Recommend a smart thermostat for 2022

[Turbinator]

Happy New Year, tech-savvy CG'ers!

I've held off from this home upgrade forever, but I'm starting to think it's time to get a smart thermometer just for fun. There's no specific need driving this thought. I looked at them earlier in 2021, but reviews are always mixed (someone always has something to say about any particular model) and I got cold feet and didn't buy anything. I looked at all the major models - Nest, Ecobee, Honeywell. I see Amazon has a low cost one out now too.

I don't have any particular existing infrastructure of "smart" anything (e.g. I'm not using Alexa or anything else like that) so I don't need to stick to any particular brand to fit into anything - I have no other home automation going on. I do use iPhone, so I would prefer that the thermostat have an app available for iOS. I would prefer to spend less, but for something like this that is more of a permanent home upgrade, spending $100 vs $300 does not bother me. I would like to make sure I'm getting something significantly better if I spend closer to $300, vs spending $100, though. Most of the highly rated ones on Amazon appear to be less than $300 so I don't think increasing spend over $300 seems to be necessary.

I will do my own self install.

So - have at it - thoughts, suggestions? What are you using? Any compelling reason NOT to undertake this home upgrade?

Thanks!
Turby

[L4D]

[tonyt22]

I second the ecobee make sure to get the smart one and not the lite 3. My house is pretty teched out even tho I don't have the best internet it all still works. The ability of being able to adjust the tstat while on my way home is great in the summer. Ecobee also has zone senors that helped me adjust all my vents to make sure all my rooms were the same temp. I have most of my lights and tvs all connected helps out if I lose the remote or forget to turn off a light after I leave

[Jedi54]

Nest thermostat owner here for the past few years. awesome little thermostat that once it programs itself, is pretty much set it and forget it.
Also have an additional sensor upstairs so I can regulate temps there as well all from the app.

one thing to look into are rebates available where you live. I got a pretty good rebate from SoCal Edison AND the gas company for switching to a smart device that made the purchase basically free.

[sonofeugene]

Do any of these smart thermostats require giving access to the settings to the power companies? I don’t want anyone meddling with my thermostat.

[tonyt22]

Mine doesn't as far as I know the only way a power company can mess with your hvac system they have to come out and put their own box on the unit

[sonofeugene]

Which one do you have?

[the_tunaman]

I’ve been running the Honeywell Wi-Fi thermostats for several years now and really like them. The app is robust and convenient, and well designed IMHO.

[EWastigmatism]

The Nest is probably the most common. Works well for us.

[DoubleA]

^^^^ This!!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

[Turbinator]

Any model #'s in particular you like? I see they have two basic designs, a rounded one that mimics the aesthetics of a Nest, and a squarish one that either has a color touchscreen, or black and white.

Turby

[the_tunaman]

The ones I bought were traditional form factor with a black and white LCD panel.

Just pulled the downstairs stat off - model number is RTH6580WF1001

[TSD!]

Sensi, basic wifi/smart... works great can turn on the heat from Hawaii before you get home,etc. Had it for 3+ years now no issues.

[IronsightsRifleman]

I had a Honeywell and loved it. But it's ugly. Then I got a Nest and hated it. Not that Nest is a bad device, the front panel UI is great. But I refuse to give Google my home address, GPS coordinates, and wifi password... so it won't let me program it. So now I've got a Lux Kono. The Kono front panel control is a mess. But the app is good. They also make a Geo model that's maybe better than the Kono, I can't tell.

[ibanezfoo]

I got an ecobee for this house a few years back. No complaints. I have a handful of remote sensors for it that sit in different rooms.