Best Ecobee Settings For Heat Pump (Expert’s Picks!)

What are the best Ecobee settings for heat pumps? You will likely have this question if you want to get the best out of your heat pump.

A smart thermostat, like Ecobee, effortlessly regulates your heating and cooling systems to ensure comfort and maximize savings.

But that is when you know the right heat pump Ecobee settings. The recommended Ecobee heat pump settings help you run your heating system efficiently.

But you should know about the threshold settings and other important settings to use your heat pump cost-effectively. 

More About a Heat Pump

A heat pump is an efficient and flexible method of heating and cooling buildings of varying sizes.

It is an environmentally preferable alternative to conventional heating and cooling systems.

This is because it does not produce heat or cold air but rather transfers heat between the interior and outdoor spaces.

Let us get down to basics and see what makes heat pumps so special for both heating and cooling: 

Basic Heat Pump Components

A heat pump relies on four basic components for its operation.

These components enable it to efficiently transfer heat and provide heating and cooling for residential and commercial spaces.

For instance:

• Evaporator: Absorbs or extracts heat based on the mode.
• Compressor:  Increases pressure and temperature of the refrigerant.
• Condenser: Releases or transfers heat based on the mode.
• Expansion Valve: Regulates heat transfer by controlling the flow of the refrigerant. 

The Working Mechanism

The heat pump works differently during the heating and cooling modes to deliver the best results. For instance:

Heating Mode

Note: It works the other way around in the cooling mode, releasing indoor heat to the outdoors through an evaporator. 

Benefits of Using a Heat Pump

Several benefits are associated with using a heat pump and enhanced using the right Ecobee thermostat.

For instance:

Fact: High quality geothermal heat pumps are more efficient and consistent because they use stable ground temperatures. 

What are the Best Ecobee Settings for Heat Pump?

Using the Ecobee thermostat with your heat pump is definitely a great idea. But remember that this will only be effective for your heat pump if the system utilizes a solitary OB/D wire.

The wire is the essential link between your Ecobee thermostat and your heat pump.

If the wires used by your Ecobee and heat pump are not the same, your Ecobee will not work with your heat pump. 

Getting Started with Ecobee Threshold Settings

In order to make the right use of an Ecobee thermostat, you need to learn more about the best settings.

With the threshold settings, you can set up your HVAC system to work more efficiently and protect it from damage by controlling how the Ecobee handles everything.

How to Access Thresholds Settings?

1. Go to the main menu on your thermostat.
2. Tap “Settings.”
3. Then select “Installation Settings.”
4. Finally, select “Thresholds” on the list.

Let’s get started with Threshold Settings:

Settings	Range	Purpose
Heat differential	1F-2F	Sets the minimal temperature difference for heat on/off to prevent system cycling.
Cool differential	1F-2F	Setting the minimum cooling temperature difference prevents system cycling.
Temperature range	2F-3F	Sets the minimum outdoor temperature for the heat pump compressor to avoid inefficient operation.
Compressor minimum	35F-40F	Sets the minimum outdoor temperature for heat pump compressor to avoid inefficient operation.
Compressor max outdoor temp	65F-75F	Sets the maximum outdoor temperature for heat pump compressor cooling to avoid inefficient operation.

Understanding More about Recommended Ecobee Settings

Once you know about Ecobee threshold settings, you should also learn about other features to ensure proper thermostat usage. 

For instance:

Heat Settings	Description
Normal heating mode	For a warm indoor climate without taxing your heat pump, set your Ecobee thermostat to 68F to 72F in cooler weather.
Extreme cold weather	To help your heat pump maintain target temperatures, adjust the thermostat to 72F to 74F.
Auxiliary heat usage	Set a narrow “Heat Differential Temperature” (1 or 2 degrees) to make the heat pump work harder before triggering supplementary heat during large temperature dips.
Dehumidification in cooling mode	Set a narrow “Heat Differential Temperature” (1 or 2 degrees) to make the heat pump work harder before triggering supplementary heat during large temperature dips.
Energy savings in the absence	Set your Ecobee thermostat’s “Cooling Range” humidity to maximize comfort and energy efficiency.
Temperature adjustment	“Away Mode” saves electricity, as the thermostat conserves energy and prevents severe temperature changes.

Fact: Regular heat pump maintenance ensures efficiency, so maintain airflow and prevent heat pump overwork by cleaning or replacing air filters. 

Settings for Energy-Saving Features on Ecobee Thermostat

The smart thermostats from Ecobee are packed with various energy-saving features specifically designed to boost efficiency and minimize energy usage.

There is a long list of energy-saving features on Ecobee thermostats, but here are the ones you should definitely consider using. 

1. Smart Recovery

Smart Recovery uses advanced technology to predict your preferred temperature settings based on your daily routine and current weather conditions.

It gradually adjusts the temperature to reach the selected settings. It also optimizes comfort while reducing energy usage and reduces pressure on cooling or heating systems. 

Here’s how to Activate It:

You can activate this feature on the thermostat and through the web portal. 

On the Thermostat

1. Go to the Menu.
2. Find “Settings.”
3. Check “Preferences.”
4. Pick “Cooling Smart Recovery” or “Heating Smart Recovery.”
5. Touch Enable it.

Through the Web Portal

1. Go to the “Settings” tile.
2. Go to “Preferences.”
3. Choose “Smart Recovery Heat/Cool Mode.”
4. Select “Enable.”

Fact: The use of the Smart Recovery feature also enhances energy saving and prolongs equipment life. 

2. Geofencing

The Ecobee app’s geofencing feature allows the thermostat to adjust without manual intervention, depending on how close you are to the house.

The thermostat enters “Away” mode when you leave the geofenced area and “Home” mode when you return.

With this automated system, you will not have to worry about keeping your house at the ideal temperature. 

Here’s how to Activate It:

1. Go to the Ecobee app.
2. Find “Account” in the bottom right corner.
3. Click the icon.
4. Click “Thermostat Geofence.”
5. Use the toggle switch to change settings.

You may not see the geofencing option if you are on an iOS device, where you can do it through HomeKit. 

Fact: To maximize outcomes with geofencing, make sure to enable background activity for the app in the App info menu. 

3. Follow Me

If you have installed Ecobee smart thermostats or Ecobee Smart Sensors in different rooms of your home, the Follow Me feature can be quite beneficial.

It can automatically adjust the temperature in the unoccupied rooms, and change the heat or air conditioning in the occupied rooms first.

You can save money on utility bills without losing comfort by heating or cooling the spaces you need.

The Ecobee thermostat, the mobile app, and the web interface all provide access to the sensor menu. 

Here’s how to Activate It:

1. Go to the main menu.
2. Find the “Sensors” menu.
3. Look for “Follow Me.”
4. Tap “Enable.” 

4. Smart Home and Away

With this feature, your thermostat will cleverly adjust its schedule to ensure your comfort when it detects that you are home during a scheduled Away period.

The feature is available on various Ecobee models, including:

The ecobee3 lite can be combined with a SmartSensor or a Room Sensor to enable Smart Home and Away functionality. 

Here’s how to Activate It:

1. Go to the Main Menu on your Ecobee home screen.
2. Alternatively, go to the app.
3. Find “Sensors.”
4. Click and tap “Smart Home/Away.”
5. Tap “Enable.” 

5. Schedule Assistant

The Schedule Assistant on the Ecobee is a smart setting that learns your habits and routines to generate optimal heating and cooling schedules.

It looks at your previous temperature and occupancy patterns and recommends a plan to save you money on utility bills without sacrificing comfort.

Using this function, designing an energy-saving routine that fits your routine is a breeze. 

Here’s how to Activate It:

1. Go to your mobile app.
2. On the Main Menu, find the “Schedule” tab.
3. Tap on the days listed to view a schedule. 

Here’s how to Change/Add a Comfort Setting to the Schedule:

1. Tap the “+” icon on the right corner of the “schedule” tab.
2. Pick the “Comfort Setting” you want to add.
3. Tap “Next.”
4. Pick the time as per your liking.
5. “Save” and Exit.

You can easily copy a schedule for a specific day and use it for the rest of the day by selecting “Copy” at the bottom.

Fact: In the Schedule assistant, saving different activities of the same Comfort Setting simultaneously will cause them to merge together. 

Takeaway

So, what are the best Ecobee settings for heat pumps or any of your HVAC systems? Well, you can try a lot with this smart thermostat, and it is quite easy to achieve with a dedicated mobile app. 

All you need can easily be accessed from the Main Menu on the app.

But be prepared to experiment with those settings to find what helps you run your thermostat more efficiently and economically.