AprilAire 8820 Wi-Fi Automation Thermostat — Owner's Manual

Owner's manual for the AprilAire Model 8820 Wi-Fi Thermostat with Event-Based™ Air Cleaning and Humidity or Ventilation Control.

Key Features

• Remote access and control over Wi-Fi
• Indoor air quality control: automatic or manual humidification, dehumidification, and Event-Based™ air cleaning
• Ventilation with temperature and humidity limits (note: the 8820 controls only one of ventilation, whole-home dehumidifier, or humidifier per installation)
• Temperature control with Heat Blast® (raises room temperature 3–5°F)
• Large touch screen with adjustable/constant backlight
• Message center for feedback, instructions, and service reminders
• 7-day programmability with programmable fan control (circulation mode)
• Displays room temperature, room humidity, temperature setting, and outdoor temperature

Wi-Fi Setup

You'll need a computer or mobile device with Wi-Fi and a web browser.

1. Verify Wi-Fi Connection Mode: The thermostat defaults to Wi-Fi Connection Mode — confirm the radio bars are strobing. If not, see Clearing Router Settings.
2. Connect to the thermostat: On your device, scan for networks — the thermostat appears as APRILAIRE8820 followed by the last 6 digits of its MAC address (also shown in the message center or by removing the front cover). Connect to it.
3. Configure the network connection: Open a browser and go to http://192.168.1.99/index.html. Select your home network and enter its security credentials.
4. Verify connection: Once configured, the thermostat connects and displays signal-strength radio bars. If not, see Troubleshooting Wi-Fi Connection. If using an Aprilaire account instead of a home automation system, see the Wi-Fi Thermostat App User Guide and Start Up instructions at my.aprilaire.com.

Basic Operation

System Mode

Press MODE to select:

• EM HEAT (heat pumps with auxiliary heat only): controls auxiliary heat; heat pump does not run.
• HEAT: controls only the heating system.
• OFF: heating and cooling off.
• COOL: controls only the cooling system.
• AUTO (if enabled by installer): automatically selects heating or cooling based on indoor temperature.

Press DONE to save, or CANCEL to exit without saving (auto-saves after 10 seconds of inactivity).

Temperature & Fan

• Use the up/down arrows to adjust the current setpoint.
• Fan modes — ON: runs continuously (max circulation/filtering). AUTO: runs only when heating/cooling is active. CIRC: like AUTO but guarantees at least 30 min/hour of fan runtime (balances energy savings and air circulation).

Screen Cleaning & Maintenance

• Press MENU then CLEAN SCREEN to disable the touchscreen for 30 seconds while cleaning. Use a soft damp cloth with water or household glass cleaner — never spray liquid directly on the screen.
• Maintenance reminders are set by the installer; call your HVAC dealer for service when one appears. Clear reminders via MENU → Service Reminders → YES for each reminder → DONE.

Indoor Air Quality Functions

Event-Based™ Air Cleaning

Press AIR CLEANING on the Home screen. Five modes are available:

• Off: Air cleaner isn't specifically called, though it still runs during normal fan operation for heating/cooling/other IAQ events.
• Automatic: Runs a minimum of 30 minutes every hour, monitoring heating/cooling runtime and auto-activating if 30 minutes isn't reached — maximizes cleaning while minimizing energy use.
• Event Clean (3-hour cycle): Runs continuously for 3 hours, then returns to the previous mode. Useful for a specific event, e.g. vacuuming.
• Allergies (24-hour cycle): Runs continuously for 24 hours during high pollen/poor air quality periods, then returns to the previous mode.
• Constant Clean: Maximum air cleaning — active 24/7.

Humidity Control

Press HUMIDITY CONTROL on the Home screen to access humidification and dehumidification settings. In Automatic mode, the thermostat adjusts home relative humidity based on outdoor temperature to protect furnishings from excess condensation or dryness. Start with the humidity setting at "3" (normal range), then fine-tune over the next 24–48 hours based on comfort and window condensation.

Setup Menu — User System Settings

Wi-Fi Troubleshooting Highlights

• Router configuration error: Confirm no IP conflict and repeat Wi-Fi setup. If using an Aprilaire account, confirm your internet connection is working (this indicates the thermostat can't reach the Aprilaire Cloud).
• Radio Error: Internal Wi-Fi radio error — HVAC and IAQ control continue working, but Wi-Fi is unavailable. Contact an HVAC professional.
• WiFi Turned Off: Radio disabled — re-enable via the Setup Menu.

Warranty

Research Products Corporation warrants the Aprilaire Thermostat for 5 years from installation date against defects in materials/workmanship, limited to free replacement of defective units (labor costs not covered). Void if not installed by a qualified HVAC contractor. Implied warranties are limited to the 5-year period; incidental/consequential damages (other than personal injury) are excluded. Register online at www.aprilaire.com, or mail registration to Research Products Corporation, P.O. Box 1467, Madison, WI 53701.