When you’re seeking approaches to reduce heating and cooling bills, getting a smart thermostat is an intelligent decision. These devices learn your favorite temperatures and routine and then create an energy-efficient schedule to match. What’s even better is that you can adjust and watch your settings from just about anywhere with your phone, whether you’re relaxing in bed or out and about. (You might even be able to receive a free smart thermostat depending on rebate programs from your utility provider in Sandpoint.)

In many instances, hooking up a smart home thermostat with the help of Age Heating & Cooling is a simple task if you have a newer house. But what if your residence is older or doesn’t have the correct wiring? Can you still have a smart thermostat without C wire? We’ll help you figure out the process so you can pick the proper thermostat and get energy savings for years to come.

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

Many programmable thermostats need batteries. When you’re switching to a smart thermostat, you’ll find that many require a C wire, or common wire, for power. Without this wire, your new thermostat may cause your heating and cooling system to have malfunctions.

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

  1. Cut 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 thinking 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 nearly there. Check the C wire isn’t tucked in 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.
  5. If you have two thick wires, you may be able to install a smart thermostat with an adaptor designed for high-voltage systems. Or you may be able to use a battery-powered smart thermostat, like the Lux Geo Wi-Fi Thermostat, if your wiring isn’t right and you don’t want to put in new wiring.

Do Nest or ecobee Need a C Wire?

Two of the best-selling 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 frequently share it with your heating and cooling system. However, you may need to have a specialist like Age Heating & Cooling install 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 comes with a C wire adaptor. So, you’re covered if you don’t have a thermostat C wire.

Depend on Age Heating & Cooling for Your Smart Thermostat Installation Needs

At Age Heating & Cooling, we’re always seeking methods to keep you cozier while keeping utility expenses reasonable. If you want to know more about installing a smart thermostat without a C wire, give us a call at 208-603-2210. We can help you choose the right model for your house and even install new wiring if necessary.