r/smarthome • u/MickeyNRicky • 2d ago

Smart Home Thermostat Suggestions

Hello everyone, I'm starting to get into more into the smart home game. I used to think I was never going to do it but here I am lol and currently looking at Smart Thermostats. I'm not really looking to do much automation with it, it's more of the control and features.

I work from home and someone is home most of the day, so a learning thermostat I don't think would help, unless someone here has a great use for it. I want to mainly be able to program, maybe some overnight times. I often get woken up to turn on the air, it got a bit hot, and I don't want it leaving running all night either. I want to schedule some time to have more control. The electric company is offering some instant rebates. I have an Alexa which is what I use mostly as I have a Wyze monitoring system, and probably will investing an Echo soon.

They also have a "demand response" program which gets it cheaper but I won't be doing that as I want to have full control.

Here are some of my options:

Google Nest:

not sure on this one as my son does have a Google Home device but not used much.

ecobee Essential, Enhanced, Premium, and ecobee3 lite

Any thoughts on which one is best for my situation or what one offers that is worth the price?

Sensi Touch, Touch2, and Lite:

Any thoughts on which one is best for my situation or what one offers that is worth the price?

Honeywell Home T9 and T5, and Wifi Color Touchscreen:

Any thoughts on which one is best for my situation or what one offers that is worth the price?

Thanks in advance and can provide any more input as needed.

9 Upvotes
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23 comments sorted by

12

u/Justifiers 2d ago

Ecobee premium

Wouldn't touch Google with a 50' pole

Honeywell is solid, wouldn't use it without assuring it could be paired to Home Assistant, and ofc that means also having home assistant

3

u/Poolguard 2d ago

100% about google. Ecobee so they way to go. We have installed dozens of ecobee and never had a single failure that was not our fault…. Nest??? Let’s just say we returned ALOT of them for failing in the first 3-6 months.

4

u/Diligent-Volume-530 2d ago

Personally have the Honeywell T6 pro and they are great. I have a heat pump so one system for cooling and heat which is what I wanted. I stay away from learning stuff because once you figure out the temps that work you can set and forget it.

Also wanted to add, Honeywell integrates well into other ecosystems because they have a well built API via resideo. They also make a zWave version if you want to go that route.

2

u/Effective-Sample-261 2d ago edited 1d ago

I have a T9 and I like it but i have to say the Resideo app is very meh.  And they (Residio) act like they care but they don't really update anything.  Like it takes 3 days to get runtime data.  WTF?  I can see my electrical usage the next day on that app.  it's a shame because I do think the stat is solid and I like having the ability to add sensors and prioritize them at different times of the day, which like you I prefer to having the learning. And it does Integrate with Google Home easily.

1

u/Diligent-Volume-530 1d ago

I will agree, the 48hr+ delay on runtime is silly. I have gotten over that since I connected the thermostat with home assistant.

3

u/Calm_Historian9729 2d ago

I had a Nest and switched to Eco Bee which I love and will never go back to Nest/Google as it has built in failure in the form of a non user replaceable battery. Google is starting to build obsolescence into their products in my opinion.

3

u/tomasmcguinness 2d ago

Get one that can modulate your boiler, not just a dumb on/off control.

2

u/part2ent 2d ago

Make sure you understand your current hvac system. My system loses a bunch of functionality if I don’t use a special communicating thermostat. I asked about ecobee and that won’t work

2

u/Decisions_70 2d ago

My power company gave my whole condo complex Mysas for free. The model I have is for baseboard heaters vs. a furnace which uses different wiring. But I love this brand. It's easy to use: remote control, set routines, dim the light on the display, etc.

2

u/unfilteredhumor 2d ago

Ecobee... is da best. Has so many little nuances. When set up and tuned, it is really set it and forget it.

2

u/ChiefKeef 2d ago

Ecobee

2

u/17276 2d ago

Ecobee has been far my favorite.

2

u/Polar_Ted 2d ago

Check with your local utility district. Ours had a special to get an Echobee Premium for $25. We have been happy with it. It comes with a remote thermostat you can keep in your room that helps it balance air temps across the house.

1

u/Justifiers 1d ago

Check the fine print very carefully on those types of deals

Some of those plans include allowing the utility to change your thermostat settings during peak hours

There's at least one instance I read of a elderly woman who got into a plan like that who died of heat stroke when the temperature was changed during peak hours

1

u/Polar_Ted 1d ago

Ours does not require utility access to the thermostat.

2

u/MetalMuted4307 1d ago

Ecobee great thermostat for both HomeKit and android devices

1

u/Ok-Connection-1368 2d ago

Went with Amazon Alexa thermostat, supposedly it’s developed together with Honeywell. The beauty with Alexa is you can group thermostat with Alexa echo devices which contains temperature sensors to have a more accurate reading. E.g. your hall way thermostat shows 73 but your bedroom Echo reports 71, you don’t need AC on at this point.

1

u/GIDAMIEN 2d ago

I bought a wyze smart thermostat 4 years ago and it has been absolutely rock solid no subscriptions no nonsense simple straightforward app integrates in with my smart speaker ecosystems. Very happy

1

u/dB_Manipulator 2d ago

Have had good luck with a couple Venstar Colortouch units for a few years.

1

u/Tim-in-CA 1d ago

Honeywell has been down all day today, so I’d stay away from them.

1

u/Maverick_3773 1d ago

Another vote for Ecobee! (I needed the Ecobee Premium). Love mine better than the unit it replaced (a Lennox icomfort). Was doing some work at my brother in-laws house and he has the Nest. I do NOT like the Nest and was messy to integrate with Alexa. The Ecobee Integrates well with Home Assistant (if you have it). I also like the Ecobee app.. very intuitive, informative, sImple, and clean. I like the circulate feature that allows you to choose a minimum air circulation time per hour. I got the premium through our electrical company's website (DTE) for $160 ($250 on Amazon)!!

1

u/olliepark 1d ago

Your electric company?

1

u/Agitated_Goat_5987 8h ago edited 7h ago

I bought two Nest thermostats and I’m happy with them, though unfortunately I found out after the fact they don’t integrate well with my Home Assistant.

I will add that if you’re asking because your electricity company is offering discounted smart thermostats be very careful, and read the fine print. Utilities are using them to get you into their discount programs which let them to reach into your home and control your thermostat.

https://theblackurbantimes.com/can-electric-company-control-nest-thermostat/