Did you know that a smart thermostat can significantly increase the value of your home? Installing These Smart Devices Can Increase The Value Of Your Home Installing These Smart Devices Can Increase The Value Of Your Home at its selling price. Read more ? It's one of the many reasons why a smart thermostat is worth the initial investment. Attention Homeowners:5 Smart Home Features Worth the Extra Cost Attention Homeowners:5 Smart Home Features Worth the Extra Cost What smart home features are worth it? Which ones can be safely discarded and ignored? Let's take a look at some that are really worth it. Read more.
But which one should you get?
If you want one that's stable and reliable, you have two main options right now:Nest Learning Thermostat and Ecobee3 Smarter Wi-Fi Thermostat . Both come from well-known brands. 9 Big-name smart home brands with products you can trust. 9 Big-name smart home brands with products you can trust. It will be when the day of conversion arrives. Read More
... but one is definitely better for you. We'll help you decide by comparing all the important details of both (ease of installation, available features, pricing, etc.) so you have all the information you need to make an intelligent decision.
When it comes to ease of installation, there is a clear winner.
The Nest can be installed by anyone who can read a basic schematic and is confident enough to put two and two together. All you have to do is follow the instructions and plug in three cables, which should take less than 15 minutes.
Still skeptical? See our step-by-step installation of the Nest How to install and use the Nest Thermostat to automate energy savings How to install and use the Nest Thermostat to automate energy savings If you've ever considered getting started with home automation, buy a Thermostat Nest is the perfect way to start. In just one week of use, we cut our power consumption in half. Read more . If you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself, you can find a friend or family member to help you, or call Nest's 24/7 support line. Or as a last resort, you can hire someone.
The setup for the Ecobee3 is a bit more complicated. It's hard? Not particularly, but there is more to do mainly because the Ecobee3 uses remote sensing (which we discuss in the “Pattern of Operation” section below).
I don't think installation should be a big concern when it comes to deciding between the two. The nest is easier , but both are Easy enough which doesn't really matter.
Winner:Nest, barely.
The Nest is all about elegant minimalism, which suits its easy-to-learn design and ensures it will fit into almost any home, no matter what the interior decor is like. I'm a big fan of its simplicity.
Using the Nest is as simple as turning it to change the temperature (just like you would a normal thermostat). If you want to change any settings, the rotary dial is also used to make selections (similar to the first iPod). You can also interact using the Nest mobile app.
But while the Nest is all about simplicity, the Ecobee3 is all about usability. The thermostat itself has a full color touch screen that you can operate like any smartphone, with your fingers tapping and tapping, or you can use the free mobile app.
My only complaint about the Ecobee3's looks is its size. The nest is a circle with a 3.3-inch diameter, while the Ecobee3 is a rounded square with 4-inch edges. It's a noticeable difference that makes the Ecobee3 stand out more, but at least it's not ugly.
Winner:Ecobee3, for flexibility..
This is where the two smart thermostats really set themselves apart from each other. They both claim to lower your energy costs and make your life easier, but they do it in different ways.
The Nest is a learning thermostat, which simply means that it tracks the temperatures it tends to adjust and when it tends to adjust those temperatures, then uses this data to automatically adjust the temperature accordingly.
It also uses a sensor to detect when people are not home and reactively changes the temperature to save money. 7 Nest Automation Tricks to Cut Your Heating Bill in Half 7 Nest Automation Tricks to Cut Your Heating Bill in Half If there was a Nest Thermostat in every home, it would have the largest single impact on energy use in history; And it could save you more money than you can imagine. That is how. Read more . Unfortunately, this sensor requires you to walk around the Nest from time to time. If you don't, he may think you're not home anymore.
The Ecobee3, on the other hand, uses a system of remote sensors that are placed around your home. These sensors serve two purposes:one, they track temperature by room, and two, they are used to determine when people are home.
Along with sensors, the Ecobee3 incorporates data from weather forecasts, time of day, and other factors to determine the optimum temperature. If your HVAC supports it, Ecobee3 can heat/cool only occupied rooms. When no one is home, it goes into power saving mode.
However, the sensors are not perfect. They have a range of 45 feet and have been known to disconnect from the system at times. Fortunately, this doesn't happen often, and the Ecobee3 can be configured to send alerts when a disconnection occurs.
Winner:Ecobee3, for the sensors..
If you've come this far and still can't decide between the two, then you may want to consider additional features. These may or may not be useful depending on your needs.
Notable characteristics of the nest:
Notable features of the Ecobee3:
Winner:tie. All of these features are nice to have, but I don't consider any of them to be gamechangers or dealbreakers.
At the end of the day, this is the comparison that most people care about. How much is it going to cost you? Turns out, the two are surprisingly similar, so you probably won't be convinced one way or the other.
The Nest Learning Thermostat it's in its third generation as of this writing and is available for $250 new on Amazon. You can get the second-gen version for $230, but we don't recommend it. The upgrade is definitely worth the $20 difference.
The Ecobee3 Smarter Wi-Fi Thermostat it's in its second generation as of this writing and is available for $200 (one remote sensor) or $260 (three remote sensors). You'll probably want the three sensor pack.
Winner:tie.
On the surface, it may seem like I've stated that the Ecobee3 is superior to the Nest (with 2 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss), but the truth is that the two are pretty comparable. If one wins, it's only by a slight margin..
Which means you really can't go wrong. Choose one or the other. You're probably happy either way. Or if you're not happy with both, consider another smart thermostat Looking to buy a smart thermostat? 5 nest alternatives looking to buy a smart thermostat? 5 Nest Alternatives When it comes to controlling the temperature in your home, the Nest Smart Thermostat is king, but there are plenty of options out there. Here are 5 to consider if you're looking to buy. Read more like the Sensi Wi-Fi programmable thermostat or Honeywell Lyric Wi-Fi Thermostat .
Smart Home Products Aren't Gimmicks 7 Common Smart Home Myths That Just Aren't True 7 Common Smart Home Myths That Just Aren't True Smart home devices are no different than most other devices, and there are many misconceptions that people have about them. Let's clear that up! Read More Most devices are more affordable than you think. 6 Types of Home Automation You Can Really Afford 6 Types of Home Automation You Can Really Afford Are you ready to join the smart home revolution but worried it's beyond your budget? Smart homes aren't that expensive, and there are plenty of components the average homeowner can afford. Read More Save energy and money with these smart home devices Save energy and money with these smart home devices One of the biggest benefits of a smart home is the available energy saving technology. In addition to saving money, you'll also be pushing toward a more sustainable and convenient living situation. Read more . Don't fire them outright!
So, which do you like better, the Nido or the Ecobee3? Is there a missing feature that you wish you had? Do you have any other smart home products? Let us know in the comments below!
