I’ve recently made the switch from Nest to Ecobee, and while I’m excited about the potential for more versatile integration with other devices, I’ve run into a bit of a snag with geofencing. As someone who’s relied on geofencing for years to manage my HVAC system, it’s been a bit of a learning curve. Let me share my journey and see if anyone out there has some insights or solutions!
The Nest Era
With Nest, I used a third-party app on my iPhone that allowed me to set two geofencing circles: one for leaving home and another for returning. The returning circle was my favorite—it gave my HVAC a 5-mile head start when I was heading home. It was seamless and reliable, and I couldn’t imagine life without it.
Transitioning to Ecobee
When I switched to Ecobee, I was disappointed to find that their geofencing only supports one Android phone. My setup requires monitoring two phones, so this limitation was a deal-breaker. I explored alternatives like IFTTT, Life360, Hubitat, and even HomeKit, but nothing quite replicated the dual-circle functionality I had with Nest.
The Search for Solutions
I’ve reached out to the community to see if anyone has successfully navigated this challenge. Specifically, I’m looking for advice on how to set Ecobee into away mode when both phones are not home and switch back to occupied mode when one or both return. If anyone has tackled this, I’d love to hear about your setup and any tips you might have!
Why This Matters
For me, this isn’t just about convenience—it’s about energy efficiency and cost savings. Being able to preheat or cool my home based on my location not only enhances comfort but also helps manage energy usage. I’m hopeful that with the right configuration, I can replicate the functionality I had with Nest and take full advantage of what Ecobee has to offer.
If anyone has insights or experiences to share, I’d be grateful to hear from you! Let’s see if we can crack this geofencing puzzle together.