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A thermostat regulates your heating and cooling system to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. Thermostats come in a variety of designs that offer unique benefits, such as voice-activated control and programmable temperature settings. To help you keep your home comfortable, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the best thermostats on Amazon. Here are our top five recommendations.
Top 5 Thermostats
- Best Smart Thermostat: Google Nest Learning Thermostat
- Best Value: Emerson Sensi Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat
- Best Sensor: ecobee SmartThermostat
- Best Non-Programmable Thermostat: Honeywell Pro Non-Programmable Digital Thermostat
- Best Programmable Thermostat: Orbit Clean Comfort Programmable Thermostat
Best Smart Thermostat: Google Nest Learning Thermostat
The third generation Google Nest Learning Thermostat has some of the most advanced features available. With automatic temperature adjustments, voice control capability, and energy-saving technology, this thermostat is hard to beat.
Key Features
- Has a smart design
- Can control it by twisting its body, using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant voice assistants, or connecting it to a mobile app
- Protect by a two-year warranty
- Available in several metallic finishes
What Customers Are Saying
Customers said that this thermostat was easy to use and install. Many customers enjoyed its wide variety of metallic finishes and convenient smart features. Those who were unsatisfied said that the device didn’t self-adjust as advertised.
Best Value: Emerson Sensi Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat
The Emerson Sensi Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat saves you money with its affordable price and promise to use 23% less HVAC energy. The device can also save you time and stress. Its estimated installation time is 30 minutes with or without a common wire.
Key Features
- Has a smart design
- Can control it by pressing the buttons on its body, using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant voice assistants, or connecting it to a mobile app
- Protected by a three-year warranty
What Customers Are Saying
Those who loved this thermostat listed its smart features, temperature control, and easy installation as their favorite qualities. Those who were unsatisfied with their purchase said that it sometimes experienced difficulties maintaining a Wi-Fi connection.
Best Sensor: ecobee SmartThermostat
The ecobee SmartThermostat can save you 26% annually on heating and cooling costs. Additionally, the product comes with a built-in Amazon Alexa for voice control and a separate sensor for monitoring the temperature of a specific room.
Key Features
- Has a smart design
- Can control it by pressing its touchscreen, using Amazon Alexa voice assistant, or connecting it to a mobile app
- Protected by a three-year warranty
- Comes with a separate room sensor
What Customers Are Saying
Most reviewers listed the touchscreen, battery life, and ease of installation as qualities that they enjoyed about their purchase. Customers who weren’t satisfied with the product said that they wished there were more control options on the interface.
Best Non-Programmable Thermostat: Honeywell Pro Non-Programmable Digital Thermostat
The Honeywell Pro Non-Programmable Digital Thermostat has a backlit digital display for easy visibility as well as two buttons and two switches for temperature control. This is the perfect product for anyone who is looking for a traditional, easy-to-use thermostat without smart features.
Key Features
- Has a non-programmable, non-smart design
- Can control it by using the buttons and switches on its body
- Five-year warranty
What Customers Are Saying
Customers were pleased with the product’s temperature control and accuracy. They also liked how simple it was to use. A common complaint among dissatisfied customers was that they received a refurbished product.
Best Programmable Thermostat: Orbit Clean Comfort Programmable Thermostat
The Orbit Clean Comfort Programmable Thermostat has an easy-to-read display and accurate temperature readings. It has a programming feature that allows you to set up to four temperature periods per day. This makes the device a step up from a traditional thermostat without the complicated programming of a smart thermostat.
Key Features
- Has a programmable design
- Can control it by using the buttons on its body
- One-year warranty
What Customers Are Saying
Customers praised this programmable thermostat’s modern look, simple control, and easy installation. However, some customers said that the thermostat didn’t control the temperature reliably.
Buyer’s Guide
When purchasing a thermostat, it’s important to consider how each product’s design and features affect its performance. Here are three factors to think about before buying a thermostat.
Thermostat Type
Thermostats are generally split into three categories: smart thermostats, programmable thermostats, and non-programmable thermostats.
Smart thermostats are a popular choice for many homeowners because of their compatibility with other smart home devices and their ability to regulate your home’s internal temperature. Smart thermostats are usually controlled by mobile apps or voice assistants, such as Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. Many smart thermostats also provide you with energy consumption statistics so that you can track how your home heats and cools itself. The drawback to smart thermostats is their price, which usually far exceeds programmable and non-programmable models.
Programmable thermostats are convenient because they let you set a specific heating and cooling schedule based on the time or day of the week. You set this schedule using the buttons and switches on the thermostat’s body.
Non-programmable thermostats are basic models that allow you to set your home to your desired temperature. These thermostats are mostly limited to showing you the current and set temperatures. However, the benefit of these thermostats is their affordable price.
Installation
Before picking a thermostat, look at its installation process to decide whether to enlist professional help or complete it yourself. While installing a thermostat on your own can seem daunting, most modern thermostats require few tools and include step-by-step instructions.
Display
Your thermostat should have an easy-to-read display so that you know your home’s current temperature and your thermostat’s current settings. Most smart thermostats include a backlit display for viewing the temperature in low light.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a thermostat work?
A thermostat sends a message to your heating and cooling system based on the temperature you set it to. For example, if you set your thermostat to 72 degrees Fahrenheit, the thermostat will turn your system on when it’s higher or lower than this temperature.
How do you know if your thermostat is broken?
If your thermostat won’t turn on or is unresponsive, this may signal a problem. Additionally, if your air conditioner or heater won’t turn on or is running when it shouldn’t, you may have a faulty thermostat. If you’re unsure if you have a problem, call an HVAC professional.
Where is the best place to put a thermostat?
The best place to install a thermostat is on an interior wall of your home. If you install your thermostat on an exterior wall, the thermostat’s internal thermometer might be influenced by the temperature outside, which can cause your HVAC system to run unnecessarily.
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We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.
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