For you snowbirds who have "remote controlled thermostats", what do you use? What are the things you like, AND the things that you don't like about your model?I'm thinking about leaving my DSL/Internet link in place this winter, and installing a thermostat with remote control.I "must have" the following minimum features: -- alert if the house temperature drops below a predetermined temperature (45-degrees?) -- ability to check current temp from my smart phone or tablet. -- ability to adjust temperature from my smart phone or tablet. -- no monthly fees (other than having to keep my DSL active)Other nice to have, but not deal breaker features: -- alert if the house temperature rises above a predetermined temperature (80 degrees?) -- display outdoor temperature -- ability to tie in other sensors/cameras/whateverRight now I'm leaning toward a couple of Honeywell "WiFi Smart thermostat" models which cover all of my "must have" features. Cost around $200.Comments/recommendations?

I use an older Honeywell which has those features (they all pretty much do if WiFi enabled).But the Lyric ($150) is the one I'll be upgrading to:Honeywell Lyric

I am in my house right now with a Nest Thermostat. After some initial issues when it was originally installed (on an older existing furnace) it seemed to work fine for about 4 months (until mid March this year). I was still in Florida when it stopped transmitting local weather conditions at home. I have worked with Nest tech support since then and although they tell me it's a software issue.. it is still not resolved. Now that my furnace season has started again it is giving me incorrect readings of weather conditions here at home and just in the last couple of days it is screwing up the 'history' screen which shows that the furnace has been running all day every day... but I'm here and I know it's not!! So I'm with sch911 above! My next one will be a Honeywell!!

Turns out the Honeywells all require a "C" wire which my system does not have.Any other candidates besides nest?

BlackSilver wrote:Turns out the Honeywells all require a "C" wire which my system does not have.Any other candidates besides nest?Use the Venstar Add-a-Wire. Here's a videoVenstar Add-a-Wire installation

Remote thermostat | Good Sam Community

sch911
Explorer
Oct 26, 2016
I use an older Honeywell which has those features (they all pretty much do if WiFi enabled).

But the Lyric ($150) is the one I'll be upgrading to:

Honeywell Lyric
96Bounder30E
Explorer II
Oct 26, 2016
Have you looked at "nest"?
You_can_t_take_
Explorer
Oct 27, 2016
I am in my house right now with a Nest Thermostat. After some initial issues when it was originally installed (on an older existing furnace) it seemed to work fine for about 4 months (until mid March this year). I was still in Florida when it stopped transmitting local weather conditions at home. I have worked with Nest tech support since then and although they tell me it's a software issue.. it is still not resolved. Now that my furnace season has started again it is giving me incorrect readings of weather conditions here at home and just in the last couple of days it is screwing up the 'history' screen which shows that the furnace has been running all day every day... but I'm here and I know it's not!! So I'm with sch911 above! My next one will be a Honeywell!!
BlackSilver
Explorer
Oct 27, 2016
Turns out the Honeywells all require a "C" wire which my system does not have.

Any other candidates besides nest?
eric1514
Explorer
Oct 27, 2016
BlackSilver wrote:
Turns out the Honeywells all require a "C" wire which my system does not have.

Any other candidates besides nest?

Use the Venstar Add-a-Wire. Here's a video

Venstar Add-a-Wire installation
sch911
Explorer
Oct 27, 2016
BlackSilver wrote:
Turns out the Honeywells all require a "C" wire which my system does not have.

I don't have the C wire either but my Honneywell works just fine. They have work arounds for that sort of thing. You have to set it up on the furnace end by jumpering another wire. The result is that it works fine, but you have no manual control of the fan anymore it's always in Auto fan.
sayoung
Explorer
Oct 27, 2016
eric1514 wrote:
BlackSilver wrote:
Turns out the Honeywells all require a "C" wire which my system does not have.

Any other candidates besides nest?

Use the Venstar Add-a-Wire. Here's a video

Venstar Add-a-Wire installation

Just pull another thermostat wire with enough wires or leave old one on wall & move new one to a location you can get to.
Before retiring Me & my employees installed over 100 of the Honeywells with no issues & several of the Carrier OEM thermostat that came out as I was retiring.
hedge
Explorer
Oct 27, 2016
My gen-2 Nest has been flawless, I hear good things about the Ecobee as well.
rclifton
Explorer
Oct 27, 2016
I replaced my thermostat with a Sensi wifi thermostat and so far it's worked great. It does not require a "c" wire, it also retains control of the fan (on or auto) but you do have to figure out if you want to use the low or high fan wire unless you want to add an additional toggle switch. I love being able to have the fan on with the furnace at the same time, really helps to circulate the air.

The only down side is with no "c" wire if you access it a lot via wifi it eats the "aa" batteries pretty quickly. It takes 2, so I bought a 4 pack of rechargeable double a's and just swap them out when they get down to 1 bar.
seaeagle2
Explorer
Oct 28, 2016
Honeywell Prestige thermostats only need two wires, and are wifi compatible.