Ecobee vs. Google Nest

If you have a heat pump, the Ecobee is the only one of these that you should buy.  End of story.

After installing a Google Nest in 2022 I have spent over $10,000 in AC repairs and home improvements because the Nest's control of the O wire was faulty.  It caused failures in the reversing valve and thermal expansion valves.  This happened twice before we could finally diagnose the issue even using two different AC contractors.  At this point it's hard to tell how many of those repairs were necessary or just misdiagnosed because of the bad thermostat.  I think honestly it is probably a mix of the two.  Installers really don't ever expect thermostats to go bad this particular way, and unfortunately we are still a ways off from heat pumps having Wifi enabled diagnostics on the signal wires. 

In my case, when the repairs could have been inexpensive, the intermittent nature of the O wire failure meant the AC techs couldn't see the problem when it happened.  See below for home monitors to help track and share your HVAC issues.

You can also search the web for "Nest Thermostat Reversing Valve" if you think this is just a single case of a disgruntled owner it isn't.  It's a known issue. 

Super Simple and Super Cheap Wifi Enabled

As an aside, the Honeywell Wifi Thermostat is rock solid, simple and Wifi compatible.  About $70.  

User Interface

After using the Google Nest for 2 years and using the Ecobee I can tell you the Ecobee is much easier to use and to get rid of all the "eco" and "artificial intelligence" features on the Ecobee.  Even experienced installers have trouble with the Nest.  

The Ecobee is not necessarily easy to configure, but it is much easier. 

Cool to Dry

The cool to dry features on the Ecobee give you much better control than the Nest, allowing you to set the amount to overcool as well as target humidity levels.  It is a little weird because the settings are in two locations but this article helps you find it. 

 

Diagnosing

One of the most difficult things in diagnosing funky AC problems is not having accurate records.  In my case I was able to clearly explain and show my guys what the problem was thanks to the use of this Govee remote temperature and humidity sensor.  Seeing exactly how the system behaved when the O signal went bad was one of the most important breadcrumbs needed to finally diagnose the issue. 

 

 

I was able to text screenshots of my daily readings directly to the technicians who got together to discuss possible causes and solutions.  Whatever you get you need three features:

• Temperature
• Humidity (you can't just do temp)
• Logging

Good luck!