When you’re seeking approaches to lower heating and cooling bills, getting a smart thermostat is a wise idea. These devices adjust to your favorite temperatures and routine and then develop an energy-efficient schedule that fits. What’s even better is that you can change and keep an eye on your settings from nearly anywhere with your phone, whether you’re relaxing in bed or on the go. (You might even be able to get a free smart thermostat depending on rebate programs from your utility provider in Frederick.)

Most of the time, adding a smart home thermostat with the assistance of May's Heating & Air is a simple task if you have a new house. But what if your home is older or doesn’t have the proper wiring? Can you still have a smart thermostat without C wire? We’ll help you figure out the process so you can choose the correct thermostat and get energy savings for years to come.

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

The majority of programmable thermostats run on batteries. When you’re switching to a smart thermostat, you’ll find that many require a C wire, or common wire, for power. If you don’t have this wire, your new thermostat might cause your heating and cooling system to have malfunctions.

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

  1. Switch off power to the thermostat at the breaker.
  2. Remove the thermostat and check 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 hidden inside 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 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 best-selling brands are the Nest smart thermostat and ecobee smart thermostat. If you have two to four wires, these thermostats may work for your needs.

Nest says its thermostats are designed to need minimal power and can typically share it with your home comfort system. However, you may need to have a specialist like May's Heating & Air 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 constantly drained.

ecobee works with 24-volt systems (ones with three to six thermostat wires) and includes a C wire adaptor. So, you’re taken care of if you don’t have a thermostat C wire.

Rely on May's Heating & Air for Your Smart Thermostat Installation Needs

At May's Heating & Air, we’re always looking for methods to keep you more comfortable while keeping energy costs reasonable. If you want to know more about switching to a smart thermostat without a C wire, contact us at 301-690-0397. We can help you pick the right model for your house and even install new wiring if necessary.