Ecobee Smart Thermostat with voice control review

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Initial thoughts

If you’re looking for a way to save on your heating and cooling costs, the Ecobee smart thermostat is a great option. The Ecobee comes with Alexa built-in, and is compatible with Apple home pod and home pod mini which will allow you to use Siri to control this thermostat. Plus, the included SmartSensor extends comfort to your most important rooms. The Ecobee smart thermostat is also ENERGY STAR certified, so you know it’s an efficient way to boost your energy savings. And finally, you can control it from anywhere with your iOS or Android device through the ecobee app. So if you’re looking for a smart thermostat that can save you money and is easy to use, the Ecobee is a great option. This thermostat has many raving reviews from ecobee customers and is a great alternative to the google nest thermostat.

Not only is the ecobee packed with great features it is also quite stylish, with its beautiful glass display and rounded edges it is sure to fit into any home decor.

Table of Contents

My thoughts on the Ecobee smart thermostat

I like the smooth full color display and the fast quad-core processor. Settings are easy to change and the built in microphone and speaker make the voice control responsive. The speaker allows you to do things like play music through the thermostat or use Siri to alert your family that dinner is ready or ask for the weather. The thermostat basically extends all the functionality of the most popular assistants to your thermostat and makes them accessible from your home. With the new addition of the eco+ software, you can now connect the thermostat to other Ecobee accessories and to the monitored security system, giving you enhanced features like notifications. If you leave a window open, or if your heat is not working, the thermostat will send you a notification while you are away from home to let you know there is a problem. You will never come home to the surprise of a cold house again.

The Ecobee will also send you energy reports to help you make better use of your heating and cooling energy use. I know I like to see this information to help me make decisions about my settings. I can look at the reports and see if my programs are really efficient or if I should make changes to the program. Sometimes a change of just 1 degree can have a huge effect on energy costs over the course of a year. 

How does the Ecobee help you save money?

The Ecobee smart thermostat can save you up to 26% on your heating and cooling costs. It does this through the use of occupancy sensing with remote sensors, and its smart features. With the eco+ free upgrade, it will add more new features allowing the thermostat to learn your habits and automatically adjust the temperature, and humidity to keep you comfortable while you are home and not waste energy when you are away providing increased energy savings. You can also check with your energy provider as many of them have rebate programs for using smart thermostats.

Advanced control features:

Smart Recovery

As the Ecobee smart thermostat becomes more familiar with your home’s heating and cooling patterns, it will also learn how long it takes to reach your desired temperature. For example, if you’re someone who commonly wakes up at 6 a.m., smart recovery will start heating or cooling your home in advance so that by the time you wake up, your home will be at your desired comfort settings.

AC Overcool to Dehumidify

By using your air conditioning, this feature will lower the indoor humidity, keeping you comfortable if you don’t have a dehumidifier.

Supports two-stage heating and cooling

Ecobee thermostats are perfect for one or two-stage heating and cooling equipment. Staging control not only provides you with personalized comfort but also provides increased savings.

Optimal Humidity

If your home is equipped with a humidifier the Ecobee thermostat can monitor your humidity levels and help regulate them. This will not only keep you more comfortable and healthier but can reduce frost on your windows in cooler climates.

Fan Dissipation

The Ecobee thermostat can run your system fan after each heating or cooling cycle to ensure your home is at its most comfortable temperature, this can help reduce hot and cold swings and help reduce humidity in your home.

Free Cooling

If your home has a ventilator, the Ecobee thermostat has a function that uses outside air to cool your home by using your ventilator instead of the air conditioner. This is beneficial because it can save energy and money, and it happens automatically when the temperature drops in the evening during the summer months.

Security system compatible

Ecobee also offers a smart security subscription with additional smart cameras and sensors. This is a complete home security 24hr monitored system that adds additional features. Things like door or window open that turn your air conditioning off and notify you so you remember to close them, or camera and motion detection with video available through the ecobee app.

Remote sensor feature

The Ecobee has a remote sensor that can detect movement and temperature changes in your home, allowing the thermostat to adjust settings accordingly. These motion sensors allow the thermostat to automatically adjust the temperature in your home to help save you money.

You can purchase additional room sensors if needed for other rooms in your home. Many customers also use the Ecobee for non-residential purposes, using the sensors can help balance warm or cold areas of your building, and reduce costs based on occupancy detection.

Comes with a Power Extender Kit (PEK)

The Ecobee requires a C-wire during installation. If you already have a C wire running to your existing thermostat you are in good shape. If you don’t have a c wire installed there’s no need to rewire your home’s HVAC system or purchase an additional c wire adapter. The Ecobee comes with a PEK also known as a c wire adapter that allows you to get the C wire to your thermostat without running new wires.

We like the larger terminals and buttons for clamping the wires on the PEK. The PEK also has a magnet on the back so you don’t have to worry about screws when attaching it to your HVAC unit.

System compatibility.

The Ecobee is compatible with Gas, Oil, Electric, and Dual-fuel systems. If you have a compatible system, you can easily install the Ecobee thermostat.

Conventional (2H/2C) The Ecobee smart thermostat works with conventional heating systems that have up to 2 stages of heating and 2 stages of cooling.

Works with Heat Pump systems (4H/2C)

And it works with systems that have Humidifier, Dehumidifier, Ventilator, HRV or ERV

The Ecobee smart thermostat has great connectivity and will work with most wifi systems Dual-band Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n @ 2.4GHz, 802.11 a/n/ac @ 5GHz.

Compatible with several apps

The Ecobee with Alexa built-in, allows you to control your thermostat with a voice command. You can ask Alexa to adjust the temperature, change the fan mode, or even set a schedule. Plus, you can use Alexa to control other devices in your home, such as lights and switches.

With this thermostat, you can control the temperature from your iOS or Android device like many other similar units on the market. In addition, it is compatible with IFTTT, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, and Samsung SmartThings allowing integration with your smart home.

(Apple home hub is required for Siri, both HomePod and HomePod mini are compatible. All Siri functions work except voice calls).

Pros:

– Full-color touchscreen display

– Quad-core Cortex A35 processor

– Built-in microphones and speaker

– Remote sensor feature

– Comes with a Power Extender Kit (PEK)

– Compatible with several apps

– Ecobee also has Alexa Voice Service

Cons:

– Cost

– Some features are dependent on the equipment installed in your home

– Requires internet connection

– To enable Siri features it requires a hub (apple home hub, or apple home hub mini)

What’s in the box:

  • Smart Thermostat with voice control
  • Thermostat mounting plate
  • SmartSensor with a detachable stand and adhesive wall-mount
  • Install guide
  • Quick-start guide
  • Wire labels
  • Screws and drywall anchors

Ecobee smart thermostat side view

Ecobee Smart Thermostat Side View

Conclusion

The Ecobee is a touchscreen thermostat with a number of features that make it energy-efficient. These energy-efficient features are designed to help save up to 23% per year on your utility bills, but this percentage will vary depending on your needs and usage. The thermostat has a manual override for those times when you need total control of your system. Additionally, the software’s ability to generate usage reports over time helps users make changes that will lower their energy bills even further. These features include a remote sensor, Alexa Voice Service, and compatibility with several apps. Ecobee also comes with a (PEK) in case your home doesn’t have a C wire. When it comes to smart thermostats, Ecobee thermostats check all the boxes with many smart features and the ability to control most heating and cooling equipment they can help you save money on your energy bills.

For the cost, I feel the Ecobee smart thermostat with voice is a good deal and performs many automated functions to save you time and money on your energy bills. You can’t go wrong with the Ecobee.

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