Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium review

Your thermostat gives you basic control over heating and cooling. But is it doing it wisely? A smart thermostat can make your HVAC system more efficient, saving you money and reducing your impact on the environment.The Ecobee Advanced Smart Thermostat wants to provide energy efficiency, customized heating and cooling, and smart home integration. I installed it in my home and here’s what I found.

Setting up the Ecobee Advanced Smart Thermostat
From the moment I opened the package, I was impressed with Ecobee. They minimized the use of plastic by using cardboard and paper for the packaging. This is part of their effort to make the Ecobee Advanced Smart Thermostat as environmentally friendly as possible.

Wiring

This was the most mind-numbing part of installing the Ecobee Advanced Smart Thermostat. I knew I took the necessary steps to secure the wiring, but I had a deep psychological fear that electricity was lurking there waiting to attack me. But once I eliminated my irrational fear, the process became straightforward.The Ecobee app has very clear step-by-step installation instructions that cover a wide range of wiring scenarios you might encounter.

I only encountered two challenges during the wiring phase. First, I skipped the step where the app takes a picture of the existing wiring for reference. As you may have guessed, I forgot where a wire should go. Don’t worry, I learned my lesson and from then on, I followed the app’s advice and took pictures every step of the way.

The second challenge has nothing to do with the Ecobee Smart Thermostat itself. My house is about 50 years old and the wires have not been replaced. The old wires were getting hard and brittle. I worry about every bend I make in the old wire, fearing it will snap. Of course, if that happens, I just strip the wire down a little further and keep going, so it’s not as serious as I make it out to be to myself.

Software Configuration
Setting up the configuration is quick and easy compared to the work involved in connecting your Ecobee smart thermostat to your HVAC system. Your Ecobee app will walk you through some basic settings and then you’re done. I appreciate that it’s possible to sit on the couch and make additional configuration adjustments without having to stand in front of the thermostat. But that’s not a slight on the thermostat’s touchscreen interface. The touchscreen is large and responsive, and the system is easy to navigate.

Ecobee Smart Thermostat Advanced Features
Occupancy Sensor:The Ecobee Advanced Smart Thermostat uses radar to determine the occupancy of the surrounding area and adjusts the temperature of the house accordingly. It also comes with a second remote sensor that you can place in the room of your choice. The second sensor will ensure that the temperature of the selected room is prioritized.
Smart Recovery:This is a neat little feature that I really appreciate. When the Ecobee Advanced Smart Thermostat learns about your home’s heating and cooling patterns, it will begin to preemptively adjust the temperature. So when you wake up in the winter, the house is already warm. Or in the summer, when you’re nearing bedtime, it starts to cool the house down.
Automatic Rebates:There are a growing number of incentive programs that encourage you to upgrade to a smart thermostat. And the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium makes it easy to take advantage of them. When I finished configuring the settings, Ecobee automatically checked to see if my local utility company had an available rebate program. It found one and guided me through a simple two-step enrollment process. This allows me to get rebates on my utility bills and reduce my total energy usage.
Security System Upgrade Options:Your smart home program may involve a home security system, and Ecobee can play a role in that program.Ecobee offers a smart security subscription service that allows you to monitor your home remotely. By purchasing additional sensors for your windows and doors, as well as an Ecobee security camera, you can have full security coverage. There’s also an added benefit, since the door sensors tell the Ecobee Advanced Smart Thermostat when the door is open, it will automatically pause heating or cooling until the door is closed again.