Intuitive Temperature Control
When I found out that my old thermostat had reached the end of its life, I realized there was no other option than to buy a new one. However, as I started to research the subject I soon became aware that the range of models available was a lot wider than I first thought.
If you’ve been researching a new thermostat for a while, I’m sure you’ll completely understand when I admit I became incredibly confused in a short space of time. So, in the end I took a deep breath and asked myself just exactly what it is I want from a thermostat.
The answers I came up with were: a constant feeling of comfort in the home, ease of use and most of all, I wanted a thermostat that would help me use my heating and cooling system more efficiently. With this in mind, I “hit” the internet again and came across the Ecobee EB-SAT-02 Smart Thermostat.
Unfortunately, it’s not the cheapest on the market but that didn’t stop me from wanting to find out more. What I did find really impressed me so that’s why you see this review before you today.
The Basic Features
The subheading here might seem a little silly considering I’m about to tell you what this thermostat will do with regards to keeping the temperature in your home at a comfortable level (after all, that’s what a device like this is built for!). However, this model has a lot more to it than that.
So, let’s deal with the programming first.
You can do this using the touch screen on the thermostat, the ecobee web portal or from a mobile device such as a tablet or smartphone. Although one slight niggle I came across with using the touchscreen is that it can be a bit fiddly. Maybe this is because instead of a simple “click” type system, the manufacturer has used a slide type screen instead.
The 365 day scheduling is available with 7 day programming, and you also have features such as vacation programs and automated alerts. However, what really sets this thermostat apart is that you have dehumidifier and humidifier control, so if you live in a dry or humid area this may very well be the right thermostat for you.
As for heating and cooling, this thermostat is compatible with a wide range of systems including gas, oil, electric, dual fuel systems and auxiliary heat (to name but a few).
Where It Gets Exciting
Now you know this device will keep your home or business at a comfortable temperature, I would like to tell you about where the manufacturer has really placed their focus – saving money on your energy bills. There are various reports available that will tell you how well you’re using the system in your home. This includes how the temperature settings you have impact on the amount of energy you use, what the weather was like and how that could make a difference, and of course how much you can/already have saved.
This is part of the reason why Ecobee have called this the “Smart Thermostat”. The information you receive on the reports mentioned above is based on the unit’s ability to take into account things like the size of your home, what type of HVAC system you have and the number of people who live there. Having access to this information has meant that many people using this model save about 21% on cooling and 24% on heating (according to Ecobee). When you turn this into a dollar figure, it soon mounts up!
You can also make use of the Ecobee rating within these reports which is really easy to understand. Basically a high score means you’re doing really well with saving energy and a low score means you could do better. This device will even track how well your system is performing overall which could help with various issues that may arise.
Wireless Capabilities
All the apps available with this thermostat are free to download and they’re available for Android, iPhone and Blackberry. Having this option is great for people who intend to purchase one of these for home use, but it’s also very useful if you want one (or three) at a business premises.
When using the app you can control the settings of the thermostat, access all the reports mentioned above and just make sure that everything is running the way it should be. It also means that if you are in the same building as the thermostat, you don’t have to stand using the panel which is incredibly convenient.
One Point to Consider
Installing this thermostat cannot be considered as “child’s play” however, if you have some idea of how the HVAC system works in your home, it can be done. For the novices among you, it might be a good idea to call in a technician to help.
Confused?
If you know that a wireless thermostat is what you want but you’re still confused over which model will do what you want it to, I have several reviews on my website for you. However, I’m not expecting you to read through them all (that kind of defeats my aim which is to make your search easier). Instead, I have added a wireless thermostat comparison page which lines up all the models I have and what features you can expect from each. You can read about it here.
Not Confused!
If you navigated straight to this review because you know the Ecobee thermostat is the one for you, feel free to take a look at Amazon where there are usually some pretty hefty discounts to be had.
Further Information
