ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced - Programmable Wifi Thermostat - Works with Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant - Energy Star Certified - Smart Home

I replaced a perfectly functional thermostat with the ecobee Enhanced to see if “smart” would actually feel smarter day to day. After a few weeks of living with it, I’m convinced this is one of the rare upgrades that improves comfort, trims energy waste, and stays out of the way once dialed in.

Setup and installation

Installation is straightforward if your HVAC system has a C-wire. The ecobee Enhanced is hardwired (no batteries), and that constant power is what enables its responsive screen and always-on connectivity. My system had a C-wire, but I also test-installed the included Power Extender Kit (PEK) on a second system that didn’t. The PEK is a small module you mount near your furnace or air handler; it remaps existing wires to simulate a C-wire. It’s well designed and clearly labeled, but it does require opening your HVAC cabinet and moving a few wires—something many homeowners can do carefully, though it’s reasonable to call a pro if you’re unsure.

A few tips from my install:
- Cut power at the breaker. Don’t trust only the furnace switch.
- Photograph the old wiring and label wires as you go; wire colors aren’t always standard.
- Check compatibility before you buy. The thermostat supports most 24 VAC systems (conventional up to 2H/2C, heat pumps up to 3H/2C, boilers, dual fuel). It’s not for high-voltage (120/240V) baseboard systems.
- If your previous thermostat was larger, the included trim plate saves you from patching drywall.

Once wired, the on-device setup wizard walks you through equipment detection, Wi‑Fi, and basic preferences. I was up and running in under 30 minutes on the C-wire system and under an hour with the PEK.

Design and hardware

The thermostat looks clean and modern without shouting for attention—black face, bright touchscreen, and subtle curves. The display wakes on approach and is easy to read across a hallway. Touch response is snappy, and the on-unit menu is logical enough to manage schedules and settings without reaching for your phone. I also appreciate the hardwired design—no more dying batteries in January.

There’s no built-in microphone here (that’s reserved for the pricier model). I prefer that: it keeps the wall device focused on climate control, and I can still use Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant through speakers or phones.

Smart features and integrations

The Enhanced integrates smoothly with Apple Home, Alexa, and Google Assistant. In my case, Apple Home discovered it instantly; voice commands like “set the hallway to 70” work reliably, and the Apple Watch control is handy. The ecobee app mirrors the on-screen UI with more depth—equipment runtime, remote control, scheduling, and alerts are all well organized.

Ecobee’s Eco+ features add a layer of intelligence you can tune:
- Smart Recovery preheats/precools so your target is met at the start of a scheduled period, not 30 minutes later.
- Time-of-use optimization (if your utility has peak rates) gently shifts conditioning to cheaper periods.
- Community energy events can reduce load during grid peaks (you can opt out).
- Humidity compensation tweaks setpoints to reflect “feels like” comfort.

All of these have adjustable aggressiveness. If your home preheats too early for your taste, dial Eco+ down or disable specific modules.

Comfort and scheduling

Ecobee’s model revolves around Comfort Settings—Home, Away, and Sleep—which you assign to a weekly schedule. It’s simpler than micromanaging dozens of setpoints, yet flexible enough for most routines. I created a weekday vs. weekend schedule in minutes and fine-tuned fan runtime and temperature differentials to avoid short cycling.

Two features stand out:
- Preheat/precool works. I walk into a house that’s already at the right temperature, not a unit just kicking on.
- Humidity-aware comfort makes the set temperature feel consistent across seasons. On muggy days, a 73°F setpoint can feel like 71–72°F with humidity correction and modest overcooling.

If you have a wired humidifier/dehumidifier or ventilator, the thermostat can control a single accessory. If not, “AC overcool to dehumidify” helps, though it’s a blunt instrument. I set a small overcool limit to avoid swinging too far.

Sensors and occupancy

The thermostat itself has a built-in occupancy sensor. It can switch between Home and Away based on motion and follow a “Smart Home/Away” logic to avoid heating or cooling an empty house. In my busy household, I found the base unit’s motion alone was too easy to trigger when someone walked past the hallway briefly, so I tuned the behavior:
- I left geofencing on via the ecobee app and reduced the reliance on motion.
- I turned off occupancy-based switching during certain daytime windows when foot traffic is random.

Optional remote room sensors are a compelling add-on if you have hot/cold rooms. With a sensor, you can average temperatures or weigh certain rooms during Sleep. Without them, the system still works well but measures only at the thermostat’s location.

Energy insights and savings

Ecobee’s runtime reports, outdoor weather correlation, and hourly graphs are genuinely useful, not just pretty charts. Over a month, I saw a noticeable reduction in runtime compared with a basic programmable schedule, primarily from:
- Smarter setbacks during Away.
- Better timing via Smart Recovery.
- Humidity compensation that avoided overcooling on mild-but-humid days.

The Energy Star certification and “up to 26%” savings claim hinge on not holding a constant setpoint all day. Your results will vary based on home insulation, equipment, and discipline with setbacks. Still, the tooling here makes it easier to be efficient without thinking about it.

Reliability and day-to-day use

The Enhanced has been rock-solid. No Wi‑Fi drops, no phantom reboots, and no missed commands. Firmware updates applied quietly in the background. Alerts are sensible (filter reminders, equipment faults), and the app never made me hunt for critical switches like heat/cool mode or holds.

One small nit: during extreme temperature swings, Smart Recovery can start earlier than I’d prefer. It’s doing the right thing—meeting the target by the scheduled time—but some users may prefer to hit setpoint slightly later to reduce early runtime. Again, easy to tune.

What could be better

• Installation complexity for older wiring: The PEK is a clever solution, but it still requires opening the HVAC cabinet. If you’re not comfortable with low-voltage wiring, factor in pro install costs.
• No built-in mic: This is a plus for privacy, but if you want a wall-mounted voice assistant, you’ll need the higher model or a separate smart speaker.
• Advanced systems: If you have unusually complex equipment (certain multi-stage or redundant setups), verify compatibility and staging support. Ecobee covers most residential gear, but some niche configurations may need a different model or pro guidance.
• Sensors are extra: The base unit’s occupancy works, but comfort in multi-room homes improves noticeably with add-on sensors, which increases overall cost.

Who it’s for

• Most homes with standard 24 VAC systems, whether conventional furnaces/AC, heat pumps, or boilers.
• Households that want energy savings without babysitting a thermostat.
• Users invested in Apple Home, Alexa, or Google Assistant who prefer a platform-agnostic device.
• People who value clear, actionable energy data and set-it-and-forget-it comfort.

Who should look elsewhere:
- Homes with high-voltage baseboard or very specialized commercial controls.
- Those who want a wall-mounted voice assistant and an air quality sensor in one device (consider the step-up model).

Practical setup tips

• Before removing your old thermostat, open the furnace panel and confirm the C terminal has a wire landed on it. If not, plan for the PEK or a new cable run.
• Label wires by function, not color. Take photos.
• In Eco+ settings, start at a moderate level; note how early Smart Recovery starts and adjust.
• Use geofencing if multiple people come and go—combine it with occupancy for best results.
• If humidity is a pain point, set a modest AC overcool limit (1–2°F) or wire a dedicated dehumidifier if available.

Recommendation

I recommend the ecobee Enhanced. It strikes an excellent balance of compatibility, thoughtful automation, and day-to-day simplicity. Installation is approachable for many DIYers and fully supported by the included PEK if you’re short a C-wire. The scheduling model, humidity-aware comfort, and Eco+ smarts quietly optimize runtime without sacrificing comfort, and the platform integrations are reliable across ecosystems. If you have an edge-case HVAC configuration or want onboard voice and air quality monitoring, look to the higher-tier model. For most homes, though, the Enhanced is the right thermostat: efficient, unobtrusive, and genuinely helpful.