Understanding Occupancy Sensing
- Occupancy sensing on an Ecobee thermostat uses built-in sensors and remote sensors to determine if someone is present in the home. This helps in optimizing energy usage by adjusting heating or cooling based on occupancy.
- Ensure you have the Ecobee thermostat model that supports occupancy sensing. Models like Ecobee3, Ecobee4, and Ecobee SmartThermostat with voice control typically support this feature.
Setting Up Ecobee for Occupancy Sensing
- Start by ensuring that your thermostat and sensors are installed correctly and connected to Wi-Fi and your Ecobee account.
- Open the Ecobee app on your mobile device or access your account via their website. Log in with your credentials.
- Select your Ecobee thermostat from the home screen.
- Navigate to "Settings" within your Ecobee dashboard.
- Look for the "Sensors" menu. Here, you can manage your occupancy sensors and ensure they are correctly connected to your thermostat.
- In the "Sensors" menu, check if the occupancy sensors are enabled. You can configure each sensor to be active during specific times of the day or always active.
Adjusting Comfort Settings
- Ecobee uses "Comfort Settings" to adjust temperatures based on whether you are home or away. Access these settings in the "Comfort Settings" tab.
- Customize the "Home" and "Away" settings to adjust temperature preferences when the house is occupied.
- Ensure that "Smart Home/Away" is turned on. This feature automatically adjusts the temperature based on occupancy, optimizing energy efficiency.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
- If occupancy sensing is not working correctly, start by checking your sensor placement. Sensors should be in areas of movement to effectively detect occupancy.
- Check the battery levels of all remote sensors. Low battery can cause connectivity issues, leading to inaccurate sensing.
- Make sure all software and firmware updates for the thermostat and app are installed. Regular updates can fix known bugs and improve functionality.
- If connectivity issues persist, restart your Ecobee thermostat and ensure it's connected to Wi-Fi. Additionally, reboot your Wi-Fi router to eliminate network connectivity issues.
Optimizing Sensor Use
- Place sensors in frequently used rooms for better detection and ensure they have a clear line of sight to avoid false readings.
- You can add multiple sensors in larger homes to cover more area and improve the accuracy of occupancy detection.
