Having a smart thermostat improves the comfort of guests at your Airbnb home. However finding a thermostat that saves your money on your energy bills is hard-to-find. Hence we did the the tests and consulted several experts to find the best thermostat for Airbnb. According to us, Nest T3017US is the best and No products found.is second best on our list. If you want to learn more about thermostat, please navigate down to the buyer’s guide section.
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Best Thermostat For Airbnb
1. Nest T3017US – Editor’s Choice
Nest is a big brand of smart home products. Among all the devices that we had for testing Nest, T3017US Learning Thermostat has the highest sales number. It is 3rd generation thermostat with a new updated look. The manufacturer believes it can save 15-20 % on energy bills. Even the experts that we had hired had a lot of good things to say about the Energy Rated thermostat. It is loaded with an array of sensors like temperature, near-field activity, ambient light, humidity, and far-field activity.
The installation process is a breeze. It took us around 25 minutes. If you are installing the thermostat for the first time, it might take more than 30 minutes. However, they do have 24×7 helpline if you find it difficult to install. The another thing we like is the futuristic LCD which has a resolution of 480 x 480. It provides most of the necessary information. However, if it connected to your phone via wifi, you can see the detailed report.
- It learns from user behaviour and auto schedules the temperature.
- Built-in rechargeable battery.
- Compatible with most of the HVAC system.
- Controlling the temperature is easy when done from the Nest app.
- Takes time to learn the behaviour for accurate adjustments.
- No separate room sensor is included in the package.
Bottom Line
According to us, it is by far the best for vacation rental. The good thing is you won’t have to do anything; it will do it by itself. In case, they want to change the temperature, all your guest to connect it to any Alexa device or phone.
2. ecobee 4 – Best Option With Alexa
No products found.
The next best on our list is the ecobee 4. It is improved version of its predecessor’s ecobee 3 and ecobee three lite. The best thing about the ecobee is that it has in-built Alexa. Hence, there is no need for a separate AI device for voice control. Compared to all the thermostat, it does more due to the in-built Alexa. And also save much more than any other thermostat. The manufacturer stats that it can save up to 23% on energy bills annually.
One thing we observed with the device is that it requires more sensors to work for multiple zones. And daily running schedule with average HVAC thermostat is always complicated. This is where ecobee four trumps, with the integration of Alexa scheduling and controlling the temperature, is much easier. Even the installation is simple and hardly took us 30 minutes. But it would be wise if you plan the heating and cooling temperatures for different location of the house before installing.
- Design is sleek and gels with any interior.
- It is compatible with most of the HVAC systems.
- In-built Alexa for much better control.
- The sensor effectively detects the presence of the occupant.
- Temperature can be controlled remotely.
- When bought with sensors, the whole system is expensive.
Bottom Line
The ecobee 4 Smart Thermostat is effective when you want to have a different temperature at different locations of the house. And the sensor included in the package is really good quality.
3. Honeywell TH9320WF5003 – Best For Budget Conscious Users
Nest and ecobee are the most advanced smart thermostat, but some user may feel it is a too steep price to pay for it. After tests, we realized that Honeywell TH9320WF5003 does a similar job but at a lower price. It doesn’t have all the features of Nest and ecobee but allows you to schedule the temperature, provides all the necessary numbers on the screen, and it can be connected a smart home device like Alexa.
Installation is easy for Honeywell but requires hardwiring. Also, it requires the C-wire to power the thermostat. If your old thermostat already has c-wiring, it would be easier to replace it Honeywell TH9320WF5003 than adding new wiring and then installing it.
- Easy to schedule temperature.
- It can be connected to Alexa via home automation hub.
- The thermostat can also be accessed using the phone.
- Large touchscreen.
- Budget-friendly.
- It doesn’t automatically set the temperature.
Bottom Line
When you add the price of a thermostat like Nest or ecobee and the respective sensor, it might feel expensive. If your Airbnb property needs something basic that doesn’t cost you, our recommendation is Honeywell TH9320WF5003.
4. Emerson Sensi Touch – Best For Saving Energy
Emerson Sensi is another big brand that hogs a quite good amount of market share. For tests, we had its old versions too. Compared to the old version the new updated version looks much better. The efficiency of the thermostat has also improved. If you believe the manufacturer, Emerson Thermostats, it can save up to 23% on energy bills and the proof of it is the Energy Saving Certification.
As far as accessing and controlling the temperature is concerned, you access it via the touchscreen or from your phone. When connected to Alexa, it gives a much simple way of controlling the thermostat. For your Airbnb, it would be wise to connect the thermostat to Alexa, Google Home, or Apple Homekit, so that your guest won’t have to download the app on their phone or go physically to the thermostat to control the temperature.
- Energy Star Certified.
- Very easy to use when used with smart devices like Echo, or Google Home.
- Controls the temperature effectively.
- The app has a DIY guide to help you with the installation.
- Less expensive compared to other thermostats.
- It has no automatic scheduling.
Bottom Line
If you are more worried about saving money on the energy bills of your Airbnb property, Emerson Sensi Touch Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat is one of the most efficient thermostats for Airbnb.
5. GLAS – Best Option With Touchscreen
The Glas Smart Thermostat is developed by Johnson Controls. It is one of the most innovative thermostats we tested. First, that strikes when you look the unit is its translucent LED touchscreen. It feels like something out of the future. In addition to controlling the temperature, it helps you monitor the quality of the air in the house. Also, it monitors humidity, VOCs and equivalent CO2.
It is compatible with most of the HVAC system. It uses the JCI smart thermostat app for accessing the thermostat remotely. It also works with Alexa, Google Assistant and Cortana. We used all three, but we liked the unit the way it responds to Alexa. However, it works well with Google assistant too.
- It monitors quality air which includes allergen monitoring.
- Translucent LED touchscreen is its best part.
- The unit responds well to voice commands via home smart devices.
- The temperature sensor is inbuilt.
- It is expensive compared to most of the thermostat.
Bottom Line
If you are more particular about the quality of air and if you serve a particular guest regularly that has issues with allergens in the air, you can install GLAS Smart Thermostat.
6. TX9600TS – Best For Temperature Scheduling
TX9600TS Programmable Thermostat is something we won’t recommend if you want to access the thermostat remotely via your phone or using the smart home device. But it offers you a very cheap and effective option to control the temperature at your Airbnb property. In case you require more than one thermostat for your different properties or different areas within the property, something like TX9600TS Programmable Thermostat much more budget-friendly.
We tested it almost all type of HVAC systems it supports; the good thing is it is responsive. But things are when we were testing there is a sudden change in the temperature. We realized that the sensor needs to be calibrated properly for the proper reading. Once we calibrated it, it worked fine. It uses two alkaline batteries as the power source as well as 24 Volts AC.
- It effectively changes the temperature.
- LCD touchscreen.
- Works with HVAC systems with two stages.
- It saves energy if scheduled perfectly.
- It cannot be connected to Wi-Fi or smartphone.
- No detailed reports.
Bottom Line
We would suggest going for the thermostat if you just want your guest to use the thermostat as it is basic doesn’t require the user to access it via phone or any other smartphone. However, you must know you are loosing out on lots of features of smart thermostats.
7. Vine – Best Option WithWith Dial
No products found.
The Vine thermostat is not something that everyone is heard of. It wasn’t even on our lists. But when we were looking for some thermostats under $100, we came across Vine Wi-Fi Programmable Smart Thermostat. It is much like the other smart thermostat; you can connect it to WiFi, or any smart device like Alexa for voice control. Also, it has a touchscreen that controls the HVAC system and also important reports so that you can save some money energy bills.
There is a number given by the manufacturers, but according to our tests, it can save about 10-15% on your energy bills annually. It has an 8-day setting for flexible use of HVAC. We tested with most of the HVAC systems; it works with every system. All the hardware required for installation is also included in the package.
- Very cheap compared to other thermostats.
- Works with both Alexa and Google Home.
- It also has a dial to change the temperature.
- Works with most of the HVAC system.
- No Auto scheduling.
- Data is not as accurate as of the other smart home devices.
Bottom Line
We would recommend this product only if you are looking for the smart thermostat under $100. It does cover the basic features of a smart home device, but data or reports it produces is not as accurate as it should be.
Buyer’s Guide – What To Consider?
The number of smart thermostats has grown significantly. It is really hard to find if the right one if you do not have the proper information. If you know a few of the big brands, it is well and good, but if you want something different, proper information about thermostat will help you narrow down our search of thermostat for Airbnb. Hence, with the help of our experts, we have created a simple buyer’s guide where we cover the most important factors related to the thermostat for vacation rental.
1. Room Sensor
Room sensors play a key role in providing necessary information to the thermostat. When you want to some bucks on your energy bills, the right information is required for the efficient functioning of the thermostat. Most of the thermostat has an in-built sensor, but some thermostat like No products found. come with the separate sensor. These sensors are really useful if you want to install one thermostat for controlling the temperature for multiple areas of the house. Sensors are the most efficient way to increase the range of sensing power of the thermostat.
2. Home Automation Integration
All the thermostats we have mentioned on our list are standalone devices; they do not require any hub or smart home device. But if you already own one, it would wise to add the thermostat to the hub. This improves the efficiency of the thermostat even more, and you will be able to access using the same hub you have or the smart home device you own. All the thermostat we have mentioned connect to the most popular smart home devices and home automation systems. We advise you to stick with big brands like Nest if you want to use it with home automation. The best for Airbnb home automation is Nest T3017US.
3. Power Extender
Most of the smart thermostat require c-wiring. The power extender kit will help you connect to the traditional wiring in your Airbnb property. However, during our tests, we observed that some thermostats use existing wiring like Emerson Sensi . Not all thermostat are known to use the power extender. So please make sure that the thermostat you buy has compatible power extender.
4. Voice Recognition
In addition to tests, we also consider feedback for the existing users. So when you asked the existing users about how they use the thermostat. Almost 70% of them said, they like to use it with a smart home device as it allows them to control the thermostat with voice commands. As Airbnb owner, you also want your guest to have the best way to control the temperature inside the room. And what is better than just by voice commands. If you stick with thermostats of big brands like Nest T3017US and No products found.. You won’t have to worry about home integration. In fact, No products found. is the best when it comes to controlling thermostat with voice command because it has inbuilt Alexa. It won’t require any hub or Echo devices.
5. Touch Screen
If you are not using, phone or any smart home devices, the other way to access the thermostat is the onboard touch screen. The screen provides all the necessary information about the temperature status of your house. Not just temperature, it tells you about humidity, allergens, energy use etc. If you are running Airbnb, you want to minimize the money you spend on energy bills. Having proper knowledge of usage and which device uses the most energy etc. will help you optimize the HVAC system of your house and reduce the expenditure of your Airbnb property.
How Did We Conduct The Tests For Thermostats For Airbnb?
We began our test by selecting the best selling and highly reputed thermostat from the market. We had hired 14 experts who helped us identify the 27 thermostats for our research. Once we have identified, we acquired them for testing at our lab. Next, we had to determine the parameters for the tests. For that, we studied the basics of the thermostat and how it works.
Based on our basic information we gain we determined the parameters like room sensor, home automation integration, voice command, touch screen etc. By testing for these factors, we would easily find the thermostat for Airbnb. We tested each model for the same HVAC systems and smart home device so that we can compare the results easily.
In addition to tests, we also value how the customer’s think about the thermostat they are using. For that, we contacted existing customers of each model and heard their view. Once we had the results of the test, we asked our team to score model based on three factors—control, efficiency and connectivity. After calculating the overall score, we sorted the best seven thermostats for Airbnb. Here is the scorecard:
| Product | Control | Connectivity | Efficiency | Overall | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nest T3017US Learning | 98.4 | 98.6 | 97.2 | 98.07 | Check Price |
| ecobee4 | 98.6 | 98.2 | 97.6 | 98.13 | No products found. |
| Honeywell TH9320WF5003 | 97.6 | 97.4 | 97 | 97.33 | Check Price |
| Emerson Sensi | 97.2 | 96.4 | 98.2 | 97.27 | Check Price |
| GLAS | 97.4 | 97.6 | 96.4 | 97.13 | Check Price |
| TX9600TS Programmable | 97.9 | 95.3 | 96.9 | 96.70 | Check Price |
| Vine Wi-Fi | 96.8 | 96.8 | 96.3 | 96.63 | No products found. |
FAQs
1. How do you override a thermostat?
If you leave the thermostat on auto, it will change the temperature as per your auto settings. In order to override it, the best thing to do is to restart the thermostat.
2. How do you know if the thermostat in your house is bad?
There are several signs that you can look out for. May be unit is unresponsive, or it is not able to switch on or off AC or the heater. If settings are off than it is another major sign.
3. Do I need two thermostats for 2 zones?
Now, a single thermostat can help you create multiple zones in the house. Nest thermostat is perfect for such functions.
4. Can low battery affect thermostat?
In the case of power outages, battery help thermostat maintains the set temperatures. But without AC power and with low battery, thermostat will be affected.
5. What should my house be if it’s 100 outside?
When it is 100 degrees outside, you can set your thermostat to maintain 85 degrees inside your home.
6. How do you set temperature for a two-story house in the winter?
Let’s say temperature outside is 72 degrees. You can set the downstair temperature to 70 degrees and 74 degrees upstair. These temperature settings are just examples to help you understand that the downstairs temperature should be lower than the outside temperature, and upstair should be higher.
7. How long do thermostat batteries last?
Some batteries can last for 5 years. But it totally depends on how the thermostat is installed. Is it hard-wired or wireless? Wired thermostat batteries last longer.
8. How do I know new batteries are needed for thermostat?
Most of the modern thermostats provide the status of battery. If it is low, it will indicate it immediately.
Final Thought
If you are looking for a thermostat for your Airbnb property, it is quite possible you want to save on your energy bills as well as you want your guest to feel comfortable and allow them to switch to the temperature they want. All the thermostat we have mentioned in our reviews, are the most efficient thermostats you can find out there. If there are any doubts about how to choose the one that suits your need, go through our buyer’s guide.
Nest T3017US- Editor's Choice
Summary
Nest is a big brand of smart home products. Among all the devices that we had for testing Nest, T3017US Learning Thermostat has the highest sales number. It is 3rd generation thermostat with a new updated look.
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