Talk of The Villages Florida - Temperature Monitor vs Change from standard Thermostat to Ecobee 3 for Smart phone

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- - Temperature Monitor vs Change from standard Thermostat to Ecobee 3 for Smart phone (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/temperature-monitor-vs-change-standard-thermostat-ecobee-3-smart-phone-354030/)

It seems to me the price of paying for internet 12 mo a year is literally pennies compared to it’s protection for a $300,000+ asset.

Daniel200, We tuned off the sidewalk function. Too intrusive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by retiredguy123 (Post 2382298)

They have a SIM card and use a cellular network. But, apparently, you can get a very inexpensive cell plan that will be cheaper than internet service or your regular cellphone plan. There are different options, but I have seen services for as low as $5 per month.

Interesting.

Thanks.

Thanks all. I think I will be getting the
"Necto RV Temperature & Humidity Monitor - [4G LTE] No Monthly Fees and No WiFi Required - Power Outage Sensor, Instant Alerts, for Pet Safety & Home
Visit the NECTO Store
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 143 ratings | Search this page
Amazon's
Choice" I am hoping this will be the correct choice. I may also get the Govee for when in I leave FL to return to NH for summer.

Leaves are almost history here. Thanks for all your help and pointers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsmurano (Post 2382277)

My whole house is automated and if I was a snowbird, my house would be automated too. For example, you can buy devices that you put under each sink, laundry room, and kitchen that alerts you if it senses water. Better yet, if any of these water senses gets wet, it can automatically turn on a device that shuts off you main water supply so you don’t come home in a flooded house.

If *I* was a snowbird (actually, I am), I would just shut the water main off before I leave, making the need for a sensor unnecessary. The only exception might be the water heater.

Quote:

Originally Posted by birdbob (Post 2382122)

The Comcast/Xfinity seasonal plan I am on still has a low bandwidth wifi available. Charge is ~$30 a month when I am up north. That allows my ecobee, cameras, and Hygrometer to work.

The ecobee can alert to your phone on high/low temp and high/low humidity. It must have wi-fi to work. You can also control the settings from your phone (turn down/up temp). There are many other wi-fi thermostats that can do the same. Sometimes the utility company will give you one for no or low costs.

I also us a wi-fi Hygrometer, it also can alert on high/low temp or humidity to your phone. The reason I use this in addition to Ecobee, is that it shows historical data for a day/week/month/year. The Ecobee will alert you, but you can only see a point in time when you pull it up on the phone. Probably overkill, but I am a geek.

My Hygrometer happens to be:
Govee WiFi Thermometer Hygrometer H5179 - $~30 on Amazon
There are many others, just need to be a wi-fi model.

Thank you for providing the specific model of your thermometer to test for humidity. We just recently had the ecobee installed and every day I get 5 to 6 alerts that my humidity is too high. Even though the house doesn’t feel it. So this will help me determine whether the thermostat is correct or not.

Low bandwidth internet for security

Quote:

Originally Posted by birdbob (Post 2382122)

....The Comcast/Xfinity seasonal plan I am on still has a low bandwidth wifi available. Charge is ~$30 a month when I am up north. That allows my ecobee, cameras, and Hygrometer to work.....

We have low bandwidth Comcast/Xfinity year-round in The Villages and it works just fine even for TVs...So, you'll have to fight them to get lower $30 rate....

Thanks for tip on hydrometer. The Nest thermostat and Honeywell thermostat don't do a good job tracking actual humidity levels. When the furnace blower motor failed, the observed humidity did not change...