When you’re wanting ways to reduce heating and cooling bills, getting a smart thermostat is a smart move. These devices adjust to 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 nearly anywhere with your phone, whether you’re relaxing 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 Mount Horeb.)

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

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

The majority of programmable thermostats run on batteries. When you’re switching to a smart thermostat, you’ll discover that many need a C wire, or common wire, for power. Without this wire, your new thermostat could cause your heating and cooling system to have glitches.

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

  1. Switch off power to the thermostat at the breaker.
  2. Take off the thermostat and find the wiring.
  3. If there are five or six multicolored wires, you have what’s required 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. Make sure the C wire isn’t rolled up in the wall. If you can’t find one, we may be able to install 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 operate a battery-powered smart thermostat, like the Lux Geo Wi-Fi Thermostat, if your wiring is incompatible and you don’t want to replace it.

Do Nest or ecobee Need a C Wire?

Two of the most popular brands are the Nest smart thermostat and ecobee smart thermostat. If you have two to four wires, these thermostats might work for your needs.

Nest says its thermostats are designed to consume not a lot of power and can often share it with your HVAC system. However, you may need to have a specialist like JW Brager Heating and Cooling add a C wire with the Nest Thermostat E or Nest Learning Thermostat if you’re running into power problems or a battery that’s always drained.

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

Rely on JW Brager Heating and Cooling for Your Smart Thermostat Installation Needs

At JW Brager Heating and Cooling, we’re always seeking methods to keep you more comfortable while keeping heating and cooling costs reasonable. If you want to learn more about installing a smart thermostat without a C wire, reach us at 608-447-0555. We can help you select the right model for your residence and even add new wiring if necessary.