No Neutral Wire? How to Add Smart Switches to an Older Home
You bought a smart switch, opened the box and found only two wires. Welcome to the most common smart home snag in homes built before the mid-1980s.
Why smart switches need a neutral
Smart switches have a radio that needs constant power. Without a neutral, the switch has no return path when the light is off.
Option 1: No-neutral smart switches
Lutron Caséta, Inovelli and several others work without a neutral and are extremely reliable. This is often the fastest fix.
Option 2: Pull a neutral
Our electricians can often fish a neutral to the switch box, opening up every smart switch on the market.
Option 3: Smart bulbs
Fine for lamps, but awkward for fixtures controlled by wall switches.
Whole-home systems
If you're planning scenes, schedules and voice control throughout the home, a smart home wiring consultation saves money by planning the infrastructure once.
See local pages for Asheville, Greensboro, Salisbury and Wilson.