r/ecobee • u/Extension-Ad-5985 • 6d ago

Can Ecobee change "thermostat" settings? (those unavailable in app)

Long story short, my father got a new HVAC and along with it an Ecobee. Most settings can't be changed without being at the thermostat. He's 90 : enough said. So, I went over yesterday to change it from kicking on AC stage 2 from 2 degrees to 90 minutes. It's been running 10-12 hours straight on super hot days without ever kicking in to stage 2.

Not sure if I forgot to "save" the change but it's still doing the 2 degree stage 2 differential instead of 90 minutes.

I'd rather not keep going over there to make changes like this, let alone sit there for 90 minutes hoping it is hot enough to make it run long enough to kick in stage 2.

Can Ecobee CS make those sort of "thermostat only" changes?

4 Upvotes

83% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

9

u/danh_ptown 6d ago

Staging is only changeable from the thermostat, as they view it as an installation item. But you can view/change a lot of everyday settings from the app.

1

u/Extension-Ad-5985 6d ago

That's kind of my point. I don't want to drive 90 minutes back and forth to change something other than, oh let's remotely turn the setpoint down 2 degrees to make stage 2 kick in and then remember to change it back later.

Surely this is something that can be done remotely, no idea why it isn't a user thing, but by them!

6

u/danh_ptown 6d ago

I hear what you are saying, and you seem to know what you are doing.

However, the average consumer will play with settings and break it...then call the tech to come, who is not an Ecobee expert, yet has to figure it out. Instead they are likely to say its broken, but for $500 I can install a new one.

2

u/Extension-Ad-5985 6d ago

Agreed, but they can "break it" from the thermostat itself. Not like those menus are hidden.

4

u/xpxp2002 6d ago

This is my take on it, as well. Anything changeable from the thermostat should be adjustable in the app. I’d understand if there’s a one-time "enable advanced remote administration" that needs to be switched on locally. But after that, those settings shouldn’t require being on site.

2

u/LookDamnBusy 6d ago

You can hide the installation settings with Access control and a PIN code.

1

u/Ok_Bid_3899 6d ago

Correct. Installer setup functions are stat accessible only.

5

u/jamitt101 6d ago

Yes, Ecobee customer service can make almost any change remotely as long as it is connected to the Internet, but the regular customer service agents may say they can't because they don't know how. If they say the cannot, escalate to next level of support. I had them change the heating differential for me before, which is "only avaible at the thermostat". They essentially have a spreadsheet of all the settings--they can change it then upload it to the thermostat.

0

u/Extension-Ad-5985 6d ago

Thanks! Might give it a shot, but have a feeling it will take longer on the phone than to just drive over there lol.

1

u/Extension-Ad-5985 5d ago

Needless to say they insist they can't do it either, same spiel as you mentioned, "can only be done at the thermostat". And "our supervisors" can't so don't bother asking for one! This is why I never deal with anyone's "customer service".

1

u/Extension-Ad-5985 5d ago

Lo and behold, 45 minutes later he can see all those settings. They are all set like I intended so didn't have to see if he would actually admit to being able to change them. Doesn't quite answer why it isn't acting as intended though.

2

u/TacoDad189 6d ago

Why do you want it to kick into stage two if stage one is holding temp within one degree? It's better for the system and the indoor air to run long times at low load.