When you’re looking for approaches to decrease heating and cooling expenses, getting a smart thermostat is an intelligent decision. These devices adjust to your favorite temperatures and routine and then develop an energy-efficient schedule that matches. What’s even better is that you can adjust and monitor your settings from almost anywhere with your phone, whether you’re relaxing in bed or on the go. (You might even be able to receive a free smart thermostat depending on rebate programs from your utility supplier in Weatherford.)

In most instances, installing a smart home thermostat with the help of Parker County Cooling & Heating is an uncomplicated job if you have a new house. But what if your house is older or doesn’t have the right wiring? Can you still add a smart thermostat without C wire? We’ll help you navigate the process so you can choose the ideal thermostat and enjoy energy savings for a long time.

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

The majority of programmable thermostats need batteries. When you’re switching to a smart thermostat, you’ll find that many need a C wire, or common wire, for power. If you don’t use this wire, your new thermostat may 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 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 pondering 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 rolled up 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 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 just 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 isn’t right and you don’t want to replace it.

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 work for your home.

Nest says its thermostats are made to run on minimal power and can often share it with your HVAC system. However, you may need to have a pro like Parker County Cooling & Heating 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 has a C wire adaptor. So, you’re taken care of if you don’t have a thermostat C wire.

Trust Parker County Cooling & Heating for Your Smart Thermostat Installation Needs

At Parker County Cooling & Heating, we’re always looking for methods to keep you comfier while keeping utility bills reasonable. If you want to learn more about switching to a smart thermostat without a C wire, contact us at 817-380-5213. We can help you pick the right model for your residence and even add new wiring if required.