TRJ Thermostat Lock Box With Key

Every family has one person who decides what temperature the house is, and this hands that person a key. The TRJ Thermostat Lock Box is a clear polycarbonate cover that fits over a wall thermostat up to 7 inches wide, 4.7 inches tall and 2.1 inches deep, with a keyed lock on the side. The plastic is clear, UV resistant and made not to yellow, so the settings stay readable, and vents on all four sides let room air reach the thermostat so its readings stay accurate.

TRJ makes it for rentals, offices, schools and churches, which is exactly what makes it funny as a gift for Dad. It takes the running joke about guarding the thermostat and makes it official, with hardware. It also does a real job: it keeps small kids from pressing buttons, and it installs without taking the thermostat off the wall.

Give it to the dad who checks the thermostat every time he walks past it, along with a card explaining that you’ve brought him the key, not a lecture.

The catch: measure first, since anything bigger than 7 by 4.7 inches won’t fit. On some thermostat models you may need to mount the box off-center to reach the battery door. And yes, at the end of the day it’s a plastic box on the wall.