How Do I Add a Thermostat to the IQ5 NS Home Alarm System?

To add a thermostat to the IQ5 NS, open the IQ Installer app and navigate to Z-Wave Devices, then select Add Device and Include. Put the thermostat into pairing mode, then name it and save it. Because the IQ5 NS has no screen, this is all done through the app rather than on the panel itself.

About Adding a Thermostat

The IQ5 NS (available in AT&T LTE and Verizon LTE) pairs with a compatible Z-Wave thermostat so you can manage your heating and cooling as part of the system. It supports up to 40 thermostats, and adding one uses the same Z-Wave inclusion process as any other automation device. Because the IQ5 NS has no display of its own, you control the thermostat through the Alarm.com app rather than an on-panel page, which also lets you build schedules and scenes for it.

Once the thermostat is paired, it becomes part of your home automation and appears alongside your other devices in Alarm.com, where you set the temperature, mode, and fan. This keeps your heating and cooling on the same platform you use to arm, disarm, and manage the rest of your security system from your phone.

Before You Begin

Because the IQ5 NS has no screen, adding a thermostat is done through the IQ Installer app. If you have not yet connected the IQ Installer app to your panel, see our guide on setting up the IQ5 NS with the IQ Installer app before proceeding. Have your thermostat installed, powered, and within Z-Wave range of the panel, and keep its manual handy so you know where its pairing button is. Each thermostat needs to be C-wire powered or otherwise supported per its own instructions to pair reliably.

Add the Thermostat

1. Open the IQ Installer app. Open the IQ Installer app on your mobile device and make sure it is connected to your IQ5 NS.
   
   Open the IQ Installer app connected to your IQ5 NS.
2. Navigate to Z-Wave Devices. In the app, go to the Z-Wave Devices menu to open the panel's Z-Wave options.
   
   Navigate to Z-Wave Devices in the app.
3. Select Add Device. On the Z-Wave Devices page, select Add Device to start the inclusion process.
   
   Select Add Device on the Z-Wave Devices page.
4. Select Include and pair the thermostat. Select Include, then put the thermostat into pairing mode by pressing its Pair or Learn button when the app prompts you. Check the thermostat's own manual for the exact button and location. The panel finds the thermostat and begins adding it.
   
   Select Include, then press the thermostat's Pair button.
5. Name the thermostat and save. Give the thermostat a clear name, such as "Downstairs Thermostat," then save it. It is now paired and will appear in the Alarm.com app for control.
   
   Name the thermostat and save it.

Tips

For the smoothest pairing, add the thermostat while it is close to the panel if possible, since Z-Wave range can be limited by walls and distance. If the panel does not find the thermostat, confirm it is powered and in pairing mode, then try again. A thermostat that was previously paired to another controller may need to be cleared first using the Clear Device option before it will include. Once added, you can rename or remove it anytime from the same Z-Wave Devices menu in the app.

Adding a thermostat to the IQ5 NS brings your heating and cooling onto the same platform as your security system. For help pairing a thermostat or choosing a compatible model for your IQ5 NS, contact the Alarm Grid support team. We are here Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Eastern Time. Email us at support@alarmgrid.com, call us at 888-818-7728, or visit our website and chat with a live support agent.