#9050979 - 06/07/17 09:22 AM
ecobee 3 T-stat
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civic13
Post Master
Registered: 04/18/01
Posts: 2654
Loc: You Know
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Lowes is having a promo where you get 2 room sensors free when you buy one of the t-stats. Is that a good deal?
My house is two stories and of course the upper floor is either hot in summer or cold in fall/winter. Would this help at all?
If I tell it to monitor the upper floor temp wouldn't the other rooms eith be too cold/hot?
https://www.lowes.ca/promo/Promo-Ecobee/...5&et_cid=182269
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#9050990 - 06/07/17 09:30 AM
Re: ecobee 3 T-stat
[Re: civic13]
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SW20_MR2
Post Master Sr
Registered: 08/27/01
Posts: 5282
Loc: Markham, Ontario, Canada
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Your assumptions are correct. The lower floor will be colder in the summer. I can live with it though cause at least I'm comfortable when I'm sleeping.
_________________________
1991 MR2 Turbo aka "The Myth"...does it really exist?
2006 Mazda3 Sport aka "Reality"...it really does exist...
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#9051025 - 06/07/17 09:46 AM
Re: ecobee 3 T-stat
[Re: SW20_MR2]
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LNXGUY
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 08/06/00
Posts: 106936
Loc: Barrie, Ont,
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Problem with the sensors is that without dampers in the vents for the thermostat to control all you're really doing is blasting the AC until the bedroom is cool enough. Downstairs will be way colder. I guess if you're ok with that then the ecobee will do just fine.
_________________________
-Bill The GN would OWN you, your children and your children's children. '09 E90 335 d 
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#9051033 - 06/07/17 09:53 AM
Re: ecobee 3 T-stat
[Re: LNXGUY]
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Hatorade
pheggit
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 11/05/99
Posts: 26894
Loc: Toronto, ON
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Problem with the sensors is that without dampers in the vents for the thermostat to control all you're really doing is blasting the AC until the bedroom is cool enough. Downstairs will be way colder. I guess if you're ok with that then the ecobee will do just fine.
Can't you just close the dampers on the lower floors to force the air to the higher floors? I have 3 floors plus basement and closed off all vents in basement, half the vents on the main floor and left the rest of the floors open (2nd floor is open to 3rd floor) and my place feels pretty even during winter and summer. I think it's mostly due to the open concept of the upper floors though.
_________________________
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I thought Spark was a robot from the old movie and I kind of remember seeing him telling some engineer showing the equation for a clear metal that the guy would event years later - porschetr
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#9051089 - 06/07/17 10:25 AM
Re: ecobee 3 T-stat
[Re: Hatorade]
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LNXGUY
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 08/06/00
Posts: 106936
Loc: Barrie, Ont,
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Yeah alot of people do that. Gotta be careful that you're not closing to much stuff and making your furnace/AC work harder. I usually close the downstairs air returns in the summer as well. But who the fuck knows if all that shit actually makes a difference lol
_________________________
-Bill The GN would OWN you, your children and your children's children. '09 E90 335 d
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#9051112 - 06/07/17 10:41 AM
Re: ecobee 3 T-stat
[Re: porschetr]
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SW20_MR2
Post Master Sr
Registered: 08/27/01
Posts: 5282
Loc: Markham, Ontario, Canada
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I will close some of the downstairs vents, but there is still a difference in temps. Generally 2 degrees in my house.
_________________________
1991 MR2 Turbo aka "The Myth"...does it really exist?
2006 Mazda3 Sport aka "Reality"...it really does exist...
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#9051226 - 06/07/17 12:18 PM
Re: ecobee 3 T-stat
[Re: Just A Troll]
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xza8
Sr Member
Registered: 12/18/09
Posts: 1065
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Fully closed in basement
Half open on ground
Full open on upper + bathroom vents on upper to "vent" the hot air out
But don't restrict too much or your HVAC will freeze up
I'm no HVAC guy but how come homes don't have upper return and lower returns?
E.g. in summer, the upper returns on 2nd floor should be open to allow the HVAC to suck the heat and in the winter, the lower returns on 2nd floor should be open to allow the HVAC to suck the cold.
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#9051456 - 06/07/17 04:24 PM
Re: ecobee 3 T-stat
[Re: xza8]
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LNXGUY
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 08/06/00
Posts: 106936
Loc: Barrie, Ont,
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Fully closed in basement
Half open on ground
Full open on upper + bathroom vents on upper to "vent" the hot air out
But don't restrict too much or your HVAC will freeze up
I'm no HVAC guy but how come homes don't have upper return and lower returns?
E.g. in summer, the upper returns on 2nd floor should be open to allow the HVAC to suck the heat and in the winter, the lower returns on 2nd floor should be open to allow the HVAC to suck the cold.
You don't have returns on both levels of your house? Cause you should, lol.
_________________________
-Bill The GN would OWN you, your children and your children's children. '09 E90 335 d
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#9051681 - 06/07/17 10:13 PM
Re: ecobee 3 T-stat
[Re: loudsubz]
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Risky Business
Provides a Great Work Environment. he/him
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 05/17/10
Posts: 44790
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Try playing around with blocking the main floor return. You want the majority of intake coming from the second floor where the temp is hotter. Also if your home has an upper and lower return close the bottom and allow the upper to suck.
This part I am not so sure about.
Humidity is usually highest on the lowest floor, so while the top floor is the warmest, it's the least humid, with the basement the coolest and most humid. My understanding is you want to circulate humid air through your HVAC system to reduce humidity which affects how hot it feels, mold growth, etc.
I don't think moving warm air (top floors) has the same effect and I also don't think it's a good idea to close off the basement vents especially if it's a finished basement. If it's unfinished then it doesn't really matter, but mold should still be a concern. Just a thought anyway.
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#9051688 - 06/07/17 10:20 PM
Re: ecobee 3 T-stat
[Re: Risky Business]
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Risky Business
Provides a Great Work Environment. he/him
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 05/17/10
Posts: 44790
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Basically closing off any vents or returns 100% isn't recommended, the goal is to 'balance' the system with so it's not 0% or 100% (off vs. on), but somewhere in the middle you still need to allow air circulation through the home.
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#9051751 - 06/07/17 11:08 PM
Re: ecobee 3 T-stat
[Re: Risky Business]
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xza8
Sr Member
Registered: 12/18/09
Posts: 1065
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Basically closing off any vents or returns 100% isn't recommended, the goal is to 'balance' the system with so it's not 0% or 100% (off vs. on), but somewhere in the middle you still need to allow air circulation through the home.
"Closing" the basement vents still have air blasting through the closed grates
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#9051774 - 06/08/17 02:21 AM
Re: ecobee 3 T-stat
[Re: Risky Business]
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Wildout
Post Master Jr
Registered: 11/26/07
Posts: 1767
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Try playing around with blocking the main floor return. You want the majority of intake coming from the second floor where the temp is hotter. Also if your home has an upper and lower return close the bottom and allow the upper to suck. This part I am not so sure about. Humidity is usually highest on the lowest floor, so while the top floor is the warmest, it's the least humid, with the basement the coolest and most humid. My understanding is you want to circulate humid air through your HVAC system to reduce humidity which affects how hot it feels, mold growth, etc. I don't think moving warm air (top floors) has the same effect and I also don't think it's a good idea to close off the basement vents especially if it's a finished basement. If it's unfinished then it doesn't really matter, but mold should still be a concern. Just a thought anyway.
Depends on the layout of the home. In the summer my house is the most humid & warmest on the upper floor. In summer I close the vents on the main floor & basement.
Still about a 2 degree difference depending on if the blinds are open/closed etc.
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#9052158 - 06/08/17 10:57 AM
Re: ecobee 3 T-stat
[Re: Wildout]
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Risky Business
Provides a Great Work Environment. he/him
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 05/17/10
Posts: 44790
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Depends on the layout of the home. In the summer my house is the most humid & warmest on the upper floor.
Layout shouldn't make a difference.
Did you measure humidity between all three floors at the exact same time or was it at different times making this a moot point? What was the humidity difference between all three floors?
I should add that my 'facts' are based on a bungalow layout, basement most humid, 1st floor is mid, and attic least humid. When you take the readings (summer vs winter) will also make a difference so obviously my experience may not apply to a 2 story home and anyone that wants to compare needs to cite how/when they took their measurements.
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#9052160 - 06/08/17 10:59 AM
Re: ecobee 3 T-stat
[Re: xza8]
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Risky Business
Provides a Great Work Environment. he/him
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 05/17/10
Posts: 44790
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Basically closing off any vents or returns 100% isn't recommended, the goal is to 'balance' the system with so it's not 0% or 100% (off vs. on), but somewhere in the middle you still need to allow air circulation through the home. "Closing" the basement vents still have air blasting through the closed grates
Then you have other problems.
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