When you’re seeking methods to decrease heating and cooling costs, getting a smart thermostat is a wise move. These devices pick up on your favorite temperatures and routine and then create an energy-efficient schedule to match. What’s even better is that you can regulate and monitor your settings from almost anywhere with your phone, whether you’re relaxing in bed or away from home. (You might even be able to receive a free smart thermostat depending on rebate programs from your utility provider in Ellsworth.)

In most instances, adding a smart home thermostat with the support of Walter's-Eaton's Electric, Plumbing, Heating & AC is a straightforward job if you have a more modern house. But what if your house is older or doesn’t have the right wiring? Can you still have a smart thermostat without C wire? We’ll help you navigate the process so you can select the right thermostat and get energy savings for years to come.

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

The majority of programmable thermostats use batteries. When you’re switching to a smart thermostat, you’ll learn that many need a C wire, or common wire, for power. If you don’t have this wire, your new thermostat may cause your heating and cooling system to have glitches.

You can determine 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 look at the wiring.
  3. If there are five or six multicolored wires, you have what’s required 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 nearly there. Ensure the C wire isn’t hidden within 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 use a smart thermostat with an adaptor designed for high-voltage systems. Or you may be able to install 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 most popular brands are the Nest smart thermostat and ecobee smart thermostat. If you have two to four wires, these thermostats could be a fit for your needs.

Nest says its thermostats are designed to consume not a lot of power and can frequently share it with your home comfort system. However, you may need to have a specialist like Walter's-Eaton's Electric, Plumbing, Heating & AC install a C wire with the Nest Thermostat E or Nest Learning Thermostat if you’re having power problems or a battery that’s frequently 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 Walter's-Eaton's Electric, Plumbing, Heating & AC for Your Smart Thermostat Installation Needs

At Walter's-Eaton's Electric, Plumbing, Heating & AC, we’re always seeking methods to keep you cozier while keeping utility costs reasonable. If you want to know more about upgrading to a smart thermostat without a C wire, reach us at 715-318-6728. We can help you select the right model for your house and even put in new wiring if needed.