ecoBee3 Lite Smart Thermostat - In-depth demo and review
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- Опубліковано 4 лип 2018
- Watch my 2020 updated version of this video here: • ecoBee3 Lite Smart The...
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I installed this smart thermostat about four months before making this review, so have had a chance to experience through both heating and cooling months.
Previously, I had a Honeywell Lyric T5 smart thermostat (see my demo and review at • Honeywell Lyric T5 The... )
like the features, setup was difficult for some of my devices (August Door lock, ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxhB5YOMNj04GuoAosExygP4cH-dKeb4aB Bose speaker)... but all switches and outlets (5), thermostat, tankless water heater. Unfortunately all I can do is turn on/off Bose. It doesn't support volume or changing channels, but I believe that is due to the particular speaker I have.... Worth getting if you already have other devices to use it with... I don't sit around and ask Alexa questions much so that doesn't really matter to me....
Excellent review. Best of all the ecobee 3x/4 I’ve seen. The humidifier comment was critical for me as I plan to add one.
Thanks for the kind words! Although this thermostat can't be used to control the humidifier, you can use a conventional humidistat - you'll need to manually set it each season, but that's been working for me since replacing my furnace and adding a humidifier shortly after recording this video.
Thanks for the review! My electric company has a program to get this thermostat at a very discounted price, so it's nice to know it's worth it!
Thanks for the review! I just got my Ecobee3 Lite. Not sure if this was available when video was made but there is a vacation mode that can be set up with dates you are going away!
Congrats, you'll be happy with it! I made an updated video this year that includes mention of the vacation mode. ua-cam.com/video/nhWKdUMWWkU/v-deo.html
Great video man, thank you for taking the time
Good review, you convinced me to get the ecobee, the sensor in the other room fixed my entire problem with the upstairs being too hot and the downstairs being too cold, Mine even came with the door sensor so now I can tell if my garage door was left open or not. Much better than honey well that was doing some funky stuff with my phone it. It was only a year and a half old but I got rid of it. Plus got back $75 bucks from Edison So it ended up being less than $100. Well worth it
Yep works great Mine will let me program another action in any scheduled day but it has to run until the next scheduled event. Also the auto adjust is needed for my geothermal furnace as it will bring the temperature up slowly and not use the Aux heat which is expensive resistance heating. Now if it only worked directly with Google voice commands.
If you have a older house with only one zone the sensors work amazingly locating you around the house as well as telling you the actual temp of each room and if occupied or not which is super cool (more on this in a sec.). We found this feature has saved us some heating $$ as our heating bill has decreased. We also no longer have to walk downstairs to change the temp we can change it from our bed using the app.
Now the sensors have another few benefits, by using apple home on my IPad I get alerts when a room sensor senses someone in a room, cool part is that we’ve been away and all of a sudden a we get a alert? It was my wife’s mother checking on the house, super cool security feature! Also have a large dog that the sensors pick up during the day and we can now also see where or his room habits during the day.
You can create additional comfort settings through the web site.
Great in-depth review and easy to follow! I have been following Ecobee for a while and helped a friend install his yesterday. So easy to configure. By the way, you CAN have more than the 3 default "Comfort Settings" by adding more from the app or the web portal (but not from the thermostat itself). Once you add more then you can of course assign them to additional time periods. For your bathroom issue you could create an additional Comfort Settings that has the fan ON and apply that for a short time, followed by an Away or Home Comfort Setting.
This is AWESOME! Thanks for posting. I'd never really bothered with the web portal, but was able to add a new comfort setting for fan only... pretty cool reports on there as well! Thanks again for the post!
Good review. Thank you : )
Man that’s exactly why I’m getting rid of my Honeywell thermostat. I had the same exact one is you and read all over the forms and everything it would just constantly disconnected from Wi-Fi or sometimes it would work on the app but not on Apple HomeKit and then the next day just magically work. Definitely software issues so now I’m debating on getting the ecobee 3 or 4 right now
Good review, thanks
Great review. Thank you
Good review …thanks for sharing
love my ecobee3 lite, but in my condo the lack of fan speed options is causing a problem with maintaining temp. You can only choose one fan speed.
You can make more than the 3 comfort setting (home - away - sleep). You can make as many as you need.
Thanks - that came up in the comments but seems to have been buried. I'm going to update my video in the next month or so to include responses from some of the many helpful commenters such as yourself!
Reply to a question that was deleted - the included white backplate is round and measures approximately 6-5/8" in diameter.
Hey cheese we emailed you
Thank you for doing this video review of the Ecobee 3 lite and the Honeywell T5 because I was trying to decide between the two. It seems like you prefer the Ecobee over the Honeywell. It that mainly because of the connectivity issues you had with the T5?
You're welcome! Yes, connectivity was the main thing, but I also like the extra settings available on the ecoBee (i.e. increasing the acceptable temperature range to make furnace/AC cycle less). A commenter on my T5 review told me this was possible in the T5 if you activate advanced settings, but I'm still using my ecoBee. I also breifly tried the Hive Heating+Cooling Pack thermostat, and came back to ecoBee3 Lite. I need to get another hobby. Lol
Getting this for free with the So. Cal Edison rebate. So excited!
How did you get it for free? The rebate is only for $75.
they're currently offering 150!
Nothing is free. The state is using other people's money. Good for you.
One at home...Love it!
Very good review. Very realistic. Also my only complain is that the schedules can be improved on the thermostat firmware and the app.
Thanks! Agreed, schedules on the app isn't the best, but they are really easy to create and modify on the web portal. I've made a video for anyone that is interested in the ecoBee web portal @ ua-cam.com/video/dGt-3tpN5NI/v-deo.html
Hi-Great video.
I have a couple questions-
-I just looked it up and see that one is able to lock the thermostat locally-on the stat. So the question then is, once locked, can functions still be adjusted using the app?
-Regarding the room sensors- You mentioned that using them, the system will "average" the temperature of the various sensors in order to reach the set point. I'm wondering if you know weather or not you are able to set the system to just use the temp from one specific sensor rather than an average or the stat.
Thank you in advance.
Thanks Charles - When you lock the screen, you can choose which items are restricted (you can disable any combination of "temperature & quick changes", "schedule", "vacation", "system & settings"). Once restrictions are set, the app functions normally, but to change the restricted settings from the thermostat, the 4-digit PIN needs to be entered. I can't answer your second question for sure because I never set up my room sensors, sorry.
Why did you install so close to the corner of the wall? Looks like the white backer is hanging off or over shadowing the corner of the drywall....
The right side of the backer was flush with the edge of the wall (difficult to tell from the angle of the video). I was covering up holes from the old thermostat. Now that I've fixed the wall and repainted, the thermostat is installed without the backer.
The humidity inside is off by 1 degree on the app and the thermostat. Are both off consistently? Thanks for the review
To be honest I never noticed until you posted this - I've been checking each day this week and the two have always been perfectly synchronized... possibly a glitch fixed during an update since I made this video in 2018.
Regarding the differential setting: if I set the differential to 3 degrees and set my temp to 72, does it kick on at 69 and off at 75? Or does it kick on at 69 and off at 72? In other words does it only go 3 below, or is it 3 below AND 3 above? Thank you.
Sorry, I thought I'd replied to this - if set for a differential of 3°, it only allows 3 degrees of total deviation (i.e. up to 3° cooler than your setpoint during heating, or up to 3° warmer than your setpoint during cooling)
Does the unit "click" when it turns on/off the HVAC? Also, does the display turn off or can it be set to turn off.
There is no click at the thermostat when switching on/off the furnace. The display defaults to a dimmer screen with less info, but can be set to turn off completely.
I lesson to you review of the ecobee3 lite thermostat and yes you can have more than 3 setting .I have 2 ecobee3 lite and each one has 4 setting 2 home 1 away 1 sleep call the ecobee3 lite support # and they will walk you through it how to get the 4th setting
Thanks for the comment - rodhoutx beat you to it - I plan to update this video in the next couple months and will mention how to add new settings.
I have the same one and I love it, the only thing it will not work for me is the room sensors (not ecobee's fault) is that I have central air and heat and even if I put a sensor let say on the living room and one on the master and set those I will still have air and or heat on the other rooms on the house, I think it will only work if the house have smart vents on ceiling.
True - I actually have some room sensors but have never used them. Instead, I adjust the flow to different rooms at the beginning of each season. For example, I turn off or mostly close the vents on the 2nd floor in the winter (we like our bedrooms cool; plus heat rises), and in the summer we shut off basement vents.
You can add 2 custom settings on the lite. I did it.
Yes - I've included this in the new 2020 version of this video. I've also made a video showing the web portal ( ua-cam.com/video/dGt-3tpN5NI/v-deo.html ) which also shows how you can make additional custom settings.
Ha! I'm coming from a Honeywell T6 lyric thermostat as well. Got the Ecobee for $14 from my electric company. Pretty good deal?
Very nice price!!
Currently looking into smart thermostats for the first time and this may be a simple question.. can the thermostat connect to two separate units? Meaning - can it control cooling from my ducted evaporative aircon and also control the central ducted heating unit? Thank you 😊
Do you currently have a thermostat that controls both? If so, I'd assume so. Ecobee has a compatibility checker you can use on their website - you'll need to know which wires are currently connected to your thermostat, and it will let you know if it will work. Good luck!
@@rubbercheesereviews thanks for the quick reply! I have two thermostats that control their own unit. I wasn't sure whether two could merge into the one unit! I'll look into it, thanks again.
Just curious if you could make other settings other than "Home, Away, Sleep"? To me that's all you would need.
Yes, you can make other settings - I didn't realize this when I made the video, but rodhoutx's comment to this video told me how. You need to log into the ecoBee web portal from a computer, then you are able to create additional comfort settings. I made one called "fan on only" so I have a non-cooling setting that runs for about 30minutes after we leave the house in the morning to give the bathrooms a chance to dry out.
Yes you can have 4 setting I have 2 ecobee3 lite and I have 4 setting on each call the ecobee3 lite support # and they will walk you through it
I need help pleaseeeee..
I dont understand the comfort temperature settings.
Please see my updated review of this thermostat @ ua-cam.com/video/nhWKdUMWWkU/v-deo.html which I think goes into it a bit more. What exactly are you having problems with or not understanding?
Rather than just having setpoints (i.e. "at 7pm, turn temperature to 65°, at 6am turn temperature to 72°") like traditional thermostats, this has comfort settings which are not only temperature set points but also fan settings. You then schedule the temperature settings - it is essentially an additional step in programming but allows additional customization (can have different set points in heating and cooling seasons, and can specify fan setting), and prevents you from having to reprogram thermostat each season.
Any thoughts how this unit might work in a public space like a church? I am specifically interested in means to restrict unauthorized people from doing anything other than perhaps bumping the temperature up of down for a limited period of time.
You can enter a 4-digit PIN to lock the display on this unit. Once locked, it is non-responsive to touch aside from requesting the PIN (no temporary adjustment allowed). It should work well preventing temperatures from being changed. Keep in mind that someone could pull the head and completely remove it from the wall, which would shut down the entire HVAC system... you'd probably be better off with a thermostat that is screwed into the wall.
@@rubbercheesereviews Thanks. I understand there is also control over what functions requires the PIN. support.ecobee.com/hc/en-us/articles/360006989591-How-to-use-Access-Control-on-your-ecobee-thermostat
Do you have to use the wi fi? If your wi fi goes out does the thermostat still work?
The thermostat will operate as usual if Wifi goes down, but obviously you won't be able to control it from your phone. I'm not sure if wifi is required, but am not sure why you would buy this thermostat if you didn't intend to connect to wifi.
Does this, or any thermostat, have the ability to alert my phone any time someone changes the temperature away from a set schedule? If I have it set at 68, and someone changes it to 69, can it let me know that?
This thermostat doesn't have that capability, nor does the Hive or Honeywell Lyric T5... I'm not sure about Nest. What you can do is lock the thermostat so temperatures can only be changed via the app, though I know that isn't exactly what you were hoping to achieve.
The honey well t9 I know let’s you get alerts if the thermostat is changed by your set number. 1-100
Thanks for this.. I was hoping it could geolocate. But what about my wife? If i leave and shes home it'll know i left and turn the AC off. I assume she can download the app on her phone and log into my account so the ecobee will keep track of both of us. And unless we are both gone it won't turn off the AC.
You said you weren't sure what use an alert for sensing a high temp in the house would do. I keep mine set at 71-73 year round. If I get an alert its 90 degrees in my house that tells me my shit is burning down and there's a fire. Maybe if you have cameras set up you can check in on them and alert the fire dept.
Correct - as long as you both set up your own account, that is exactly how it will work.
Good point, I never really thought of that use for high temperature alert - not a bad idea.
I'm using the new Smart sensors for the same purpose in a 100 year old multi family. Even though each unit has different temp needs, the units are not individually heated, so the averaging across the sensors still happens. No savings there. But any abnormal sensor readings, high or low, show in an alert and I can act accordingly.
Does this unit work with Google assistant?
Yes you can run it with Google assistant by saying lower or raise "name of thermostat " by 2 degrees.
I got Ecobee 3 Lite for 40$ new at my gas company deal. I don't like menu of this thermostat at all. It's so hard to find everytime what you looking for and change setting because it's hidden deep inside. It's not so user friendly I like Honeywell RTH6500WF better only thing it doesn't show temperature outside on it.
I found the ecoBee menus a little counter-intuitive at first, but once you are set up, they make it easier to adjust both schedules and scheduled setpoints than other units I've had... I really like that schedules and setpoints are set separately from each other.
Hello,
Does it allow to control the home temperature from office?
Yes - as long as you have internet (both at your house, and wherever you are), and are logged into your ecoBee app, you can adjust temperature from anywhere in the world.
@@rubbercheesereviews thank you
Does the screen turn off?
It can if you want. You can select screen brightness for when you are in proximity and away from the thermostat - each setting is from 1-10 and 'off' is also an option. Default is 10/10 when interacting, and 4/10 when away from the thermostat.
Is this better than Honeywell t5
In my opinion, yes. I actually prefer the look of the Honeywell, but the ecoBee has a much better user interface and online controls (i.e. through your phone) are much more reliable.
I have a regular thermostat that takes batteries. I’m concerned I won’t have a wire that gives power. Should all hookups have a wire for power?
Depends a lot on when the house was built. My previous thermostat took batteries (house built in 1984), but there was an unused "C" wire for me to hook up to.
Do you need sensors?
No sensors required - you can buy them to let the thermostat know where you are so it can determine which room(s) to cater AC/heat to. I have sensors but don't use them - I find it easier to simply adjust flowrates on duct work at the beginning of each season.
The sensors are very useful as u can set which sensor to use for a comfort setting. You don’t have to adjust the main thermostat to account for variations in temp around the house. www.ecobee.com/2015/06/feature-friday-sensor-participation/
Definitely useful for some. Instead, I've got my vents adjusted to optimize flow in all rooms (i.e. less flow during winter in rooms we like cooler such as bedrooms). Since the sensors can't control flow, they end up overheating some rooms to get the "in-use" rooms closer to the set temperature. This requires re-tuning flowrates each season, but gives me the best result.
Does it run on a battery or power line? My older programmable thermostat is battery powered so not sure if this one is compatible.
It runs on power line ("C" wire). Also included is a Power Extender Kit (PEK) which can be used by those that don't have a "C" wire. I have a "C" wire, so I didn't use the PEK - you can read more here: support.ecobee.com/hc/en-us/articles/360009155051-Installing-your-ecobee-thermostat-with-the-Power-Extender-Kit-no-C-wire-
I just want it at 74 and that's it.. how do I only do that
Mine don't do that hold temp for anything
@@josephbeard3326 When you adjust the temperature, it will hold the new temperature for the default time (I think 2 hours). You can go into the settings and change the default - the options are 2hours, 4hours, until the next scheduled period, or until manually changed.
What about Alexa voice commands?
That is only available on ecoBee4. The ecoBee3 and ecoBee3 Lite (shown in this video) don't have that capability.
@@rubbercheesereviews Misleading, The ecobee 3 lite supports alexa voice commands but does not physically have the microphones or speakers in the thermostat itself. So if you have an echo or echo dot somewhere else in your home, you can install the ecobee skill and use alexa voice commands to control your thermostat in any room where you have an echo device. The ecobee 4 has the mics and speakers built in so you could stand in front of your thermostat and talk to it directly. Since I already have echo's elsewhere in the house, it was a no brainer to go with the 3 lite.
Interesting, I hadn't realized ecoBee3 supported it, but I see it does (though without an onboard mic). I plan to update this video in the near future and will point this out. Thanks for your post @TheThreeGeez
@@thethreegeez336 THANKS! this is very good to know information.
I'm so glad this got cleared up. I was a little upset for a sec when I heard him say that the Ecobee 4 added support for Alexa inferring that this one did not. Even my T6 Honeywell had Alexa and Google compatibility. Thanks!
Alexa is on the ecobee3 lite.
Can you have multiple app controls?
Yes, you can have the app on multiple phones, and you can also log in to your account online from any computer to adjust settings and program the thermostat.
Is wifi needed to use this ecobee 3 lite?
I believe the ecoBee can be set up and used without wifi, but I haven't done that. Using it without wifi really defeats the purpose of this thermostat.
does this support a 2 stage furnace? I try to keep mine on the more efficient stage but it only works if the thermostat can support controlling that. thanks for nice video! Oh I just noticed my utility (Duke energy) has this with a rebate for $75, and the lyric t5 for $85. that offer is not available in all territories of Duke energy.
Yes - it does support a 2-stage furnace, though I'm not sure how the controls work. I'm getting a new furnace in December, and will try to update the video to show functionality with 2-stage furnace and variable speed blower fan.
Don’t buy ecobee. Their server would go out for hours and you can’t access your thermostat.
I have had that happen, but only a handful of times in the last (almost) 2 years of use. Previously, I had a Honeywell Lyric T5 (see my review linked) and this was a frequent issue with the Lyric.
Paint ur wall lol
Wall painted shortly after taping this video. The thermostat looks much better without the included white backplate (and, of course, without the white section of wall on the left too!)
and charge your phone..
You are from Ontario, why the temperature is in stupid Fahrenheit!!!!!! I am waiting to see a video where it is in Celsius.
That is true - all houses I've ever lived in had thermostats in Fahrenheit, so that's what I'm used to for inside temperatures.
under settings, you can change it
@@rubbercheesereviews Ecobee4 can select Centigrade. Defaults to F however if you just push enter enter
Absolutely (can even be done through the app - select thermostat, then Main Menu > Thermostat Preferences > Temperature Display), but I prefer ºF for indoor temperatures.
Dude.....paint the wall!!
Hahaha, the wall was repainted shortly after making this video