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Honeywell Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat Review

Indoor Comfort 24/7!

I’m sure many of you will agree with me when I say it’s really annoying (and uncomfortable) when you wake in the morning and it’s too cold. Likewise it’s also annoying when you wake up in the middle of the night and it’s too hot.

I had this problem recently and it was all down to the thermostat I was using for my heating and cooling system. It just so happens that mine had reached the end of its shelf life, but you can also have this problem if your current thermostat is a more basic model.

Honeywell Wi-Fi Thermostat

Honeywell Smart Thermostat
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So, if you’re looking to upgrade or simply want more from your thermostat, I think the Honeywell Wi-Fi Smart is just about as good as it gets. Gone are the days (if you want them to be) when a thermostat was just a panel that allowed you to adjust the temperature in your home up or down, and Honeywell has done a great job with this model.
So, let’s start with the basics.

Programming That Works around Your Schedule

I happen to think this wireless thermostat is a great option for both home and business. In fact, when the thermostat is installed and ready to program, you will be asked if it’s going to be used for home or business.

For businesses, you can choose a temperature that suits you when you’re in the building, and one for when you’re not. The same can be said for home use however schedules may change more when you’re at home and with that, so do your heating and cooling needs. This is why you have the option to choose between a home or business set-up.

Everything is done via a touchscreen so there are no fiddly buttons to deal with, and as the name suggests because this thermostat is Wi-Fi based you can also program it over the internet.

Smart response technology shouldn’t be forgotten either. Actually, this is probably one of the most important features you get in terms of programming with this model. It will quickly learn what type of heating or cooling cycle you have, and once it knows how long it takes to reach the desired temperature it will adjust accordingly. This way you will never wake-up too cold or too hot.

If you’ve come across Smart Response Technology before and you’re not a fan of it, the manufacturer has made it possible for this function to be disabled.

Installation

It has to be said, this thermostat doesn’t exactly make for an easy DIY installation. One important point to consider is that whilst it will work with a wide range of heating, cooling and heat pump systems, it won’t work with electric baseboard heat.

It’s also (as you might have guessed) heavily based on internet use so if you’re a bit of a novice in that respect, you might need some professional help. That said Honeywell has included some great on-screen instructions with easy to use menus, and if you have replaced or installed a Wi-Fi thermostat before, you shouldn’t have too much in the way of trouble with this model (that is, if you don’t have that dreaded ‘C’ wire issue, more on that here).

For those of you who are interested, you can make use of the video I’ve included on my thermostat installation page which is very enlightening.

Wi-Fi and App

Honeywell AppOf course, to make use of the Wi-Fi function it goes without saying you will need access to the internet. You will also need to download the app associated with this thermostat (‘total connect comfort’) which is very easy to do, and unlike a lot of brands it’s free to use so there is no monthly subscription to worry about.

The thermostat works with Android and iOS devices and I have to say, I’m impressed with the features included. It affords you the ability to program your heating and cooling schedule remotely which is perfect if you have one installed in a vacation home. Nothing could be better than arriving on the first day of your vacation to a place where the temperature is just right!

For a detailed preview of the remote capabilities you can check out the iOS App here and the Android App here.

You have the option to set a “vacation” program and this can be done as far in advance as you like so you can set it and forget it. The Honeywell will also send alerts to your mobile device if temperatures become extreme (up or down) and it will even alert you to the fact your filter needs changing. Incidentally, both of these features are also displayed on the thermostat itself.

More Advanced Features

I know functionality and reliability are the main two things anyone looks for in a thermostat, but I think looks are important to a certain degree as well. And while it’s not as sleek as the Nest, this wireless thermostat is very nice looking with a clean, almost “space-age” look to it.

What Honeywell has done (which I think is a nice idea) is to make it possible for you to change the color scheme on the screen. When you access the menu to do this, the range of colors available is astounding. In fact, I would go so far as to say there isn’t a décor out there this thermostat won’t blend into!

HumidityIf security is something of an issue for you, the unit has a locking feature and optional password access so only certain users can get into the program. Another great idea is you can lock the screen for up to 30 seconds so you don’t mess anything up when you clean it.

Lastly, when everything is set-up and working the way you want it to, the screen will display both the indoor and outdoor temperature. If that wasn’t enough you can also keep up with what the local weather is doing and what the level of humidity is inside.
These features may seem a little “overkill” but when you think about it, they all help towards making sure you use your heating and cooling system at optimum efficiency.

Confused?

If you’ve read this review and it’s not the first one, I completely understand if you’re still confused over which model of thermostat will suit you best. After all, there are a few to choose from on my website not to mention the odd few hundred you’ll come across on the internet in general.

So, just for you I have added a wireless thermostat comparison page (which you can find here). On this page, you will find this model and all the others I have reviewed with an easy to see guide outlining what features you can (or cannot) expect from each.

If you’ve decided this one is the thermostat you’ve been looking for, feel free to take a look at Amazon.

Further Information

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