The Ecobee standby screen is crucial for saving energy when the thermostat is not in use. If your Ecobee thermostat is constantly in active mode, it can be highly annoying, especially when you think about how high your energy bill will be at the end of the month.
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Your Ecobee thermostat is not going to the standby screen because it’s not set to the correct mode, the schedule is incorrect, or it’s in a hallway where the proximity sensor senses movements. Another reason could be an irregular sensor connection.
In the rest of this article, I’ll discuss why Ecobee thermostats sometimes don’t go into standby mode and how to fix the issue. I’ll also share tips on how to save energy with an Ecobee thermostat. Keep reading!
Reasons an Ecobee Thermostat Doesn’t Go to the Standby Screen
In the previous section, I described the reasons your Ecobee thermostat might not be going into standby mode. I’ll discuss these reasons in more detail below:
The Ecobee Thermostat Is Not Set to the Correct Mode
The mode that your Ecobee thermostat is set to plays a significant role in whether or not it will go into standby mode.
If it’s set to Home mode, it will never go into the standby screen because this mode is designed for when you’re home and using the Ecobee regularly.
According to Ecobee, leaving your thermostat in the Home Mode will affect the standby screen only when the Smart Home and Away feature is active. This feature uses your phone’s location to automatically adjust the temperature when you leave and return home.
You should configure the standby screen to active mode if you want your Ecobee to go into standby mode. A thermostat in active mode will never go into the standby screen even when you’re away for a whole day.
Here’s how to configure the standby screen on your Ecobee thermostat:
- Select the main menu.
- Navigate to Settings, Preferences, and Defaults.
- Select Preferences.
- Choose the active to standby screen timer in the drop-down menu.
Alternatively, you can use your Ecobee thermostat’s website to configure the standby screen mode. The procedure for this is as follows:
- Navigate to Ecobee.com.
- Log in at the top right corner of the screen using your login credentials.
- Click on Settings.
- Navigate to Preferences.
- Choose the active to standby screen timer.
Your Ecobee thermostat should now go into the
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Read: Why Ecobee Shuts Off Before Reaching Temperature? – Troubleshooting Guide
Incorrect Standby Screen Schedule
If your Ecobee thermostat isn’t going into standby mode, it could be set to the incorrect schedule.
The schedule is usually set by default, and it’s rare for it to be incorrect. However, if you’ve recently changed the schedule or time on your Ecobee thermostat, this could be why it’s not going into standby mode.
Most Ecobee thermostats have a schedule of 60 seconds before going into the standby screen. If, for instance, you altered the schedule and it shifts to 10 minutes, your Ecobee thermostat will not go into the standby screen for 10 minutes. This could lead you to believe that it’s not going into standby mode at all.
Here’s how to set your preferred schedule so you don’t waste energy by keeping the screen active:
- Select the main menu.
- Navigate to Settings, Preferences, and Defaults.
- Select Preferences.
- Choose the active to standby screen timer in the drop-down menu.
- Select the time you want your Ecobee to go into the standby screen on the drop-down menu.
You can also use the Ecobee website to change the standby screen schedule as follows:
- Navigate to Ecobee.com.
- Login at the top right corner of the screen with your credentials.
- Click on Settings.
- Navigate to Preferences.
- Choose the active to standby screen timer.
- Select your preferred time of inactivity, after which the screen should enter standby mode. You can do this by sliding the displayed values left or right.
Read: Ecobee Lite 3 Vs. Ecobee Smart Thermostat: Differences, Worth Of Upgrade?
The Thermostat Screen Is in the Hallway
Most people install their thermostat screens in the hallway, a suitable location as it makes access easier. However, this could be problematic due to the number of people passing through.
Ecobee thermostats have a proximity sensor that automatically puts the screen into sleep mode when someone is not nearby. The sensor has a range of about three meters (118.11 inches), and if people frequently move past the thermostat, it might not go into standby mode as it should.
You can solve this problem in three ways:
- Increase the distance between the hallway traffic and the Ecobee thermostat. You can do this by installing the thermostat in another, low-traffic location.
- Use the Ecobee website to configure your thermostat so that it goes into standby mode even when there’s movement around it.
- Put a piece of black electric tape over the proximity sensor. The tape will prevent the sensor from detecting any movement, and your Ecobee thermostat will go into standby mode.
Alternatively, you could disable the sensor altogether. However, this approach is not encouraged as the thermostat will not function automatically as it should.
The following procedure will help you disable the sensor:
- Open the menu on the main screen.
- Navigate to Sensors.
- Select Thermostat.
- Choose the proximity sensor.
- Uncheck the setting.
Read: Why Ecobee Thermostat Runs For 5 Mins And Then Shuts Off?
Irregular Sensor Connection
Your Ecobee thermostat might also not go into standby mode as it should if there’s an irregular sensor connection. The wireless connection between the Ecobee thermostat and the room sensor might be weak, preventing it from going into the standby screen.
The first step is to check if your Ecobee thermostat’s screen is showing a red light. If it does, there might be a problem with the connection, and you need to reconnect the sensor.
Once you establish that the sensors are well connected, check if the standby mode problem persists. If it does, the next step is to check if all the sensors are in the right location.
The ideal location for room sensors is at least five feet (1.5 meters) from an interior wall and two feet (0.61 meters) away from any heat source or cold drafts. If this is an issue for your sensor, it might not be reading the temperature accurately, causing your Ecobee thermostat not to go into the standby screen.
Read: Can I Use An Ecobee Thermostat In An RV?
How To Reset Your Ecobee Thermostat?
If everything is in order with your Ecobee thermostat, but it still doesn’t go into the standby screen correctly, then there is a temporary glitch that needs fixing.
Resetting an Ecobee thermostat clears any temporary glitches and usually solves the problem.
It’s worth mentioning that resetting your Ecobee thermostat may wipe it clean to restore the factory settings. Therefore, you should be careful and be sure that you want to reset your thermostat.
Follow the steps below to reset your Ecobee thermostat:
- Open the main menu.
- Navigate to Settings.
- Click Reset.
- Choose Reset all.
How To Save Energy With an Ecobee Thermostat?
The cost of electricity has been rising globally over recent years. In 2021, for instance, the US Energy Information Administration said that the cost of electricity increased by 4.3% to retail at 13.72 cents per kWh.
You can save energy costs with an Ecobee thermostat by:
- Replacing the filters regularly: Efficient filters reduce heating costs, meaning the thermostat will use less energy to heat the house.
- Cleaning the coils regularly: A dirty coil can cause your system to overwork, consuming more power and costing you more energy bills.
- Scheduling regular maintenance checks: This will ensure that your system is operating at peak efficiency and not using more electricity than necessary.
- Setting the right temperature: The difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures should be as small as possible to reduce the amount of energy used by the thermostat.
Read: Can You Use Multiple Ecobee Thermostats In The Same House?
Final Thoughts
You’ll spend more energy bills if your Ecobee thermostat doesn’t go to the standby screen. A thermostat that remains on the active screen always will use more electricity than one that goes into standby mode when not in use.
Using the above-mentioned tips, you can easily ensure that your Ecobee thermostat goes into standby mode as it should.