New home, new thermostat. I’ve been using the Nest thermostat for a while and been in love. The only problem with it was the thermostat was located almost right above a  heating vent on my main floor, so when the desired temperature was sensed by the thermostat it would stop heating, leaving the upper floor and basement colder than desired.

There is where the ecobee grabbed my attention. It comes by default with one remote sensor to monitor the activity and temperature somewhere else besides where your thermostat is located. These sensors can be purchased separate too if you require to add more. These sensors know when a room or area is empty and they control the heat accordingly so you are not waisting energy cooling or warming empty rooms. So now all my house is comfortable where I want it, when I want it.

I did the installation myself, just by watching a few videos online and everything you need is inside the box. It took maybe 1/2hr to be completed.

Pros: Remote sensors; Easy to install; Canadian company; Price (considerably less than Nest). I won’t bore you repeating everything it does because you can easily see it on their website, but I would like to point out I highly recommend it over the other smart thermostats.

Cons: The app and the web portal could be a bit confusing. Here is where the nest wins over this thermostat. The Nest app is easier to navigate, the web portal is also easier to navigate and most importantly the information displayed about the performance of the thermostat is easier to understand.

Where to buy? Home Depot, Best Buy, Rona, Lowe’s.

Rebates: There is a $100 rebate from Enbridge when you register your ecobee, so they pretty much pay for your thermostat! www.ecobee.com/rebates