One of the companies at the forefront of revolutionizing homes is Ecobee, which created the world’s first smart thermostat. But for all its might, the Ecobee smart thermostat isn’t immune to technical issues such as failing to use one of its revolutionary convenience features: using average temperature from its many sensors to adjust your home’s temperature automatically. So why does that happen and what can you do about it?
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The problem of Ecobee Smart Thermostat not using the average temperature from the sensors occurs when sensors fail to pair with the WiFi hub, aren’t calibrated, or are placed incorrectly. This problem can also be caused by sensor batteries running low. The fix depends on the cause.
Continue reading to learn more about how Ecobee’s smart thermostats work, why you might get inaccurate temperature readings, and what you need to do to address it. Let’s get into it.
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat’s Features and Capabilities
Unlike traditional thermostats, where you have to primitively walk to the device and press some buttons to set your home’s ideal temperature, Ecobee thermostats can be conveniently controlled from your smartphone or any iOS or Android mobile device.
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat can work with other intelligent devices like voice assistance speakers, motion detectors, and sensors by connecting to the internet through your home’s WiFi.
Ecobee’s top-of-the-line model, the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (available on amazon.com), has a built-in air quality monitor that alerts you of poor air quality. It can detect when a door or window is opened and movement in the house. It also knows when someone enters and leaves, doubling up as a security and surveillance device.
Read: Why Ecobee Thermostat Not Turning On AC? – Troubleshooting Guide
Ecobee SmartSensors
Smart features aside, the key difference with Ecobee Smart Thermostats is its use of remote sensors to adjust the temperature in each room of the house accordingly. You can connect up to 32 different sensors to regulate the temperature throughout the house.
Ecobee SmartSensors can also collect occupancy data. If the sensors detect motion in several rooms, each sensor will send data to the thermostat, which will adjust based on the average temperature reading of the participating sensors.
Follow Me Feature
The Follow Me feature will adjust the temperature based on occupied rooms. The thermostat will not always compute a straight average to prevent unnecessary temperature fluctuations because the algorithm will account for how long a person has entered and left the room.
If you want the thermostat to use the average temperature from all the sensors, simply disable the Follow Me function.
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Read: 4 Reasons Why Ecobee Thermostat Fan Keeps Running
Schedule Program
You can program your schedule into the thermostat to consume less energy while you’re away. Ecobee claims that using their smart thermostat can save you as much as 26% in monthly cooling and heating costs, and the schedule program contributes significantly to those savings.
Smart Home and Away
The Smart Home and Away feature can detect when someone is home and adjust the temperature to accommodate whoever is home. It will even override your thermostat settings if you’re away when you’re scheduled to be home and vice versa. This feature ensures energy savings when you leave the house and a comfortable atmosphere when you enter it.
Read: 3 Reasons Why Ecobee Thermostat Is Overheating
Incorrect Temperature Readings and How to Fix Them
Since the Ecobee thermostat works with multiple remote sensors, it will calculate the temperature by monitoring each sensor’s room and averaging the values for your home.
Ecobee’s temperature sensors should have an accuracy of +/- 1.0°F.
However, there are times when the temperature reading may seem incorrect.
Since remote sensors communicate with the thermostat via WiFi, there may be times when a sensor fails to pair with the central unit. You’ll know a sensor isn’t paired if it doesn’t appear on the app or the thermostat screen. If this happens, you need to reset the sensor by doing the following:
- Remove the battery cover or sensor stand.
- Gently pry the batteries out using a thin hard object.
- Lift the prongs in the middle of the battery slot.
- Place the batteries into the slot with the positive side facing down.
- Leave the batteries there for 2 minutes.
- Remove the batteries and reinsert them with the positive side facing up.
- Reattach the battery cover or sensor stand.
- Follow the instructions on the prompt to pair the sensor with the thermostat.
Sometimes, a hollow sensor icon may appear under the main menu without the signal waves and the letters “N/A” showing. If you see this, the sensor batteries may be drained, or the sensor could be placed too far (more than 45 feet) from the central hub. Otherwise, you may just need to unpair and re-pair the sensor.
To unpair and re-pair a sensor, follow these instructions:
- Go to SENSORS under the MAIN MENU.
- Tap on the trash icon.
- Remove the sensor battery.
- Power cycle the thermostat by turning it off, removing it from the wall, and letting it sit for 2 minutes.
- Return the thermostat to the wall and turn it on.
- Put the battery back in the sensor and reattach the cover or stand.
- Follow the prompts to pair the sensor.
If all the sensors are paired, and you still have an inaccurate temperature reading, it may be due to either of the following:
- The sensors are not calibrated.
- The sensors are not placed correctly.
- The sensor batteries are running low.
Let’s discuss what you can do to address each of these issues.
Calibrate the Sensors
The sensors need to be calibrated each time the device is reset. It will take around 5 to 20 minutes for the sensors to measure the room’s indoor temperature. If the temperature reading still seems off, you can adjust it on the Temperature Correction settings.
To adjust the temperature reading, follow these instructions:
- Go to Menu on the main screen.
- Click on Settings.
- Tap Installation Settings.
- Select Thresholds.
- Go to Temperature Correction.
You can correct the temperature by +/- 10°F for a more accurate reading.
Read: How To Fix Ecobee Alexa Not Responding?
Change the Placement of the Sensors
The placement of the sensors can also affect their ability to measure the room’s temperature accurately. Find a location for your sensors where they have an excellent connection to the thermostat and enough range to detect motion. Also, ensure the sensors are protected from elements that can influence their temperature readings.
Here are some tips for finding an ideal spot for your sensors:
- Place the sensors near a wall.
- Ensure the sensor is 5 feet (1.52 meters) from the ground or in the middle of the floor and ceiling.
- Aim the sensors towards doorways and seating areas with the little bee facing up.
- Keep the sensor away from appliances or objects that generate heat, areas that are hit by direct sunlight, and airways.
Replace the Sensor Batteries
The battery in the sensors can last for years, but the sensor may struggle to monitor room temperature accurately when the battery starts running low. There isn’t a way to check a sensor’s battery life, but you will be alerted through the Ecobee app when a battery is due for replacement.
We’ve already covered how to remove and replace the batteries when resetting or re-pairing the sensor to the thermostat. Just follow the same procedure but let the sensor sit for at least 30 seconds to reset before installing the new battery.
If you still encounter inaccurate temperature readings or issues with your Ecobee thermostat, contact Customer Service.
Read: No Power To The Home Temperature Thermostat – Troubleshooting Guide
Final Thoughts
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat offers convenience and features that make a conventional thermostat feel obsolete. Using remote sensors to regulate the temperature in multiple areas of your home is arguably the thermostat’s biggest convenience. Still, it can be compromised by sensor issues such as wrong placement, batteries running low, and lack of calibration.
Hopefully, this guide will help you diagnose your smart thermostat and get it working again.