Recently moved and would like to upgrade the thermostats in the new home. Have 2 systems with one system being 2 zone. Thoughts on new thermostats? 3 smart stats and control individually? I like the idea of somehow having the 3 linked to be controlled from at least 1 panel if not all panels. Or just keep it simpler and go with app control to handle all 3? I had a nest at the last place and liked it. Though I don't get why it didn't rely on the local network at all; if the Internet was down there was no connection between phone and tstat.

11/17/2020 4:02:33 AM

I'll give you a great deal on some ecobee 3 units I can't use anymore

11/17/2020 7:07:10 AM

I've been reasonably happy with my Honeywell T9s. It has separate sensors for individual rooms, and the activity sensors in them work fairly well. I can see all my thermostats at a glance in their app. Works well with Alexa/Smartthings, too. I had no problem installing them. If you have a dehumidifier you need to control, you'll have to get the T10, and that requires professional installation.

The bigger issue you'll have is whether or not your zones are set up properly and have a good controller to them.

11/17/2020 8:55:34 PM

Love my gen 2 nest since last 2013

11/17/2020 11:48:34 PM

I have Nest Lites and put in ecobee 3 at my parents.

The idea of "learning" on the Nest is novel... but 80% of the time I find it just edges up to the limit of annoying you. Constantly trying to see if you'll intervene because it's 74 in a house set to 72 or if it can raise that to 73 tomorrow. It's location based adjustments I find way better than the ecobee. It has zero understanding of a zone controller, and I really really wish it did. In my 3-zone townhome when only 1 zone is on it cycles the compressor outside on/off every few minutes while if it was smart enough to trigger 2 zones it would run constantly and eliminate some wear and tear. Same goes for if you want to run circulation. It's smart enough to know if the A/C ran within the last hour to push waiting until an hour from last cutoff, but then that makes it impossible to coordinate cutting the fan on once and circulating the whole house - when not in sync the fan ends up running 30-45 minutes instead of the programmed 15/hr.

The major advantage of the ecobee is that it's remote sensors also do occupancy. Nest ones only do temp.

Personally I find they both work well with Google home and Alexa. Both have decent apps. Nest works via your google account, ecobee a custom account. Nest has a serviceable website you can program from, ecobee requires app to program.

At the end of the day I use them exactly like I did a $40 timer thermostat... except it cuts itself off when I leave now. They're so similar I would recommend whichever is on sale - usually Costco will have big packs with multiple thermostats and sensors.

11/20/2020 2:27:50 PM