When you’re wanting ways to decrease utility bills, getting a smart thermostat is a wise decision. These devices learn your favorite temperatures and routine and then develop an energy-efficient schedule that fits. 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 receive a free smart thermostat depending on rebate programs from your utility supplier in Newton.)

Most of the time, hooking up a smart home thermostat with the support of Brookwood Inc is a straightforward task if you have a new house. But what if your house is older or doesn’t have the correct wiring? Can you still have a smart thermostat without C wire? We’ll help you demystify the process so you can select the correct thermostat and get energy savings for years to come.

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

Most programmable thermostats run on batteries. When you’re making the move 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 could cause your heating and cooling system to malfunction.

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

  1. Turn off power to the thermostat at the breaker.
  2. Take off the thermostat and check the wiring.
  3. If there are five or six multicolored wires, you have what’s needed for a smart thermostat. You might be thinking what color is the C wire on a thermostat—and the answer to that is often blue.
  4. If there are three or four thin multicolored wires, you’re almost there. Make sure the C wire isn’t rolled up 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 use your new thermostat without one.
  5. If you have two thick wires, you may be able to run a smart thermostat with an adaptor specifically 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 may be an option for your home.

Nest says its thermostats are designed to require minimal power and can frequently share it with your HVAC system. However, you may need to have a specialist like Brookwood Inc put in a C wire with the Nest Thermostat E or Nest Learning Thermostat if you’re running into power problems or a battery that’s frequently 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.

Depend on Brookwood Inc for Your Smart Thermostat Installation Needs

At Brookwood Inc, we’re always seeking methods to keep you more comfortable while keeping energy bills reasonable. If you want to know more about switching to a smart thermostat without a C wire, reach us at 641-316-9803. We can help you select the right model for your house and even install new wiring if needed.