When you’re looking for ways to decrease heating and cooling bills, getting a smart thermostat is an intelligent decision. 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 change and watch your settings from almost anywhere with your phone, whether you’re relaxing in bed or away from home. (You might even be able to get a free smart thermostat depending on rebate programs from your utility provider in Carpentersville.)

Most of the time, hooking up a smart home thermostat with the assistance of Controlled Comfort HVAC is a straightforward process if you have a newer house. But what if your house is older or doesn’t have the right wiring? Can you still install a smart thermostat without C wire? We’ll help you demystify the process so you can pick the proper thermostat and receive energy savings for many years.

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 need a C wire, or common wire, for power. Without this wire, your new thermostat could cause your heating and cooling system to malfunction.

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

  1. Switch off 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 required for a smart thermostat. You might be wondering what color is the C wire on a thermostat—and the answer to that is typically blue.
  4. If there are three or four thin multicolored wires, you’re close. Ensure the C wire isn’t hidden within 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 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 is incompatible and you don’t want to install 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 might be a fit for your needs.

Nest says its thermostats are created to require not a lot of power and can typically share it with your heating and cooling system. However, you may need to have a pro like Controlled Comfort HVAC 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 constantly drained.

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

Trust Controlled Comfort HVAC for Your Smart Thermostat Installation Needs

At Controlled Comfort HVAC, we’re always looking for methods to keep you comfier while keeping heating and cooling bills reasonable. If you want to learn more about upgrading to a smart thermostat without a C wire, reach us at 224-412-8308. We can help you select the right model for your home and even put in new wiring if necessary.