Black & Decker Thermostat Plus

The world of smart home devices is ever-expanding, and a smart thermostat can be a game-changer for managing home comfort more efficiently. I recently had the chance to use the Black & Decker Thermostat Plus (model BDXTTSM1), and I'm here to share my detailed experience.

First Impressions

Upon unboxing the Thermostat Plus, I was greeted with a sleek and compact design. The device felt sturdy and well-built, weighing in at 12.1 pounds. The 4-button interface seemed intuitive enough at first glance, promising easy access to essential system settings.

Installation and Setup

The initial excitement quickly tapered off during the installation process. The manual provided was not very helpful, lacking clear guidance on how to begin the setup. It was particularly frustrating that it didn’t specify which app to download for the device. After some trial and error, I finally discovered the appropriate app.

Pairing the thermostat with my home Wi-Fi network was a challenge. The pairing process frequently failed, and I found myself repeatedly trying to connect it to both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. This process was cumbersome, and customer support was difficult to reach, adding to my frustration.

Usability and Features

Once I managed to get the Thermostat Plus connected, I explored its features. The device boasts compatibility with various smart home systems, including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, and Samsung Bixby. This allows for voice control, which is a convenient and modern touch. You can adjust the operating mode, fan speed, and temperature settings through voice commands, which worked reasonably well most of the time.

The 7-day programming feature, with up to six schedule intervals per day, is designed to optimize heating and cooling based on user habits. However, the interface for setting these schedules was far from user-friendly. The app was not intuitive, and navigating through the settings felt like a chore.

Performance

The performance of the Thermostat Plus was inconsistent. On several occasions, I noticed that the temperature setting would change on its own, causing unnecessary adjustments to my heating and cooling systems. This not only compromised my comfort but also resulted in unexpected increases in my energy bills.

Additionally, the device displayed various error messages, such as the "E2 Heat Pump Warning," which I could not resolve even after consulting the manual and customer support. The backlighting on the unit also malfunctioned, flashing intermittently without any clear troubleshooting steps provided.

Customer Support

One of the most disappointing aspects of my experience was the lack of effective customer support. The wait times were long, and representatives were not very helpful in resolving the issues I encountered. When both the original and replacement units didn’t work, I was left with a sense of frustration and regret.

Conclusion

In summary, the Black & Decker Thermostat Plus has potential but falls short in several critical areas. The challenging installation process, poor user interface, inconsistent performance, and inadequate customer support make it difficult to recommend. While the idea of remote control, voice commands, and smart home integration is appealing, these features are undermined by the device's unreliability and user-unfriendly design.

If you are tech-savvy and enjoy troubleshooting, you might find some value in the Thermostat Plus. However, for the average consumer looking for a straightforward and reliable smart thermostat, this device leaves much to be desired. Given my experience, I would not recommend the Thermostat Plus. It's essential for smart home devices to complement and simplify our lives, and unfortunately, this thermostat does not meet that standard.