When you’re looking for methods to lower heating and cooling costs, getting a smart thermostat is an intelligent move. These devices pick up on your favorite temperatures and routine and then develop an energy-efficient schedule to match. What’s even better is that you can regulate and watch your settings from just about anywhere with your phone, whether you’re lying in bed or out and about. (You might even be eligible for a free smart thermostat depending on rebate programs from your utility company in West Allis & Milwaukee area.)

In most instances, adding a smart home thermostat with the assistance of Done Right Air is a straightforward job if you have a more modern house. But what if your residence is older or doesn’t have the correct wiring? Can you still install a smart thermostat without C wire? We’ll help you figure out the process so you can select the proper thermostat and receive energy savings for years to come.

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

Many programmable thermostats run on batteries. When you’re upgrading to a smart thermostat, you’ll discover that many have to have a C wire, or common wire, for power. If you don’t use this wire, your new thermostat may cause your heating and cooling system to have malfunctions.

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

  1. Switch off power to the thermostat at the breaker.
  2. Pull off 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 pondering 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 close. Make sure the C wire isn’t hidden in the wall. If you can’t find one, we may be able to put in one for you or you may be able to operate your new thermostat without one.
  5. If you have two thick wires, you may be able to run a smart thermostat with an adaptor specifically 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 is incompatible and you don’t want to put in new wiring.

Do Nest or ecobee Need a C Wire?

Two of the top brands are the Nest smart thermostat and ecobee smart thermostat. If you have two to four wires, these thermostats could be an option for your home.

Nest says its thermostats are designed to run on not a lot of power and can frequently share it with your home comfort system. However, you may need to have a specialist like Done Right Air put in a C wire with the Nest Thermostat E or Nest Learning Thermostat if you’re running into power problems or a battery that’s constantly drained.

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

Trust Done Right Air for Your Smart Thermostat Installation Needs

At Done Right Air, we’re always seeking methods to keep you more comfortable while keeping heating and cooling expenses reasonable. If you want to know more about upgrading to a smart thermostat without a C wire, give us a call at 414-208-9000. We can help you pick the right model for your home and even install new wiring if needed.