When you’re looking for approaches to lower heating and cooling expenses, getting a smart thermostat is an intelligent move. These devices pick up on your favorite temperatures and routine and then make 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 lying in bed or out and about. (You might even be eligible for a free smart thermostat depending on rebate programs from your utility supplier in Zelienople.)

In most instances, hooking up a smart home thermostat with the support of Knoechel Heating is an uncomplicated job if you have a newer 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 demystify the process so you can choose the right thermostat and enjoy energy savings for many years.

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

Many programmable thermostats need batteries. When you’re making the move to a smart thermostat, you’ll find that many require a C wire, or common wire, for power. If you don’t have this wire, your new thermostat could cause your heating and cooling system to have glitches.

You can find out 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 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 thinking 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 inside the wall. If you can’t find one, we may be able to put in 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 operate 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 top brands are the Nest smart thermostat and ecobee smart thermostat. If you have two to four wires, these thermostats might be a match for your home.

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 pro like Knoechel Heating install a C wire with the Nest Thermostat E or Nest Learning Thermostat if you’re having power problems or a battery that’s always drained.

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

Rely on Knoechel Heating for Your Smart Thermostat Installation Needs

At Knoechel Heating, we’re always looking for methods to keep you comfier while keeping heating and cooling expenses reasonable. If you want to know more about switching to a smart thermostat without a C wire, give us a call at 724-425-5852. We can help you select the right model for your residence and even put in new wiring if required.