When you’re seeking approaches to decrease heating and cooling bills, getting a smart thermostat is a wise idea. These devices learn your favorite temperatures and routine and then develop an energy-efficient schedule that fits. What’s even better is that you can adjust and watch your settings from nearly anywhere with your phone, whether you’re sitting in bed or out and about. (You might even be able to get a free smart thermostat depending on rebate programs from your utility supplier in Goshen.)

In most instances, hooking up a smart home thermostat with the help of Just Right Heating and Cooling is a straightforward task if you have a more modern house. But what if your residence is older or doesn’t have the right wiring? Can you still have a smart thermostat without C wire? We’ll help you demystify the process so you can choose the right thermostat and receive energy savings for many years.

What Is a C Wire and What Does It Do on a Thermostat?

Most programmable thermostats need batteries. When you’re upgrading to a smart thermostat, you’ll learn that many require a C wire, or common wire, for power. Without this wire, your new thermostat may cause your heating and cooling system to have glitches.

You can ascertain if you have a C wire by doing the following:

  1. Cut power to the thermostat at the breaker.
  2. Remove the thermostat and find the wiring.
  3. If there are five or six multicolored wires, you have what’s needed for a smart thermostat. You might be wondering what color is the C wire on a thermostat—and the answer to that is usually blue.
  4. If there are three or four thin multicolored wires, you’re nearly there. Check the C wire isn’t rolled up inside the wall. If you can’t find one, we may be able to put in one for you or you may be able to use your new thermostat without one.
  5. If you have two thick wires, you may be able to install a smart thermostat with an adaptor just for high-voltage systems. Or you may be able to use a battery-powered smart thermostat, like the Lux Geo Wi-Fi Thermostat, if your wiring won’t work and you don’t want to replace it.

Do Nest or ecobee Need a C Wire?

Two of the best-selling brands are the Nest smart thermostat and ecobee smart thermostat. If you have two to four wires, these thermostats may be an option for your needs.

Nest says its thermostats are designed to consume minimal power and can frequently share it with your home comfort system. However, you may need to have a specialist like Just Right Heating and Cooling put in a C wire with the Nest Thermostat E or Nest Learning Thermostat if you’re experiencing power problems or a battery that’s always drained.

ecobee is compatible with 24-volt systems (ones with three to six thermostat wires) and comes with a C wire adaptor. So, you’re taken care of if you don’t have a thermostat C wire.

Rely on Just Right Heating and Cooling for Your Smart Thermostat Installation Needs

At Just Right Heating and Cooling, we’re always looking for methods to keep you comfier while keeping energy expenses reasonable. If you want to know more about switching to a smart thermostat without a C wire, reach us at 513-392-4969. We can help you pick the right model for your home and even put in new wiring if required.