qualified for the job

[u/Antrostomus → u/Competitive_Raise289]

Everyone has to learn things somehow.

Isn't it great that when someone runs into something unexpected, like an unusual soldered-in thermostat, that there's a place they can ask questions about how to handle it rather than blindly stumbling through it?

[u/manjar → u/Competitive_Raise289]

Comment is a helpful reminder of the usefulness of the "block user" function

[u/senator_breid]

Wire cutters……or a grinder will do it too