honeywell thermostat lcd screen repair pricelist
The average cost to replace a thermostat in a home is $140 to $350, including the unit and professional installation. Thermostat prices range from $15 to $250, depending on the type, brand, and features. Nest thermostat installation costs $100 to $200 for labor if the unit is provided.
DIY installation is possible is you have basic electrical knowledge. Otherwise, electricians charge $40 to $100 per hour for a home thermostat replacement, which takes 30 minutes to 3 hours on average.
An improper DIY installation runs the risk of blowing out the new thermostat, HVAC unit, or circuit breaker, or suffering an electric shock. Get free quotes from thermostat installers near you, or compare prices and types of units below.
Thermostat prices range from $15 for a basic mechanical unit, up to $320 for a smart self-learning unit that saves energy. Costs depend on the type, brand, and amount of features included. Professional installation adds $80 to $200 to your total cost.
The average cost of installing a smart thermostat is $225 to $400, depending on the brand, model, features, and if the wiring needs updating. Without installation, the cost of a smart thermostat unit ranges from $100 to $250.
Smart thermostats like Nest automatically learn your preferences over time and optimize the energy used to save money. Plus, you can connect to the thermostat remotely over Wi-Fi to adjust temperatures or program a heating and cooling schedule.
A Wi-Fi thermostat costs $70 to $200 for the unit and between $100 to $200 for professional installation. A Wi-Fi or Bluetooth-controlled thermostat allows for remote access, but doesn"t learn like a smart unit over time. Popular brands include Lennox, iComfort, and Honeywell.
The average cost to install a programmable is $200 to $300, depending on the type and features. A digital programmable thermostat costs $80 to $140 for the unit only. The more expensive ones may include a touchscreen, vacation override, keyboard lock, and programmable scheduling.
The average electronic thermostat costs $20 to $50 for just the unit, with installation labor adding $80 to $150 to that amount. These use an electronic temperature sensor to open or break the electric circuit to the heating or cooling system.
A manual thermostat costs $15 to $40, and the labor cost to install ranges from $65 to $150 unless you DIY. Mechanical or manual units are being phased out since some contain small levels of mercury and have minimal features. About 80% of the mechanical thermostats are heat-only types.
Thermostat installation costs depend on the cost of the unit, labor, running new thermostat wire, replacing the housing, moving a thermostat, installing a central hub, additional remotes, or hooking it up to a multi-zone system.
Replacing a thermostat with a similar unit is quick and easy as the wiring is the same, but if you’re replacing an old analog unit with a smart unit, additional costs for working with drywall or adding new wiring may apply.
The average labor cost for a thermostat replacement is $80 to $200, depending on the amount of time the install takes and if it"s a basic or smart thermostat. HVAC service costs $50 to $150 per hour to install a new thermostat, which takes 30 minutes to 3 hours on average.
Contractors may offer discounts for installing multiple thermostats at once, such as if you have a multi-zone HVAC system with electronic dampers or baffles. Multi-zoned systems save on enery costs and have remote sensors to set the temperature in each zone the HVAC system controls.
The average cost to run a new thermostat C-wire is $90 to $135, depending on the access points and placement of existing wire. Installing a C-wire is required in older homes when upgrading to a thermostat that uses continuous power to run the display and Wi-Fi connection.
Repair, replacement, and connection of existing thermostat wiring costs $60 to $200 for complex jobs over a longer distance. Some furnaces must be wired to the thermostat while others have sensors added.
The average cost to move a thermostat is $135 to $450, depending on the distance. Drywall repair costs $75 to $150 to patch the old hole and cut a new one, while wiring installation runs $6 to $10 per foot.
Moving a thermostat to a temperature-stable area saves on energy bills since the HVAC won’t be triggered to start unnecessarily. Move the unit out of the sun, away from drafts, electronics, or dead air space. HVAC professionals recommend moving it near a return-air duct to measure the temperature accurately.
Smart hubs or remote systems cost $70 to $230 on average and can control temperature, lighting, security, and appliances all from one app. Remote hubs for thermostats require a C-wire (common wire) to give continuous power.
Prices for buying a new thermostat also vary by brand and the unit"s features. Most popular thermostats can be purchased from local home improvement stores, or online via Amazon. Here are the costs of top-rated thermostats by type.
The average Nest thermostat installation costs $100 to $200 for labor-only if you provide the thermostat unit. Installation takes 30 to 60 minutes, depending on if you’re also setting up the Nest hub.
The average Hive thermostat installation costs $100 to $200 for labor-only if you provide the thermostat unit. Installation takes less than 90 minutes, depending on if you’re also setting up the Hive hub. Hive"s smart thermostat comes with a one-year warranty and is Energy Star certified. Watch their video guide for DIY installation.
In some homes, the AC and furnace thermostats are installed seperate. The average cost to replace a furnace thermostat is $190 to $480, while replacing an AC thermostat runs $120 to $200. These individual systems apply to homes that have an alternative heating source, or only need to cool certain rooms.
A wall or floor heater thermostat replacement costs $230 to $485 on average , depending on the type and voltage. Each manufacturer typically has a list of compatible replacements and most work off low-voltage while others are plug-in.
The average refrigerator thermostat replacement costs $100 to $250 to replace. A refrigerator thermostat costs $10 to $40 for just the part. Installing a digital thermostat is preferable since it can keep the desired temperature accurate and consistent.
The thermostat needs to be replaced if there is no click when you turn it from the lowest to the highest setting or if a multimeter shows it has no continuous voltage, current, and resistance.
A hot water heater thermostat replacement costs $150 to $350 on average, depending on if it"s gas or electric and whether the heating element is replaced. Most water heaters have two thermostats and two elements that are replaced at the same time. Many technicians recommend replacing it with a programmable wireless option.
Electric – Replacing an electric water heater thermostat is an easy DIY job if you"re comfortable working with electrical wiring and are sure to turn off power to the unit.
The average cost of a new thermostat for a boiler is $279 to $479 for a complete replacement. Prices range from $159 to $279 for the unit, and $120 to $200 for the installation labor.
The average cost to replace an oven thermostat is $80 to $240. An oven thermostat has a sensor bulb and capillary tube in a mounting bracket within the control panel, and the entire thing will be replaced.
Replacing a dryer thermostat costs $150 to $300 on average, while purchasing the parts to make the repairs yourself runs $40 or less. Replacing the electronic control board, which ties to the thermostat costs $100 to $200 more. Compare this to buying a new dryer for $300 to $1,200.
If there is no heat at all or it overheats quickly and shuts off, replace the thermostat. Otherwise, if the clothes are taking ages to dry, check if your lint duct is clogged.
Upgrading to a digital, programmable, or smart thermostat with proper settings can save $180 per year on your energy bills. Using a ceiling fan for air conditioning saves $42 per season, and $5 during winter when operated in reverse.
Also, changing the house temperature by 7 to 10 degrees while sleeping saves up to 10% on your heating and cooling costs, or about $106 per year. Check the Energy Star site for possible rebates in your area when you install or upgrade your thermostat.
Energy providers in some cites offer a $25 rebate for each smart thermostat you purchase and install, and up to an $85 incentive to enroll in a voluntary power management program. The program briefly adjusts your temperature setting during peak energy demand to save money.
Smart thermostats save up to 15% on your energy bill when programmed correctly. Smart thermostats learn your temperature adjustment habits and save $180 per year by optimizing the heating and cooling cycles.
Considerations when replacing a thermostat include its disposal method, the location of the new thermostat, scheduling the replacement work, the contractor’s experience, and the amount of expected drywall damage.
Hazardous waste – Thermostats older than 2002 might contain mercury, and disposal methods must follow state laws. If you see an ampoule of silver mercury, bring it to a hazardous waste facility, HVAC supplier, or ask your contractor.
Location – Install the thermostat away from direct sunlight, heat sources, drafts, warm appliances or devices, or dead air space (behind doors or furniture), so it can accurately assess the temperature.
Renting – If a landlord pays the energy bills, ask if they will cover the installation cost. However, this means you cannot take the thermostat with you when you move.
The new thermostat must be compatible with the power requirements of the existing system. Most HVAC systems are called low-voltage systems, and they use 24V power—typically AC units, split units, boilers, furnaces, electric baseboards, and heat pumps.
Installing a thermostat to a line voltage circuit without using an adapter or rewiring can break the thermostat and even cause a fire. All thermostats turn the heating and cooling system on or off through either:
You should replace your thermostat every time you replace your central air conditioner, heater, or HVAC system. Thermostats typically last 10 years before their performance starts to decline or they stop working.
Using a multimeter, check if your electrical connections are working or if it’s the thermostat that’s broken. It measures voltage, current, and resistance.
A home thermostat lasts 10 years on average. The life expectancy depends on proper maintenance like dusting the coils, adjusting the anticipator, and making sure the thermostat is level. After a decade, the thermostat’s performance often begins to decline.
Replacing a thermostat takes 30 minutes to 3 hours on average, depending on the type, accessories, and if any repairs are needed. Smart thermostats take the longest to install and require rewiring and Wi-Fi setup.
Most brands and home improvement stores have instructions and instructional videos for how to install or replace a thermostat. Check out Honeywell’s or Lowe’s how-to videos.
Disconnect wiring – Disconnect wires and take care not to let connecting wires slip back into the wall by taping them or wrapping them around a pencil. Remove old thermostat.
If the thermostat has a ground wire labeled G or C, connect it to the circuit ground wire, which is usually black but sometimes green (which could alternatively be for the blower fan).
According to a study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the mean indoor temperatures homeowners set their thermostats to for the most comfort are:
When replacing an older two-wire manual thermostat, a DIY replacement is possible once the power to the house is turned off. Installing more complex systems such as a smart, digital, or Wi-Fi unit can have 10 to 12 wires to connect and requires a professional.
An improper installation runs the risk of blowing out the new thermostat or HVAC unit or suffering an electric shock. When hiring a professional, be sure to:
Our thermostat had been playing up for a few years and suddenly this autumn the screen was totally blank, no way of seeing what temperature it was or should be. I looked at replacing it and estimated it would cost £100 - £120 approximately, randomly I found this service claiming the LCD could be repaired. We felt for the price it was well worth giving it a try and how pleased I am that we did!
I investigated my landline phone to repare its LCD according to this good tutorial, unfortunatly I found the cutted connection is not on the main PCB board but on the flat connector itself... and any heat applied (soldering tentative...) to the flat is going do destroid it completly ((
I had a Natwest Card reader, where the screen was illegible and using this tip with my wife"s hairdryer I got the card reader operational, many thanks !!!0
Many thanks for sharing the information on how to fix these displays! Worked out perfectly on a asus lcd poster from ages back which gave no screen at all and are not sold anymore to replace.ReplyUpvote
Very good interesting piece. I am no way shape or form of an electronics junkie , but i am more like a jack of all trades and a master of none type. I have a dual power TS-100 hand held calculator where the second digit was pixelated I would say. I googled how to repair it and seen your story. I took my calculator apart and the back side is where that glue strip is at. I could not find my heat gun, thanks to having to move it for the Christmas tree setup. I used my Kitchen Propane stove front burner and waived it over it a few times. It took a few tries but I finally was able to get the dead pixel back. One good thing is the calculator was on so in between heat ups and eraser rubbings I could see my progress and man your fix really worked. Thanks fro the story. My favorite pocket calculator is fixed once again. I wish I would have taken before and after photos, but was too giddy to try your repair idea.0
Google offers no link as to how to open an AEG Voxtel D235 handset. After opening the battery compartment and removing batteries and the two Philips screws at the bottom, the upper half refuses to budge. Is there a method for opening the upper part, to access the LCD screen connector for repair? Any suggestions appreciated.0
I just got my CM921 to work - so, carefully unplug or remove the lcd unit from the circuit board (8 pins i think) then separate the white board (same size as the lcd) from the back of the lcd display (it was glued on one side and i used a scalpel) the lcd will then flip over and you can see the ribbon, then follow the instructions above, return the lcd back down on top of the little white board as before and plug it back in...0
There may be a thin conductive rubber strip between the glass of the display & the board it is attached to. Over time this rubber can leak an insulating compound onto the interface connection that can, at times, be removed by removing the strip and gently rubbing it with a clean soft eraser. Be gentle as it can be fragile & easily damaged. This was an effective repair in the early days of these displays.0
Some of the most recognizable thermostats in the world are Honeywell Non-Programmable Thermostats. Easy to install and even easier to use, non-programmable thermostats offer simplicity when it comes to accessing your home’s heating or cooling. Honeywell Programmable Thermostats are available in the Manual and Digital variety. Manual thermostats are an excellent choice for homes with a preference on a fixed temperature. A digital thermostat is similar, but can be more accessible with its LED screen. The availability of Honeywell Heat Only Thermostats, Heat/Cool Thermostats and even a temperature drop notifier in the Honeywell Winter Watchman ensures that you’ll have plenty of easy to use manual thermostats.
Programmable thermostats offer even more flexibility and energy savings options than their non-programmable counterparts. This stems from a programmable thermostat’s ability to set heating or cooling settings in advance. By creating separate temperature settings for each day of the week, you’ll be able to reduce energy expenses by accessing your heating and cooling for when you really need it. Depending on the model you select, Honeywell Programmable Thermostats also include a series of quality of life enhancement features. These can range from anywhere between a filter change reminder that will keep your system running efficiently to smart response learning that will actually adapt to your custom heating and cooling cycle times.
These numbers refer to the programming schedule for a thermostat. A 5-1-1 thermostat features five day programming for Monday to Friday. You’ll also be able to program Saturday and Sunday to meet your schedule. A 5-2 thermostat is the same, but with the weekend being lumped together instead of individually. A 7 day programmable thermostat allows for absolute customization. You’ll be able to program each day differently to fit your needs. You won’t be locked into these settings if you’re not content. All Honeywell Programmable Thermostats can be operated manually to override any established schedule.
A common wire (C-Wire) will provide Wi-Fi thermostats continuous power by connecting it to a heating and cooling system such as a furnace. C-Wires are usually required for Honeywell Wi-Fi Thermostats. An exception would Honeywell T5 Wi-Fi Thermostats and Honeywell T9 Wi-Fi Thermostats. Both include an easy to install power adapter.
You’ll want to begin by turning off the power. To protect your equipment, turn off the power at the breaker box or switch that controls your furnace or heating equipment. You can check to see if the power is off by attempting to change the temperature on your thermostat. If you don’t hear or feel the system turn on within 5 minutes, you’ve turned the power off. You can now remove the thermostat from its wall plate. Most thermostats can be taken off by simply grasping and gently lifting. (do not remove any wires from your thermostat at this time). You can now look at the existing wall plate’s wiring. Is there a wire in the C-Terminal? If the answer’s yes, then your thermostat is using a C-Wire.
Picture this: You walk up to your thermostat to adjust the temperature in your home, only to be greeted by a blank screen. You tap on it and press the buttons — still, nothing. Since your thermostat is the control center for your HVAC system, you can’t afford to go too long without it working properly.
Remove and replace the batteries from your Honeywell system as directed in the instructions for your specific model. The batteries may be within your battery compartment or control panel. Be careful to make sure they are correctly oriented within the thermostat. Once replaced, test the system for operation and responsiveness.
At ABC Electrical and HVAC Service, our teams of dedicated HVAC professionals are happy to help you keep your Honeywell thermostat in prime condition. Our technicians can install, repair, replace, and maintain the comfort systems you depend on. Whether your Honeywell thermostat is brand new or 10 years old, we have the skills and institutional expertise required to help you stay comfortable throughout the year.
Contact ABC Plumbing, Sewer, Heating, Cooling and Electricat (888) 868-6667 to learn more about why we recommend Honeywell thermostats to our clients in Chicago and surrounding areas.
Well done! You’ve taken the first step toward saving money and the environment by choosing to upgrade your thermostat. Use this page as your helpful guide to finding the right thermostat for your home.
For your HVAC to run efficiently, all the various parts of the components must be working well. One such part is the thermostat, which is your line of communication to the system. It’s why you need to replace your thermostat the moment yours becomes faulty.
As the winter approaches, you want to make sure that your HVAC’s thermostat is in good shape, or you risk coming home to a chilly home. The problem is that most people don’t know when it’s time to get a new thermostat until it’s too late.
That’s why we’ve created this post. By the time you’re through reading, we hope you’ll know some of the top telltale signs that it’s time to replace your thermostat.
As we hinted earlier, the primary function of a thermostat is communicating with your HVAC. It sends signals to your HVAC to either increase the temperatures or lower them. If your HVAC has stopped taking the thermostat prompts, it’s highly likely that the thermostat has a problem.
Usually, the wiring inside your thermostat can become damaged or frayed. This compromises its connection to the HVAC. Hire a professional HVAC service professional who should be able to diagnose the problem and tell you whether the thermostat is due for a replacement.
Correct thermostat readings ensure that your indoor spaces don’t get too hot or cold. When your thermostat starts to register incorrect temperatures, then it may be time to start thinking of getting a new one.
To verify whether the temperature is correct, test its reading with a portable indoor thermometer. If the readings are wrong, then the thermostat’s sensor might be malfunctioning. The issue could be old age, a manufacturing defect, or misuse.
Many times, the thermostat is the culprit. A thermostat that’s not correctly reading the temperature will usually cause your HVAC to overwork. The more times the unit cycles per hour, the higher the power it consumes.
As with all other systems, your thermostat will eventually become old and outdated. The lifespan of most home thermostats is 10 years. However, you may need to replace yours sooner as newer, more efficient thermostats enter the market.
You may, for instance, want to replace a non-programmable thermostat with a programmable option. The latter type of thermostat works remarkably better than the outdated non-programmable thermostat. Programmable thermostats feature advanced technology that has a lot more programming options.
The moment you adjust temperature settings, your thermostat must promptly respond to those changes. Typically, you’ll hear small clicking sounds when you make the changes, and your HVAC system immediately starts.
Short-cycling is one of the top reasons for replacing old thermostats. The problem happens when the system shuts off earlier than appropriate, failing to complete a full cooling or heating cycle.
One of the first things you’ll realize the moment you start searching for a new thermostat is how many options there are in the market. How do you identify the right option for you? Here are two helpful tips:
Homeowners have a variety of options when it comes to choosing a thermostat type. Each of these options has different features, so opt for the one that works best for you. Below are some of the top thermostat types in the market today.
These thermostats are programmable but don’t need you to do the programming. As you use them, these thermostats learn your preferences and create a schedule that aligns with those preferences.
These thermostats come with a digital readout (DRO). They’re ideal for people who like manually controlled settings but want the convenience of an LCD display.
A mechanical thermostat allows you to control the temperature settings manually. They’re ideal for homeowners who prefer fixed temperatures and who are often at home.
As you prepare for the cold season, consider whether you need to replace your thermostat early enough. If you’ve noticed any of the signs we discussed in this article, chances are it’s time to start shopping for a new thermostat.
Easy-to-use, programmable thermostats from YORK® provide convenient heating and cooling control at your fingertips. And our innovative Hx™3 Communicating Zoning System allows you to heat or cool up to eight different areas of your home separately, providing the ultimate in comfort and efficiency. With advanced features and seamless integration, YORK® thermostats and controls can help save money while providing greater comfort.
Since the Nest Learning Thermostat launched in 2011, no other smart thermostat has emulated its core function — learning your schedule and adapting to it automatically, so you don’t have to lift a finger. This feature has made the Nest one of the best smart thermostats (lots of) money can buy for years. But just a decade on, Amazon has finally done it. The online shopping giant’s $60 Amazon Smart Thermostat can intelligently determine if you’re home, away, or sleeping and automatically adjust your climate to keep you comfortable and potentially save you money. And you don’t have to program anything.
Amazon worked with Resideo (owner of the historic thermostat brand Honeywell Home) to develop the thermostat, and its internals are very similar to the Honeywell Home T9 and T5 smart thermostats. It’s compatible with most 24 volt HVAC systems (you can check compatibility here), but doesn’t support systems with more than three stages or multi-speed fans. Together, Amazon and Resideo seem to have finally cracked the smart thermostat conundrum, and the Amazon Smart Thermostat’s learning feature — called Hunches — is very good. No, it isn’t quite as good as Nest’s, but it also doesn’t cost $250. So, tradeoffs.
Hunches — which are part of Amazon’s broader Alexa smart home platform — are AI-driven decisions that use data from your Alexa smart home to decide what to do with your temperature. It follows, unsurprisingly, that the more Echo smart speakers and displays you have in your home, the better it will be. According to Amazon, Hunches also uses “select other smart home devices like lights, locks, and sensors” to determine if you are home or away, as well as geolocation of yours and your household members’ smartphones (everyone has to have the Alexa app installed and location settings turned on for the thermostat).
For the next three days, it turned on the heat a little too early, and I had to go into the thermostat settings in the app to tell Alexa its Hunch was wrong. After three times telling it that, no, we do not wake up at 4:31AM, it reverted to our regular wake-up time.
The controls on the Smart Thermostat are three touch points on the bottom. LED icons show you the ambient temperature by default, then the current set point when you tap on one of the arrows.
It’s hard to quibble much at this price, however, because at least it’s trying to be smart. Outside of Nest and Ecobee, few thermostats are actually smart. Most are just controlled remotely — either by an app, voice, or geolocation (where it adjusts based on whether your smartphone is at home). This is all very handy, but it’s not intelligent.
Case in point, the new Nest Thermostat has no advanced AI features of which to speak. While it can do useful energy-saving or comfort-increasing tasks such as preheat or cool the home or use the fan to circulate air to more efficiently use air conditioning, it doesn’t have the same learning features as the Nest Learning Thermostat and its smarts are largely reliant on Google’s home / away modes, which can use geofencing, on-board motion sensing, and other Nest smart home products to determine if someone is home. As with the Learning version, you can choose which devices feed into the home / away modes, which you can’t do with the Amazon Smart Thermostat.
If you don’t like the idea of Amazon controlling your climate willy-nilly, the Smart Thermostat has a standard scheduling option. With either set up, you can also use Alexa’s Routines to have your thermostat do specific things based on time of day, when a smart home device tells it to (such as a compatible temperature or motion sensor), or with your voice. These functions are available to any smart thermostat that works with Alexa, but you will not find one as inexpensive as this one.
The closest competitor price-wise — the Wyze Smart Thermostat — is $80, and the Honeywell Home T5 and T9, whose hardware the Amazon thermostat shares, start at $120. Most other smart thermostats are over $100, including the Emerson Sensi, the Lux Kono, and then Ecobee’s and Nest’s start at $180 and $130, respectively.
Of course, almost all those thermostats work with multiple platforms. The Amazon thermostat only works with Alexa. And while the coming smart home standard Matter — which promises interoperability between ecosystems — may change that, Amazon has not confirmed that this device will be upgraded to support Matter.
While this thermostat is inexpensive, it doesn’t look cheap, unlike the Wyze Smart Thermostat, which has a plasticky feel and an odd, oblong design. The simple, clean design of the Amazon Smart Thermostat will fit in with most homes, and because it doesn’t have an LCD screen, it doesn’t scream “high tech” like others in this space.
Most of the setup and programming of the thermostat requires the Alexa app. And, as you’d expect from an Amazon device, it’s designed to be controlled with your voice. This makes it surprising that the Alexa voice assistant isn’t built in as it is in some of Ecobee’s models. Instead, you need to have a compatible Alexa device for voice control.
Physical installation of the Smart Thermostat is identical to that of Honeywell Home’s T9 or T5 and requires shutting off the power and wiring the base.
Integration with Alexa is straightforward and doesn"t require a skill or account linking. Setup and installation of the thermostat is similarly simple. You will want to check if your heating and / or cooling system is compatible first, however. And if you don’t have a C-wire, you will need to opt for the $75 version that comes with a C-wire adapter and plan for a much more involved installation. (C-wire is short for common wire and supplies power to your thermostat. Most connected thermostats need a C-wire to connect to Wi-Fi, which is a big power drain.)
Everything you need to install the thermostat comes in the box, including a screwdriver and handy labels for identifying the thermostat wires. The Alexa app guided me through installation very well, making it clear which wires should go where, connecting the thermostat to my Wi-Fi, and testing that everything was working correctly. If you are uncomfortable with wiring or aren’t familiar with how your heating and cooling system works, you should get professional help. Messing up your HVAC system will be a costly mistake.
Using the Alexa Smart Thermostat was a smooth experience. The Hunches worked well (other than my 4:30AM blip), turning my heating down between 11PM and 11:30PM every night and back on at 6AM in the morning. Switching to away when the house was empty during the day was less reliable, and in my week of testing, I wasn’t able to get a firm read on how long it takes to adjust to an empty home — this is a key component of any energy savings this device will get you, so I’ll update this review once I’ve had more time to evaluate the feature. However, you do have the option of telling Alexa, by saying “Alexa, I’m leaving” as you walk out the door.
Controlling the thermostat with voice using an Echo speaker or display was smooth — and with the latter, an interactive screen pops up for further control if needed. You can control the mode with voice, too, switching to heating or cooling, and even ask Alexa to change the temperature when no one is home.
In order to use the Amazon Smart Thermostat, you’ll need to download the Alexa app for iOS and Android. An Amazon account is required to sign in. By signing up for one of those, you must agree to its conditions of use.
Once you connect the thermostat to Alexa, you need to agree to Amazon’s conditions of use and all of the terms found here. You can explore the documentation at that link, but below, we’ve listed the 12 terms that you must agree to:
But the app was a more frustrating experience. It takes four or five taps to get into the thermostat screen, although eventually I was able to add the thermostat to the new Favorites section in Alexa’s devices page, which speeds things up a tad. Once on the correct screen, the controls mimic those of the physical device, plus there’s a humidity reading (the thermostat has a humidity sensor in it, a temperature sensor, and an ambient light sensor for adjusting the brightness of the LEDs).
The one other area I ran into issues with was using the thermostat in a two-zoned home. As with all thermostats, you need one for each zone in a multi-zoned systemand they control the climate independently.Butthe Alexa app wouldn’t let me set the home, away, and sleep temperatures separately; whatever I set for my upstairs zone also applied to my downstairs zone. That’s not ideal if you like to sleep at 66 degrees but want your living room and kitchen to drop to 62 at night to save energy.
Switching the upstairs thermostat to a schedule and keeping the downstairs on Hunches did allow me to have different set points, but that’s not an ideal solution. This is a problem in the Alexa software, as with every other thermostat I have tested in this two-zone system, each thermostat controls each zone entirely independently.
The other drawback is that there are no temperature sensors designed specifically for the Alexa Smart Thermostat. It’s possible to set Alexa Routines to use with the temperature sensors built into some Echo speakers or with compatible third-party motion or temperature sensors like those from Centralite and Aqara, plus Amazon’s new Smart Air Quality Monitor will work with Routines. But that integration isn’t as seamless or as easy to use as thermostats with native temperature sensors.
The Nest Learning Thermostat, the Ecobee thermostats, and the Honeywell Home T9 Thermostat all work very well with their own external sensors, but these thermostats cost $100 to $150 more than Amazon’s. You also don’t get useful extra features such as the time and weather displayed on this cheaper thermostat or integration with platforms or voice assistants other than Alexa. Still, if those features aren’t important to you, then you really can’t go wrong with this device.
Based on my testing, it’s hard not to be impressed with the Amazon Smart Thermostat, and not just because it’s cheap. I have tested almost every smart thermostat released since the Nest Learning Thermostat launched a decade ago, and this is easily one of the best.
I would still choose a Nest Learning Thermostat for my home because I love the look and feel of it, and I have more control over how it manages my home’s climate (plus it works with both Google and Alexa). However, I thoroughly recommend the Amazon Smart Thermostat over the new Google Nest Thermostat, which is a dumbed-down version of the original (something of a theme with Nest devices these days). Honestly, the Amazon Smart Thermostat is the budget thermostat Google Nest should have made.