When you’re looking for approaches to lower energy bills, getting a smart thermostat is a smart move. These devices adjust to your favorite temperatures and routine and then make an energy-efficient schedule that matches. What’s even better is that you can adjust and watch your settings from nearly anywhere with your phone, whether you’re sitting in bed or out and about. (You might even be eligible for a free smart thermostat depending on rebate programs from your utility provider in Pocatello.)

In many instances, hooking up a smart home thermostat with the support of Vogts Heating & Air is a simple process if you have a new house. But what if your home 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?

The majority of 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. Without this wire, your new thermostat might cause your heating and cooling system to malfunction.

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

  1. Turn 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 needed for a smart thermostat. You might be pondering 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 in the wall. If you can’t find one, we may be able to add 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 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 won’t work and you don’t want to install new wiring.

Do Nest or ecobee Need a C Wire?

Two of the most popular brands are the Nest smart thermostat and ecobee smart thermostat. If you have two to four wires, these thermostats might be an option for your needs.

Nest says its thermostats are made to consume not a lot of power and can frequently share it with your HVAC system. However, you may need to have a specialist like Vogts Heating & Air add 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 is compatible 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 Vogts Heating & Air for Your Smart Thermostat Installation Needs

At Vogts Heating & Air, we’re always on the lookout for methods to keep you more comfortable while keeping utility bills reasonable. If you want to know more about installing a smart thermostat without a C wire, contact us at 208-621-0129. We can help you pick the right model for your home and even put in new wiring if needed.