How to check the compatibility of a smart thermostat in your home | digital trends (2023)

You are about to be thrown into a whirlwindsmart thermostatbut you want to make sure your home is ready for it. This usually involves finding a type-C wire that provides constant power to your smart thermostat, but there are other factors that need to be set up. Let's see what you need to know.

How do I know if my smart thermostat is compatible?

There's a lot going on in smart thermostats, and establishing compatibility may require some work. A recurring theme among all smart thermostats is the need for a common wire, or wire C. This wire provides continuous power to the smart thermostat so it can constantly run in the background. Constant operation of smart thermostats allows them to know when people are at home and when to adjust the temperature automatically.

1. Turn off the air conditioner and furnace switch to be safe.
2. Remove the front panel of the existing thermostat and check that the cable is connected to the c port of the thermostat.
3. If not, unscrew the thermostat and gently move it away from the wall. Unused C-wire can be coiled. If so, you must connect the other end of this cable to the c terminal of the furnace before connecting the smart thermostat.
4. If there is no c-wire there either, you can use g-wire instead. The only downside is that this means you won't be able to turn the HVAC fan on and off yourself. Turns on only in heating and cooling. Be sure to take a photo of your string setting before changing anything in case you need to undo.
5. To make the swap, you have to change the position of the wire from g to c on the stove and also on the thermostat.
6. If all else fails, smart thermostats usually come with a kit that allows you to plug the smart thermostat into a standard electrical outlet for power.

Of course, if trying electrical DIY is too daunting for you, you can always hire contractors to assess your home's compatibility and do a full installation.

Which smart thermostat is compatible with my home?

So how do you find your C string?

Smart thermostats from all major brands are versatile enough to connect to most types of home heating and cooling. Nest and Ecobee products should work. Additionally, Honeywell should work with your home. All should work even without a c-wire thanks to AC adapters. Your heating and cooling source shouldn't matter either. Heating with gas, oil and electricity is supported. Additional systems such as humidifiers and dehumidifiers can often be integrated with smart thermostats as well.

There are some exceptions that generally apply to different brands. Wires that use many large threads are usually incompatible. High voltage cables marked 120V or 240V are also incompatible with many smart thermostats. However, this shouldn't be too much of a problem since most homes use low voltage for their thermostats.

Do smart thermostats work in all homes?

Strictly speaking, smart thermostats don't work in all homes, but they do in the vast majority. You usually need a central HVAC system to install a smart thermostat.

Smart thermostats also require Wi-Fi andsmartphonefor complete control. A healthy convenience of a smart thermostat is the ability to control it remotely, something you can't do without an internet connection. You may need to relocate your Wi-Fi router or purchase a network extender to ensure your smart thermostat has a strong enough connection to your home network.

How to choose a compatible thermostat?

First, you can go through the listour favorite smart thermostatsand find one that meets your requirements. There's a chance it's compatible. To double check, individual brands have compatibility tools to make sure their smart thermostat will work in your home. These usually include a list of the wires connected to your current thermostat (see above for how to find them). Therefore, after removing the cover of the current thermostat, pay attention to the letters associated with the currently connected cables. Then visit the appropriate compatibility page to make sure you're all set.

• Nest thermostat compatibility tool
• Ecobee thermostat compatibility tool
• Honeywell thermostat compatibility tool

We hope this insight will make it easier for you to choose a smart thermostat. Smart thermostats can potentially reduce monthly bills by intelligently turning off air conditioning when it's not needed and using predictive engines to keep your home comfortable when everyone is home. We believe that a smart thermostat is worth the effort required to check compatibility and install.

Editor's recommendations

• Your Google smart home devices just got a lot less talkative
• Do smart plugs really help reduce energy consumption?
• Top 3 smart thermostats that don't require a C-wire
• The best smart home devices of 2023
• The best smart lamps in 2023