Introduction
One way the ecobee smart thermostat can reduce your heating and cooling cost is its vacation mode feature. You can program in a start and end date for your vacations, set thresholds for heating and cooling to kick in, and then get on with planning your trip. This helps both conserve energy, and ensure you’re house will be comfortable when you get back.
Some of the images associated with the steps are included inline below. All images associated with these steps can be seen in the embedded YouTube video. Also, please note that you’re not able to leave a comment directly on this article. If you have a question or feedback, please leave it on the YouTube video.
Steps to Set ecobee Smart Thermostat Vacation Mode in Ecobee App
- Launch the ecobee app on your iPhone, iPad or Android device. You’ll land on the My Home screen.
- Tap “Vacation” in the menu on the screen. The Vacation screen is displayed.
- Tap “Set a Vacation” or the “+” sign on this screen. The New Vacation screen is shown.
- Tap to set dates and times associated with when you’ll be leaving and returning in the Depart and Return sections.
- Then tap “Thermostat” in the list of your devices. The Thermostat screen is shown.
- Here you can choose to turn heating and cooling on or off, or tap the temperature to set a temperature associated with when the heating or cooling should kick in. Additionally, you can set a minimum runtime for the fan after it kicks on. Tap the “Back” button to return to the New Vacation screen, and then tap “Save” on this screen to save your vacation.
You’ll be returned to the Vacation screen, where your new vacation will be shown. The settings associated with your vacation will kick in on your ecobee smart thermostat automatically.
Steps to Set ecobee Smart Thermostat Vacation Mode on Ecobee Smart Thermostat
- Tap the “Menu” icon on your ecobee smart thermostat home screen. The Main Menu screen is displayed.
- Tap “Vacation” in the menu. The Vacation screen is shown.
- Tap the “+” sign at the top of the Vacation screen. The New Vacation screen is displayed.
- Tap “I Depart” to open a Departure Schedule screen where you can set a date and time for when you’ll leave. Tap the “Back” arrow to navigate back to the New Vacation screen.
- Tap “I Return On” to open a Return Schedule screen where you can set a date and time for when you’ll return. Tap the “Back” arrow to navigate back to the New Vacation screen.
- Tap the “Vacation Settings” section to open the Vacation Settings screen. Here you can choose to turn heating and cooling on or off, or tap the temperature to set a temperature associated with when the heating or cooling should kick in. Additionally, you can set a minimum runtime for the fan after it kicks on. Tap the “Back” arrow when you’re done to navigate back to the New Vacation screen. Tap “Save.” You’ll be returned to the Vacation screen you’ll see your new vacation added. The settings associated with your vacation will kick in on your ecobee smart thermostat automatically.
Reasons to Put Your ecobee Smart Thermostat in Vacation Mode
1. Energy Savings
The core allure of vacation mode is substantial energy savings. Energy efficiency is crucial, and Ecobee’s smart thermostat’s vacation mode aids in achieving it. When you’re away, energy usage drops, directly correlating to lower utility bills. This intelligent system recognizes the absence of occupants, adjusting temperatures accordingly. Thus, less energy is consumed for heating or cooling, exemplifying smart and sustainable living.
2. Maintain a Safe Environment
Vacation mode goes beyond saving energy. It also ensures your home remains within a safe temperature range, avoiding extreme conditions. Without vacation mode, a home could become too cold or hot, potentially causing detrimental problems. For instance, excessively cold temperatures can freeze pipes in winter, while excessive warmth may encourage mold growth. Hence, vacation mode ensures a balanced, safe environment in your absence.
3. Peace of Mind
With vacation mode, you can leave your home knowing it’s in good hands. This mode gives homeowners peace of mind, knowing their homes will remain within a predetermined safe temperature range. It’s one less thing to worry about when traveling. With automated temperature adjustments, you can relax knowing your home won’t succumb to extreme temperature swings.
4. Customizable Settings
Ecobee’s vacation mode brings a level of customization that’s hard to match. It lets you preset the dates of your vacation and keeps the temperatures within set ranges for those dates. There’s no need to remember or adjust settings manually. This personalized control gives users a streamlined way to manage their home’s climate while away.
5. Reducing Wear and Tear
Regular usage of heating and cooling systems may lead to wear and tear. With vacation mode, your HVAC system doesn’t work as hard as usual, potentially prolonging its life. This intelligent mode recognizes no occupants are present, reducing the system’s strain. By curbing constant use, vacation mode can help maintain the longevity of your HVAC system.
6. Smart Recovery
Ecobee’s smart recovery feature ensures you come back to a comfortable home. This aspect of vacation mode begins adjusting temperatures before your vacation ends. It eliminates the discomfort of returning to a too-cold or too-hot home. Instead, you return to a pre-warmed or pre-cooled home, easing your transition back from vacation.