When you’re looking for approaches to decrease utility bills, upgrading to a smart thermostat is a wise move. These devices adjust to your favorite temperatures and routine and then create an energy-efficient schedule to match. What’s even better is that you can adjust and keep an eye on your settings from just about anywhere with your phone, whether you’re sitting in bed or away from home. (You might even be able to get a free smart thermostat depending on rebate programs from your utility company in Oxford.)
In many instances, hooking up a smart home thermostat with the support of Franklin's Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc is a simple task if you have a more modern residence. 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 pick the ideal thermostat and get energy savings for many years.
What Is a C Wire and What Does It Do on a Thermostat?
Most programmable thermostats use batteries. When you’re switching to a smart thermostat, you’ll learn that many require a C wire, or common wire, for power. If you don’t use this wire, your new thermostat might cause your heating and cooling system to have glitches.
You can find out if you have a C wire by doing the following:
- Switch off power to the thermostat at the breaker.
- Remove the thermostat and look at the wiring.
- 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.
- If there are three or four thin multicolored wires, you’re nearly there. Check the C wire isn’t hidden 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.
- If you have two thick wires, you may be able to use a smart thermostat with an adaptor just 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 is incompatible 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 you.
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 pro like Franklin's Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc 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 always drained.
ecobee works with 24-volt systems (ones with three to six thermostat wires) and includes a C wire adaptor. So, you’re good if you don’t have a thermostat C wire.
Rely on Franklin's Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc for Your Smart Thermostat Installation Needs
At Franklin's Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc, we’re always on the lookout for methods to keep you cozier while keeping energy bills reasonable. If you have questions about switching to a smart thermostat without a C wire, give us a call at 662-281-1231. We can help you pick the right model for your home and even add new wiring if necessary.