Did you know that the best thermostats could reduce your energy bill by at least 10%? For most of us, thermostats for home are more about controlling or regulating the temperature according to our needs. However, with the best home thermostat, it can actually help you in reducing your consumption of energy and thus your bill too.
In 2020, the trend has moved towards using an intelligent and best smart thermostat. The best thing about these thermostats is that you can approach it using the remote control thermostat. It is to control your heating and cooling system at any time of the day with ease. Whether its summer or winter, rest assured that you can come to your home with customized temperature settings for an enjoyable time.
In case you decide to buy thermostat or replace a thermostat, we have reviewed the top 5 rated thermostats of 2020 for you so that you can make the best decision.
Table of Contents
- Things to Consider Before Buying a Thermostat
- Reviews of The Best Thermostats of 2020
- 1. Nest (T3007ES) Learning Thermostat – The Smart Thermostat
- 2. Ecobee 4 Smart Thermostat – Best Smart Home Thermostat
- 3. Emerson Sensi Wi-Fi Thermostat for Smart Home – The Best Thermostat
- 4. Honeywell RTH9585WF Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat – Best Thermostat Under $200
- 5. Orbit 83521 – Best Thermostat Under $50
- Safety Tips of Thermostats for Home
- Conclusion
How Does a Thermostat Works?
Your thermostat is responsible for controlling your heating and cooling units to conserve electricity. A Mechanical Thermostat will use a bi-metal coil which will expand or contract due to temperature changes. These coils are further attached to a system that operates an electric circuit responsible for heating or cooling. This way the thermostat will change the temperature. The new digital electronic thermostats rely on thermistors or other semiconductor devices (resistance thermometer) and work with batteries or 24 volt AC circuits. These semiconductors devices or relays inside these electronic thermostats will automatically switch the HVAC system on or off according to the user’s setting.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Thermostat
If you are planning on buying a new thermostat, here are a few things that you need to know:
- Type of Thermostat: There is either an option of a programmable or smart thermostat. For the programmable thermostats, the cost is comparatively low and you have to set the temperature on them to manage your HVAC system. The smart Thermostats are slightly expensive and have much more features than the programmable one. You can even operate them from distances through your PCs or Smartphone.
- Design: Some top thermostats have a very attractive and sleek design while others are more practical and cost effective.
- Compatibility: It is important to check whether the model you want to purchase is compatible with your heating and cooling thermostat system. Some smart thermostat might not support your regular HVAC system. You will also need to buy separate thermostats if you have separate heating and cooling systems.
- The Current Wiring: You need to open up your thermostat wiring system to analyze if you have old wiring or a new one. It is important for some thermostat to work with C-wires that give them the support for features like Wi-Fi and Smart Display. Either consult an HVAC technician or go with thermostats that provide extra aid like power extender or power adapter so you can add a C-wire yourself.
- Installation: Some thermostats are DIY systems and installing them is effortless due to proper tutorials. For others, you might even need the help of a professional for perfect installation.
- Energy Saving: Buying an energy-saving programmable thermostat can be very useful but also slightly expensive. Take your budget into account whilst buying a thermostat but also take into consideration the savings you can have in energy consumption later on.
Reviews of The Best Thermostats of 2020
1. Nest (T3007ES) Learning Thermostat – The Smart Thermostat
Claiming to be everyone’s favorite for 2020, this 3rd generation smart thermostat offers you the chance to lower your energy bill by 10% to 15%. Being an efficient device, it will note your preferences and through its modern algorithm and sensors, automatically adjust the temperature even when you are not around. It will observe your manual settings for a week and will self-operate itself without bothering the user through its smart learning technology. Nest Learning Thermostat comes with an easy thermostat installation process and relevant tools. You can conveniently install it within half an hour or less. Simply install the mobile app and get the instructions that are easy to follow. Moreover, you can check out the system match feature available on the Nest’s website to see if your current wiring will work with this thermostat. You can also check if it is compatible with your various heating and cooling equipment. Connect it this wifi thermostat via WIFI connection and select your usage type (Business/home) and source of heating system (oil/electric/gas) and let it work its magic.
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Voice Controlled Technology
This best wifi thermostat can operate by twisting the outer ring or by pressing the device. It can be controlled with Alexa voice commands feature (bought separately and not built-in) through which you can easily ask it to lower or raise the temperature. With its geofencing feature, the device will detect whether you are home or away to reduce energy consumption. You can see a nest leaf appearing when you select temperatures that conserve energy. Similarly, you can view your energy consumption history with this device.
The thermostat performs different tasks swiftly with precision. It carries 10 temperature sensors for accurate predictions, along with humidity, light and movement sensors. Furthermore, it comes with built-in batteries so you won’t have to swap batteries after purchasing it.
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Streamlined Appearance
This sleek beauty is available in variable colors namely Copper, black, white and stainless steel with a highly visible display screen. Even with its slim dimensions (1.2’’ thick and 3.3’’ in diameter), there is no disregarding the fact that you can easily view thermostat on its high-resolution screen. It will light up automatically as it senses your presence due to its Far-light feature and will show you the weather, temperature and time. You can handle this wireless thermostat device with your smartphones, laptop or tablets with ease. It will alert you in case of any malfunctioning units in your home to save you from any imminent disaster.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Detects your presence to save electricity
- Observes your pattern and re-adjust itself accordingly
- Easy Installation and Easy to Use
- Is compatible with most devices at home
Cons
- It offers just 2 years warranty
- It is quite pricey
2. Ecobee 4 Smart Thermostat – Best Smart Home Thermostat
Do you think it is annoying to get another Amazon Echo device to communicate with your thermostat? You now have an answer to all your problems with Ecobee 4. It comes with a built-in speaker, microphone and Alexa service. This service can give you multiple functions other than the thermostat controller like playing music, cracking jokes and informing you about the weather updates, etc. In case, you don’t desire all these functions, you can simply turn Alexa off through the microphone function. It is also compatible with Google Assistant.
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Over-Engineered Design
The Ecobee 4 has an elegant square-shaped body, which is easy to navigate. It has a far-field feature through which you can operate it from distance. The best thing is that it comes with a cutting-edge remote room sensor(s). With this remote thermostat feature, you can change the temperature of each individual room without moving around. You can make changes in the temperature through its responsive touchscreen display along with viewing the current temperature.
It is highly functional in controlling the temperature of your home using a thermostat with a remote sensor. This is done through both its DataRhythm technology which analyzes your fixed pattern and by cleverly looking at the weather and humidity updates in your region. This way it helps you to cut energy consumption costs by 23%. It understands your temperature needs according to the occupancy and adjusts it accordingly. Moreover, you can receive important alerts about system maintenance. In case your home has a ventilator, this thermostat uses the outside air to keep your home cool.
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Very Easy To Use
The mobile app for controlling the thermostat is similar to its display screen which makes it easy to use. Through geofencing, this thermostat can gauge your cellphone location and change the temperature of your home to make you comfortable. Furthermore, inside your home, you can use its follow me feature so that it only regulates the temperature of the room you are currently using. You can easily install it in your home yourself because that is the theory it revolves around. It comes with an easy installation guide and suitable directions on the app. If you don’t have a C wire, it comes with a power extender kit so you won’t have to rewire your entire HVAC system. Ecobee 4 is compatible with most of the smart home devices like Apple’s HomeKit, Samsung’s Smart Things, IFTTT, and others.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Integrated Alexa Function
- Easy to Install
- Multiple sensors to adjust temperature comprehensively
- Great warranty of 3 years
Cons
- On the expensive side
- Auto-scheduling is not great
3. Emerson Sensi Wi-Fi Thermostat for Smart Home – The Best Thermostat
Looking for the best value package? You have got that in Emerson Sensi Thermostat. Emerson has been providing heating and cooling functions for more than 100 years now. So, this best programmable thermostat is a safe bet to buy with decent programmable features. It is compatible with most digital assistants like Alexa, Apple’s Homekit or Google Assistant, etc. This way you can conveniently convey your requirements to the temperature for thermostat settings.
Getting it installed in your home is a painless job. With an easy video guide in the app, you will get it up and running in a matter of minutes. Furthermore, it works with almost all HVAC systems and comes with a C wire. It is compatible with up to 4 stages of heating and 2 stages of cooling.
This digital thermostat comes with a sensible white and black digital display screen. You might not get the luxury of auto-scheduling or motion sensors, but you can set temperature for a week along with easy away settings. It has the option of geofencing to control the temperature according to your location and comes with onscreen weather updates and humidity sensor. In case you prefer a touchscreen, you can get it upgraded with the latest version. Touch screen thermostat is quite a promising option as it saves 23% of energy costs through its various intelligent features.
You can also regulate the temperature through its well-designed app that is easy to navigate. The app offers a detailed approach towards temperature scheduling with up to 9 different schedules. Similarly, you can make changes according to the relevant season like winter or summer to reduce energy consumption.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Is affordable in terms of pricing
- Easy to Install and Operate
- Ample warranty of 3-5 years
- Cuts Energy Costs by 23%
Cons
- Plain looking
- No motion sensors or Auto-scheduling
4. Honeywell RTH9585WF Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat – Best Thermostat Under $200
Honeywell has launched the latest version of its previous Wi-Fi smart thermostat and it is quite appealing. The company is a household name in home automation products and has been a market leader for quite a few years. The Honeywell RTH9585WF has a very straightforward and old-school square-box design. It comes with a customizable touch screen with different options for display (in terms of different colors) that will work equally well without a Wi-Fi connection. Not only is it easy to use and viewable from afar, but you can also change its setting with your smartphone app. Thus, this thermostat working effortlessly to regulate the temperature of your home even when you are away.
It allows you to schedule your heating or cooling thermostat settings and will learn this pattern over time. Moreover, it will display the temperature and humidity settings for both indoor and outdoor environment. It offers warnings for when you need to change your air filters or when any particular unit is malfunctioning. With its extraordinary fan settings, you can conserve energy and stay comfortable. There is an option available to lock the thermostat so no one can make any changes without your permission.
Another great aspect about it is that it is compatible with different smart hubs like Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Homekit, etc. So you can communicate with your thermostat timer to make swift changes. It will easily assist you with cutting down on your energy bills with its smart features.
Before installation, check online whether this model is compatible with your HVAC system. It doesn’t come with an added C wire so you will have to find alternative solutions.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Smart learning system with auto-scheduling
- Change the display according to mood
- Highly Visible Screen
- Great value because of well-rounded features
Cons
- Only 1-year warranty
- Not a sleek model
- Installation is quite tricky
5. Orbit 83521 – Best Thermostat Under $50
This programmable thermostat is one of the most affordable of all thermostats and is ideal for low budgets with good functionality. It has an attractive display and is a great addition to your home with its sleek design. You can clearly see the temperature readings on this thermostat due to large lettering and warm backlight.
For one thing, it works pretty reliably and efficiently controls the thermostat temperature settings you input for the day without delays due to its early start feature. It is operated through the 5 mechanical push buttons and via 2 slide switches. You can store 7 days of temperature settings with 4 variable programming periods. With its copy and paste feature, you can easily copy information from the previous day for easy and fast programming. It is supposed to save 33% of your energy bill with its smart handling of temperature settings.
It comes with proper instructions so it is relatively easy to install this thermostat. The wires are color-coded so you don’t have to be a pro to get it up and running. However, it doesn’t come with batteries attached.
This thermostat is not compatible with baseboard heaters (or other line voltage heating), multi-stage heating or cooling systems, or 3-wire hydronic systems. It is the one-stage thermostat that works with gas, oil or electric furnaces, central air conditioners, 2 wire hot water systems, millivolt systems, central heating, and cooling systems, and heat pumps without auxiliary/backup heat.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Easily programmable with accurate temperature readings
- Early start feature manages the temperature changes swiftly
- Extremely Affordable
Cons
- Compatibility with other heating and cooling systems can be a problem for some
- Can’t connect with Wi-Fi or accessible through smartphones
Safety Tips of Thermostats for Home
Firstly, while installing your thermostat make sure that you have complete knowledge of attaching the wiring the right way. In case you are not sure about how to properly install your home heating thermostat, it is important to call a professional right away or seek help. If it gets damaged during installation, you might not be able to get the warranty.
Make sure that you choose the correct settings on your thermostat for making your home temperature most comfortable. It is not advisable to keep a huge temperature variation while feeding information into your thermostat. A huge change in temperature in a limited time frame can effectively cause a failure to the system because of excessive load.
Does your thermostat have the adaptive recovery feature? In case it doesn’t, you will have to be clever about setting the temperature wisely. Give it ample time to make temperature changes without affecting its performance.
It is wise to check your thermostat regularly in case it works on batteries so that you won’t have any problems. Also, make sure to check out the warning it notifies you about regarding itself or other heating and cooling systems to ensure you won’t have to face any harmful incident.
Don’t forget to set the temperature in a way that you will be able to save electricity. You will increase your electricity bill if you don’t use your thermostat wisely. Or you can look for an energy saving thermostat and it will solve your worries. One thing you will just consider is the thermostat price of the different thermostat brands.
It is always best to research and be informed on things before buying so you would know the quality of the product your spending on your money. You can also read our Best Oil Filled Radiator Heater Reviews in 2020 for your advantage.
Conclusion
In summary, it can be said that the new programmable or smart thermostats have not only made life easier but have also helped in cutting costs. You can set it according to your desire and comfort-ability level for optimum performance.
However, before buying thermostats for home check if it is compatible with your current HVAC system so you won’t have to face any trouble.
Although installing newer thermostat technology is relatively easier, but it is essential to have ample knowledge about your home’s wiring system. Until and unless you are sure about what you are doing, it is never recommended to install a thermostat.
To ensure that the thermostat is accurately installed and functions properly, hire the help of a professional if you are not sure about the installation process. Or else, check out for some thermostat reviews and online video tutorials to gain more knowledge about their functions.
Thermostat Type(Motion Activation)
Design (Smart Home Integration)
Compatibility (Multi-stage)
Current Wiring (C-Wire)
Installation
Voice Assistants
Energy Saving
$189
slimmer design, a larger LCD
Self-Install
Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
lower by 10% to 15%
$94
Smart Alerts, Control From Anywhere
In 30 Minutes Or Less
Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Homekit
Save About 23%
$132.66
intelligent alerts
Flexible options
Customized touch screen
Self Install
Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri, Google Assistant
$39.85
sleek design, large lettering and warm backlight.
easy to install with proper instructions
save 33%
We hope we have made your buying decision easier. Grab your best house thermostat now!
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Hi, This is Luis. Author at “TheHeatersGuide”. I am a graduate in Mechanical Engineering. Currently researching on heating technology. However, I have learned many home heating techniques and still learning the home heating technolgy. And I love to share my research and reviews.