When you’re wanting ways to reduce heating and cooling expenses, getting a smart thermostat is a wise idea. These devices learn your favorite temperatures and routine and then develop an energy-efficient schedule to match. What’s even better is that you can change and monitor your settings from nearly anywhere with your phone, whether you’re relaxing in bed or out and about. (You might even be able to get a free smart thermostat depending on rebate programs from your utility provider in Moline.)
Most of the time, hooking up a smart home thermostat with the help of J.L. Brady Company LLC is a straightforward process if you have a newer house. But what if your residence is older or doesn’t have the right wiring? Can you still add a smart thermostat without C wire? We’ll help you navigate the process so you can choose the right thermostat and receive energy savings for a long time.
What Is a C Wire and What Does It Do on a Thermostat?
Many programmable thermostats run on batteries. When you’re switching to a smart thermostat, you’ll find that many have to have 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:
- Turn off power to the thermostat at the breaker.
- Pull off the thermostat and look at the wiring.
- 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 typically blue.
- If there are three or four thin multicolored wires, you’re almost there. Check the C wire isn’t tucked within the wall. If you can’t find one, we may be able to add one for you or you may be able to run your new thermostat without one.
- If you have two thick wires, you may be able to run a smart thermostat with an adaptor just 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 put in new wiring.
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 an option for you.
Nest says its thermostats are designed to need not a lot of power and can frequently share it with your HVAC system. However, you may need to have a pro like J.L. Brady Company LLC 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 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.
Depend on J.L. Brady Company LLC for Your Smart Thermostat Installation Needs
At J.L. Brady Company LLC, we’re always seeking methods to keep you more comfortable while keeping utility bills reasonable. If you want to know more about switching to a smart thermostat without a C wire, give us a call at 309-517-7511. We can help you choose the right model for your house and even add new wiring if required.
