Google is pulling the plug on my original-model Nest, and I need to figure out what’s next.
As compensation they’re offering a discount on a new Nest 4th Gen. But I’m also looking at the Ecobee Premium.
I’d like to get one that integrates into HA, so I can put it on a schedule. From quick searching, it looks like either one would require me to purchase an additional hub (Matter for Nest, HomeKit for Ecobee). Do I have that right?
I don’t actually care about “smart” climate features or any of that nonsense. My big complaint about my old Nest is that it has like a 3-degree window between heating and cooling, and still won’t kick on the heating/AC unless it falls more than a degree or so outside the window, so it’s more like 5 degrees, which is absurd. I want to be able to lock the thermostat to a temperature, and have it maintain that exact temperature, either with heating or cooling. With HA I could potentially do that with a custom automation that moves either the bottom or the top of the range. Unless these newer models are just better at clamping to a specific value.
I’m assuming you are in the US - please let us know if otherwise, as some of the recommendations may differ.
A hub is not required for an Ecobee. You can connect to it over wi-fi using the HomeKit integration as outlined here:
There are other options including Z-Wave and Zigbee devices as well. All work relatively similarly if you will be doing the programming/control via HA, so go with the one that has the best aesthetics for your (and others in your household) taste.
In general, you are correct that you can use a smart thermostat to “move the bottom or the top of the range” to achieve temperature control more granular than the default “3-degree window”.
But you do need to be careful in implementation to not create the situation that the “window” is designed to prevent: continuous cycling between heating and cooling. In practice, I’ve found that 2 degrees is the minimum practical gap, to allow a “Goldilocks” area between too cold and too hot.
I am in the US, operating in fahrenheit, that’s a good callout
I’ve seen similar warnings about thrashing the system and I’m not really worried about it in practice. My house transitions pretty smoothly from needing heating to cooling over the course of the day, and can linger within +/- 1 degree for hours at a time.
Good to know the Ecobee doesn’t require a hub. I’m still trying to suss out if that’s the case for the Nest or not, I think that would be my preferred option since I can get it for about 2/3 the price.
