Building a house now and will have one air conditioner but it has two zones (one for up and one for down). What smart thermostat do you recommend? I will have to buy two of them correct? I was leaning toward the Ecobee as they have great reviews and a buddy of mine has two for his two story house but wanted to ask here as well. Thank you.
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Smart Thermostat recommendation?
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Last: 3 yr ago by tgivaughn
I have 3 ecobees, I like them a lot. They are compatible with pretty much everything. No experience with any other smart thermostats.
And yes, you'll need 2 if you have 2 systems.
And yes, you'll need 2 if you have 2 systems.
Do you have the one with voice technology or regular? Seems like the voice one is only needed if you don't have any other Alexa devices and/or you're really lazy...Homer Genius said:
I have 3 ecobees, I like them a lot. They are compatible with pretty much everything. No experience with any other smart thermostats.
And yes, you'll need 2 if you have 2 systems.
I'm also happy with the ecobee. Very easy to install, good user interface on the wall and on the application, and most importantly compatible with the equipment we had.
Google Nest Thermostat E White (T4000ES) 2-Pack
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Google-Nest-Thermostat-E-White-T4000ES-2-Pack/493654406
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Google-Nest-Thermostat-E-White-T4000ES-2-Pack/493654406
Another vote for Ecobee. I opted not to get voice control. The app is great. I like having the multiple remote sensors. Allows me to control for living room comfort during the day, bedroom comfort at night.
Voice. The kids like to play music on it upstairs, otherwise it's not really used. Our other alexa's manage it just fine (the kids don't have alexa's so use the ecobee).
The ecobee speaker is surprising decent, but doesn't sync up with music being played on other devices so a bit of a bummer.
It's pretty nice to tell alexa to crank down the AC from the couch. Nothing lazy about it. Obviously there are more smart thermostats out there compatible with alexa, google, etc., so just my experience and what works for me. I'd buy them again.
The ecobee speaker is surprising decent, but doesn't sync up with music being played on other devices so a bit of a bummer.
It's pretty nice to tell alexa to crank down the AC from the couch. Nothing lazy about it. Obviously there are more smart thermostats out there compatible with alexa, google, etc., so just my experience and what works for me. I'd buy them again.
I don't like the nests we inherited with our house.
Had a Honeywell T-5 in our last house. I liked it more than the best. It was monochrome and I thought it looked better, too.
I'd go ecobee if I was replacing mine.
Had a Honeywell T-5 in our last house. I liked it more than the best. It was monochrome and I thought it looked better, too.
I'd go ecobee if I was replacing mine.
Have had two (non-voice) ecobee's for 6 years. Love them. Had a Nest prior to the ecobee and much prefer the ecobees.
Nest sucks. That's all I have to add.
Ecobee. Love ours.
PeekingDuck said:
Nest sucks. That's all I have to add.
Our old house had two nest thermostats. Found it frustrating how they would determine our heating/cooling schedule. Idk. Felt like I was better off using the old Honeywell and manually adjusting it much easier then having to constantly fight with nest trying to be smart.
Our new house will have ecobee so happy to hear many are good with that.
Two non-Alexa ecobees. Love them
You just turn off that capability.Red Pear Luke said:PeekingDuck said:
Nest sucks. That's all I have to add.
Our old house had two nest thermostats. Found it frustrating how they would determine our heating/cooling schedule. Idk. Felt like I was better off using the old Honeywell and manually adjusting it much easier then having to constantly fight with nest trying to be smart.
Our new house will have ecobee so happy to hear many are good with that.
Ive had no problem at all with Nest....works well with all our nest cameras and doorbells
Sensi by Emerson. It doesn't look fancy like the Nest or Ecobee, but it works great. My favorite feature it the dehumidifying function. App is very useful, too.
$130 at the big box stores, but Amazon will have it on sale sometimes for $110. They also make a touchscreen model for about $50 more.
$130 at the big box stores, but Amazon will have it on sale sometimes for $110. They also make a touchscreen model for about $50 more.
Ecobee. Depending on where you are, you might be able to get a deal from your electric provider. We got ours in CO for about $150-200.
I like our Honeywell wifi but not smart thermostats.
They follow the program unless we override and have been nearly 100% connection uptime when I update it from my phone.
The app is a little clunky compared to nest but same thing there - options are heat/cool, temp, and how long you want it there on one screen. No buried menus etc.
I may be missing out but I would buy it again over a nest if it broke.
They follow the program unless we override and have been nearly 100% connection uptime when I update it from my phone.
The app is a little clunky compared to nest but same thing there - options are heat/cool, temp, and how long you want it there on one screen. No buried menus etc.
I may be missing out but I would buy it again over a nest if it broke.
Ecobee here. I don't like or have a lot of smart stuff in the house. The echo stays mostly off and I never connected the oven, but the ecobee was a nice middle point. I programmed the sleep, morning, away, return schedule and don't exactly use the WiFi remote functions except to check and see if my kids have fiddle with it. I do like the range function which allows us to set a 68-74 on days when the weather doesn't know if it warm or cool.
It more accurate than our old manual Honeywell, but it was 15 years old so anything would be better. I would buy again.
It more accurate than our old manual Honeywell, but it was 15 years old so anything would be better. I would buy again.
FYI, I went with two Ecobee thermostats and so far I like them a lot. One app controls both thermostats easily and the two zone thing doesn't seem to matter. Talked to HVAC guy before doing it and he actually preferred the Nest over Ecobee but said they were both great.
Ecobee. We have two units. One has voice controls, but I turned it off as we have echo dots.
Well *****..could have used that last week!
Bumping. Trying to help parents.
Their thermostat is acting up and want to replace.
They live in a 1600 square foot home. Single AC system installed about 2 years ago. Variable speed but just one zone.
They just care about master bedroom comfort and living room comfort.
Due to one zone, will those sensors be of much value (ie Ecobee)? They won't spend money to put damper in so just trying to get them a good thermostat. Don't want them spending money for something with a lot of tricks that wouldn't help their "simple" setup.
Thanks in advance for recs!!
Their thermostat is acting up and want to replace.
They live in a 1600 square foot home. Single AC system installed about 2 years ago. Variable speed but just one zone.
They just care about master bedroom comfort and living room comfort.
Due to one zone, will those sensors be of much value (ie Ecobee)? They won't spend money to put damper in so just trying to get them a good thermostat. Don't want them spending money for something with a lot of tricks that wouldn't help their "simple" setup.
Thanks in advance for recs!!
Can Ecobee do variable speed? We have a variable speed trane unit and when it was installed, about 2 years ago, no smart thermostats were compatible. Well they were but we'd lose the variable speed capability.
To answer the sensor question, it'd add value in the sense that if that room(s) gets warmer than the thermostat it'll kick on to keep that room(s) cool. So would run the ac more but keep those rooms more comfortable
To answer the sensor question, it'd add value in the sense that if that room(s) gets warmer than the thermostat it'll kick on to keep that room(s) cool. So would run the ac more but keep those rooms more comfortable
I think maybe the sensor capable thermostats could be best bet for them to manage the couple rooms they care about.
When I looked at doing an eco bee a few years back it didn't work with variable speed.
Yeah, I love my ecobee & its remote sensors. But ecobees only support 1 or 2 stage units, not variable.
Ok. I will have my parents confirm their unit. I might be wrong on variable.
If 1 or 2 stage, will recommend Ecobee with sensors
If variable, from what I am seeing online, going with Trane's own ComfortLink would be best bet.
I am going to see them today so will check out what they have know as far as thermostat and confirm their system type.
If 1 or 2 stage, will recommend Ecobee with sensors
If variable, from what I am seeing online, going with Trane's own ComfortLink would be best bet.
I am going to see them today so will check out what they have know as far as thermostat and confirm their system type.
soooo....they have a variable speed blower / single stage compressor....now I am not sure what to do haha...
Actually, ecobee may be perfect for them! They look to support variable speed fans now.planoaggie123 said:
soooo....they have a variable speed blower / single stage compressor....now I am not sure what to do haha...
https://support.ecobee.com/s/articles/Multi-Speed-Fan-installations
There is a guided compatibility checker linked to from that page.
On non-communcating systems Trane variable speed fans are controlled by a PWM signal through the BK terminal. I think that some Honeywell thermostats may have support but the only smart thermostats that I know for sure for those fans are the Trane XR724 and XL824.planoaggie123 said:
soooo....they have a variable speed blower / single stage compressor....now I am not sure what to do haha...
Love Nest. I had a problem with one. The AC guy said that Nest always had a problem and he didn't recommend it. We replaced our system and put in a Honeywell smart thermostat. Wasn't happy. Got a new Nest. Had a couple issues at the start. Nest customer service quickly identified the problem. I switched a couple wires and we were in business. I did notice a drop in our energy usage and our bill has been under control this summer.
reineraggie09 said:
Love Nest. I had a problem with one. The AC guy said that Nest always had a problem and he didn't recommend it. We replaced our system and put in a Honeywell smart thermostat. Wasn't happy. Got a new Nest. Had a couple issues at the start. Nest customer service quickly identified the problem. I switched a couple wires and we were in business. I did notice a drop in our energy usage and our bill has been under control this summer.
https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9259652?hl=en
Quote:
Variable speed fans are compatible with Nest thermostats, but the fans will only operate at a single speed.
I guess you should go ahead and get that brand + will have support & how-tos from your buddy that is using them.
I have used many and spent time adjusting each seasonally for decades
UNTIL NOW
A year ago, needed another system change #~20 years
Trane HP 18SEER variable speed
4T 1776sf 80's insulation, loads of single pane glass
NOW
I set it manually on 78F, forgetaboutit until winter ... that's IT
I can even abandon use of my all glass studio window AC that took care of solar gain in-the-day.
CONCLUSION
Finally got a perfect system + perfect match T/SF = no more thermostat fiddling
I have used many and spent time adjusting each seasonally for decades
UNTIL NOW
A year ago, needed another system change #~20 years
Trane HP 18SEER variable speed
4T 1776sf 80's insulation, loads of single pane glass
NOW
I set it manually on 78F, forgetaboutit until winter ... that's IT
I can even abandon use of my all glass studio window AC that took care of solar gain in-the-day.
CONCLUSION
Finally got a perfect system + perfect match T/SF = no more thermostat fiddling
Short-hand answers here ... long-hand help here ....
http://pages.suddenlink.net/tgivaughn/
http://pages.suddenlink.net/tgivaughn/
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