A Reliable Smart Thermostat Without the Extra Frills
buy from amazonI’ve been a customer of Ecobee for years ever since they started shipping to the public way back in 2008. At that time, I found that other smart thermostats in this space either started to have security issues or the product wasn’t living up to its promises but Ecobee has been rock solid since day one and keeps getting better. Recently I installed their Essential thermostat and besides a mishap on my part that we will talk about later, it’s been a great experience.
About Ecobee Essential Smart Thermostat
The ecobee Essential Smart Thermostat delivers comfort, convenience, and energy savings in a sleek, easy-to-use design. Built for effortless home climate control, it helps optimize heating and cooling while reducing energy costs. With intuitive scheduling, voice control compatibility, and seamless integration with smart home ecosystems like Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and more, the ecobee Essential ensures a smarter, more efficient way to manage indoor temperatures.
Its user-friendly touchscreen display and remote access via the ecobee app make adjusting settings a breeze—whether you’re at home or away. Plus, with advanced features like occupancy detection and energy usage insights, you can maximize efficiency without sacrificing comfort.
Main Features
Reduce energy bills by up to US$250/CA$327 per year1 Full-featured full-color touchscreen Control from anywhere with the top-rated ecobee app Eligible rebates with purchase ENERGY STAR-certified to deliver energy savingsDifferences between the Essential and Premium Smart Thermostats
ecobee has three smart thermostats — Essential, Enhanced, and Premium. I actually had the Premium version installed prior to the Essential version, but since it was a couple of years old, I wanted to test out the new Essential edition thermostat. The main differences between the two thermostat models are listed below.
EssentialPremiumDesign & DisplaySmaller, simpler display with a plastic finish.Larger 4-inch display with a higher-resolution touchscreen and glass finish for a more modern look.Built-in FeaturesDoes not have built-in voice control, a speaker, or air quality monitoring.Includes built-in Alexa voice control, a smart speaker, and an indoor air quality monitor (measures VOCs, CO₂, and humidity).Sensor CompatibilityCompatible with SmartSensors but does not include one in the box.Comes with a SmartSensor for room temperature averaging and occupancy-based adjustments.Smart Home IntegrationSupports the same smart home platforms but lacks built-in Alexa voice control.Supports Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, IFTTT, and SmartThings, plus advanced HVAC control.Price & Target AudienceMore affordable, ideal for basic smart thermostat needs without extra frills.Higher price, targeted at users wanting more automation, smart features, and better aesthetics.Pricing & Availability
The Ecobee Essential Smart Thermostat has a list price of $129.99 on ecobee.com and Amazon.
User Experience
ecobee makes the installation process very easy. The first step is to remove your existing thermostat. At this step, you want to make sure that you label the connection wires and ecobee includes easy-to-read stickers with their thermostats. While they are easy to read they are small and can fall off if you don’t apply them properly. Once the wires are labeled, you can completely remove the old thermostat and mount the ecobee. The Essential doesn’t come with a backplate, but one can be ordered to help cover any exposed wall. We had the backplate included as part of our installation.
The next step in the process is to route the wires through the backplate and the mount for the thermostat. The mount has the actual contact points for the wires to connect to. This is another place where ecobee makes installation easy. Each contact point is labeled to match the sticker labels they provide. All you have to do at this point is insert each wire into the corresponding socket.
Now here is where my mishap occurred. A very important step in this process is to shut off the power to your HVAC system, which is usually connected to its own breaker. When we bought our house, we discovered that the breaker box was not 100% labeled for the entire house. So, we have never been certain about which switch controls what. I flipped the breaker that I thought controlled the HVAC system and continued with the installation. As it turned out, I was mistaken, and when I got to this installation step, two of the exposed wires touched and a fuse inside my HVAC system blew. This meant that power was cut off to the thermostat.
This was easily corrected with a call to a local HVAC company who was able to come out the next day and replace it. The fix took approximately 5 minutes (or less). This was definitely an error on my part and not the Ecobee, but I wanted to point this out so you remember to shut off the power to your thermostat when replacing it. A bonus to having the technician out to repair this problem was that he was able to double-check the work we had done so far. He confirmed that everything was connected properly and if the fuse hadn’t blown, it would have worked just fine.
After the wires are connected, the only step left is to snap the faceplate of the thermostat onto the mount. This connects the controller to the actual connection wires, which powers the thermostat and allows it to communicate to the HVAC unit. If you are successful, you should see a ‘HI’ appear on the screen and you can continue the setup in the ecobee app. You’ll connect it to your home WiFi, and then complete the steps for your system’s preferences. While you can use the on-screen touch controls, ecobee includes the same controls in the app, too.
ecobee has had a pretty basic interface for years. Not much has drastically changed and this is a good thing as when I come home and want to crank the air up I am not looking to learn a new OS to get my house cooled off. Everything in the interface is simple and easy to follow making this smart essential thermostat even easy to use for an elderly family member.
Conclusion
When it comes to smart home choices in this space you really only have a few that really stand out. Ecobee, Next, and Honeywell. I like the Ecobee over all the others as its system is both stylish and easy to operate. The ecobee Essential Smart Thermostat delivers a well-balanced mix of affordability, functionality, and ease of use. While it lacks some of the premium features of its higher-end counterpart, it provides everything needed for efficient and convenient home climate control. The installation is straightforward, and the interface is simple enough for anyone to use. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly smart thermostat with strong energy-saving capabilities and smart home integration, the Essential is a fantastic choice.
For more information, visit ecobee.com
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