Thermastat I have dial type thermastat that sticks out from the wall 1-2 inches. It is located smack dab in the middle of a main wall in my living room, it is an eye sore. Is it alright to cover it with something as long as there is room behind what I cover it with? Or will this cause problems. Right now we are not using heat or air, and what I have hanging there is a metal art piece. Or what other options do I have? Thanks Dana

Hello Dana. Will covering a thermostat affect its performance? Yes, almost certainly - it needs a clear flow of air to it so that it can constantly monitor the room temp. It really depends on how much it's covered by whatever you plan to place in front of it. I guess your options are: (1) move the thermostat (obvious, I know!). Cost will depend on how easy it is to re-route the cable. (2) fit a flush-fitting and more attractive unit - check out the 'Heatmiser' for an example (3) cover it and see what happens! It won't actually harm the unit (well, it shouldn't...), but will probably make the temp swings more obvious before the thermostat 'clicks in'.

Unless you damage the thermostat in someway, covering it is a non issue. Because it is an electrical device you will still want to have easy access to it, so don't do anything too permanent! OPTIONAL: I recommend that you disconnect this device at the power source (usually its own breaker/fuse) just to be safe.