Best home thermostat accessories according to redditors

Not having a "C" wire is a small problem that is easily overcome.

It is recommended especially with Air Conditioning to have a "C" wire.

The "C" wire let's the Nest have the full 24v avalible to power itself and keep its battery charged 24/7 instead of only when the HVAC equipment is off.

What wires are at your current thermostat?

Do you have any extra wires in the thermostat cable at your thermostat?.....if so....watch this instructional video---> https://youtu.be/kJEEPRkP8Ps


Do you never run your fan all by itself, and only with heat or A/C on?......is so watch these instructional videos--->1)https://youtu.be/RQQAtmV2TQs 2) https://youtu.be/R039DH7HASg 3)https://youtu.be/BftoUCnKYls


If you want to run your fan by itself and dont have an extra wire then buy a Venstar Add-A-Wire: Venstar ACC0410 Add-A-Wire Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008PLWT8C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_tKSODbK81RECX it will give yo ut an extra wire that can be used as a "C" wire And watch this instructional video--->https://youtu.be/FjkPh1_I40A

Radio Thermostat has a ZWave module that can be added.

Radio Thermostat Z-Wave USNAP Module RTZW-01 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IA8ROSK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_f6ToDbFG9E6ND

https://www.amazon.com/Venstar-ACC0410-Wire-Accessory-Thermostats/dp/B01IF3QXMC


something like this, that mystically adds a wire perhaps?

Rather a quick Google it's a thermostat for a refrigerator. Whirlpool to be exact

Whirlpool 10442411 Defrost Thermostat, 1.5 x 2.5 x 3.5 Inch, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DM8JQ16/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_ACbkDb76CVMNY

Venstar Add-A-Wire Adapter

https://www.amazon.com/Venstar-ACC0410-Wire-Accessory-Thermostats/dp/B01IF3QXMC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1505259903&sr=8-1&keywords=Venstar+Add-A-Wire

Well, there isn't anything wrong with the thermostat, the problem is that your heater is now too close to it. So what happens is, you set the thermostat for 70, the heater turns on and heats up the air near the thermostat, and then the thermostat turns off before the rest of the room gets warm.

Baseboard heaters should be located along outside walls, especially under windows, whenever possible. Thermostats should be on an interior wall and never anywhere close to the heater or any other heat source.

The way to fix it is either to relocate the heater back to its old location, or to move the thermostat. Depending on where the thermostat wiring goes would determine if this is an option, but it would require making holes in walls and I don't know if you could do that in a rental.

The other option is a wireless thermostat, something like this. They are pretty pricey, but they let you put the control unit in one location and the temperature sensor in another, and they communicate wirelessly.

Buy the add-a-wire and you will then have a common wire. Easy to do, trust me.

Venstar ACC0410 Add-A-Wire Accessory for All 24 VAC Thermostats (4 to 5 Wires), White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IF3QXMC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_B9SRAbW6XM3TD

Venstar ACC0410 Add-A-Wire Accessory for All 24 VAC Thermostats (4 to 5 Wires), White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IF3QXMC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_fPY2DbGJFZZCP

I have thought about that and plan on doing it soon or getting this rounded plate instead. We have a ton of leftover paint from the renovations before purchase so this would be easy to do.


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C8H4FHY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Ye5LDb7N6DNZP

Venstar Add a Wire works well if you have a 4 wire setup and want a C wire.

Venstar ACC0410 Add-A-Wire Accessory for All 24 VAC Thermostats (4 to 5 Wires), White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IF3QXMC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_hbbqDbMETV109

Also Nest has a feature called Airwave that is supposed to turn off your compressor and keep running the fan but only after temp has been achieved.

Arduino would be an overkill, but more fun. There are thermal switches with adjustable temperature for mains, used to turn on and off attic fans, etc. like this

https://www.amazon.com/Venstar-ACC0436-2-Wire-24VAC-Thermostats/dp/B00755BZZC

http://www.hvacproblemsolver.com/floor-wall-furnace.asp

I used this when I needed to do the same, worked great, don't think I had to cut anything, just rearrange the wiring. Venstar ACC0410 Add-A-Wire Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008PLWT8C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_yzuyDb29BCSB7

He's talking about these: Nest Sensor Thermostat (Original Version) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DGWXCNN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_INkYCb0A7NMHG

The EcoBee thermostats come with a few right in the box though

You still have a few options before running a new cable.

1. First and easiest is to use the green wire as C/Common (move at both ends) and then install a jumper between Y and G at the attic air handler. You would lose independent control of the fan and the "cool to dry" feature but is an okay trade off for most people. It is good to try first anyway to prove that it is indeed a power issue with the wires.
   
2. Install a resistor at the air handler between C and Y. This helps Nest do its power stealing to charge the battery.
   
3. Install a Venstar add-a-wire kit.

It's hard to tell from the picture, but on the control panel side, you have the cable that splits out to have its red wire combined with that yellow wire on the wire nut.

That cable looks like your thermostat cable. I can't tell for certain, but is there a fifth, possible blue wire wrapped around the sheathing of the cable? If that isn't what I am seeing, is there a fifth cable in that bundle?

If so, you should be about to connect that wire to the C terminal on your control board. Back at the thermostat, dig out the hole the wires come through and see if you can't pull a little extra slack of the cable out. Depending on how your house is setup, you might even check where the cable runs in the attic and undo a staple or two if needed to create some slack. Strip the end of the fifth wire and there is your c connection.

If I'm seeing wrong and there isn't a fifth wire, your best bet is likely one of these


https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01IF3QXMC/

It's this product.

It adds a 5th wire (common) to a 4 wire setup. Extremely simple install (just Google it and an official video will come up). I had a lot of doubts on its effectiveness after reading issues on the nest community, but its working great for me so far.

On Amazon here. All you need to do is remove your perfboard or glass plate from the printed. Unscrew the two screws on the HeatBed and remove the ribbon cable. Then remove the original thermostat and solder on a new one... Took me 20 minutes and I had no idea what I was doing.

I have the wall plate and love it. It looks much better than the plastic one and matches the trim in the dining room.

EDIT: This is the one I bought, its square instead of rectangular

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01AGXSEQ2/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1464527791&sr=8-1&pi=SX200_QL40&keywords=Refrigerator+bimetal&dpPl=1&dpID=31nJWxNxZCL&ref=plSrch Your gonna need this when it freezes up again in a few days.

I am not a professional either, but in my opinion it definitely sounds like a C-Wire issue. My house had 3 wires, Power, Heat, and Fan, so I plugged them in accordingly. This worked all summer, but as soon as winter came, the heat would turn on for about a minute, turn off for 30 seconds, turn back on for a minute, over and over until it got to the desired temperature. I quickly noticed that this of course was not appropriate behavior, which is when I learned that the C-Wire can be important. So I switched the Fan wire to the C-Wire at both my Nest and furnace, and everything works as expected now. I lost manual control of my fan, but I never used that feature anyways.

However you don't have a C-Wire or a Fan wire, so you either need to run a new wire bunch from your furnace to your thermostat so you can have a third wire, or buy something like the Venstar Add-A-Wire. Like I said though, I'm no expert, just my two cents.

It is concerning though that the Nest worked for years prior. I guess from a troubleshooting standpoint, do you have a dumb thermostat to hook up just to see if you can rule out the Nest as the culprit?

Running new wires isn't an option right now (old house; giant project for something that's more of a luxury than a necessity for us). But could I use this Venstar transformer so that my ecobee isn't trying to pull power through the furnace wiring? https://www.amazon.com/Venstar-ACC0436-2-Wire-24VAC-Thermostats/dp/B00755BZZC

This may work for you:
https://www.amazon.com/Emerson-Thermostats-SA11-Common-Sensi/dp/B06XDBB4H6

http://www.amazon.com/Evolve-T-100R-Residential-Thermostat/dp/B008OF8CKS/

expanding on that contact Honeywell customer service. They have a proprietary system but they tend to build products that integrate well.

https://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-T100B1035-Thermostatic-Radiator-Actuator/dp/B00ARO6DSC/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1518706199&sr=8-4-fkmr0&keywords=steam+radiator+control+valve+smart

I have had a very similar experience to you and the problem was solved by installing a C-wire between the furnace and Nest. If you do not have a spare fifth wire going between your thermostat and your furnace, you can:

• Run an extra wire
  
• Install an Add-A-Wire kit (I'm not sure how well these work but it has good reviews)
  
• Temporarily change your fan wire into a C wire (but you won't be able to manually turn your fan on)

I use a CT30 and it's been great. Same functionality as the CT100 (note that the programming gets disabled once you connect with Z-Wave.)

They can also be had for <$30 on eBay, just watch for ZigBee models. They are sold under many brands: Radio Thermostat, 2Gig, Vivint & Filtrete (for the WiFi model). Great products with great support.

You don’t have a common wire. It won’t work well. You can try this: Venstar ACC0410 Add-A-Wire Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008PLWT8C?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I am currently looking at this https://www.amazon.com/POPMAS-Thermostat-Generation-Stereoscopic-Fingerprint/dp/B074CVMY1N/ref=sr_1_6?crid=5L80IM2H5HX4&keywords=nest+square+wall+plate&qid=1567292095&s=gateway&sprefix=nest+square%2Caps%2C161&sr=8-6


Do you have any other recommendations?

To me it sounds like you need this: https://www.amazon.com/Venstar-ACC0410-Wire-Accessory-Thermostats/dp/B01IF3QXMC

Also use this as a guide: https://youtu.be/R3pea5qtygo

Edit: Reason I say so is you should always use a common wire with Nest. You have to check your furnace terminal to see if it has a the right setup.

I think it'd be great to walk into an office and see all the network ports covered with these

I've also had success with this kit, which allows you to "add" a wire. It saved me from pulling new wire or having to choose between a battery powered stat.

Venstar ACC0410 Add-A-Wire Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008PLWT8C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_LgDwCb5DEXP0S

Plastic box that could be used as a Molly Guard: https://www.amazon.com/Emerson-F29-0198-Universal-Locking-Thermostat/dp/B000PY7S6A

Pulling a new cable using the old cable is problematic in most homes if you don't have access to the cable at every point. Either it will be stapled, or it will be passing around too many tight bends with high friction.
There are some alternatives:

1. The new thermostat doesn't necessarily have to go in the same place as the old thermostat. Maybe there's an alternative location in your house that's a lot easier to pull a wire through to, and still reasonably placed for central temperature sensing.
   
2. You can buy no-C-wire add-on solutions like the Venstar units (e.g., https://www.amazon.com/Venstar-ACC0410-Wire-Accessory-Thermostats/dp/B01IF3QXMC). They basically re-purpose one of the control lines as a C wire, and then use special signalling to create a virtual control line at a receiver that mounts behind the thermostat.
   
3. You can install an independent 24vac power supply (110v-to-24v ac transformer) closer to the thermostat. The sole purpose of the C wire is to provide 24vac power to the thermostat. You don't necessarily have to run that power all the way from the furnace/ac.

Just something like this, Homedepot/lowes should have them as well

http://www.amazon.com/RFTH95-Ventilator-Replacement-Thermostat-Automatic/dp/B000OZWVYO

Set a temperature, leave your current switch on and it will turn on and off the fan as the temperature rises.

If you can, stop and go open the panel on your hvac system (Attic/garage/Basement/crawlspace)

There you will find where those wires connect. take a picture, note it down.

There is a good chance that you could simply connect the C wire. There

Or use a c-wire bypass
https://www.amazon.com/Venstar-ACC0410-Wire-Accessory-Thermostats/dp/B01IF3QXMC

or

https://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-THP9045A1023-Wiresaver-Wiring-Thermostat/dp/B0060ASWPE/

oh hey, i know a lot about this because i just did it. I had suspected that all i needed was a solid state relay to isolate the 24V of the thermostat from the millivolt 750Ohm two wire system but i wanted someone to blame if i fried it. I bought this dingus https://www.amazon.com/Venstar-ACC0436-2-Wire-24VAC-Thermostats/dp/B00755BZZC and hooked it up to a standard honeywell wifi thermostat that i got for $4 with a utility company rebate and it worked like a charm. Turns out I was right, i cut the hear shrink on this think off and all it was was a PCB with a cheap mechanical relay and a triac.

This is fugly, but should screw into the gang box. The ecobee3 can then mount within it.

A small bamboo cutting board might look better .....

I used one of these in my old house where the t-stat was too close to the woodstove. The receiver goes where your wired t-stat is and the main compenent is movable throughout the house. You could just stand it in one of your kids rooms. It was much cheaper when I bought mine 3-4 years ago, so search around:

http://www.amazon.com/Venstar-T1100RF-and-T1100REC-Thermostat/dp/B006R6BN02