I recently upgraded my heating system from a Honeywell thermostat to the Wyze Thermostat, and I wanted to share my experience with the community. My setup involves a zoned radiator system, and I was looking for something more modern and user-friendly. Here’s what I found:
Installation Experience
Installation was surprisingly straightforward thanks to the Wyze app’s setup wizard. The app provided clear step-by-step guidance, and the video tutorials were particularly helpful. However, I encountered a minor hiccup when my system only had two wires. I had to purchase a 24V AC transformer and hook it up to the Rc and C terminals following instructions from the Wyze forums. The electronic test initially failed, indicating something on the * terminal, but I was able to bypass this and everything worked out in the end.
Features and Performance
One of the standout features is the scheduling capability. Setting up schedules was a breeze, and the UI is very intuitive. I’m curious to see if the system will learn and adapt over time, especially with radiator heating, which can be a bit slow to respond. My only concern is the heating time estimates, which seem overly optimistic. On day three, it still suggested heating times of 3 minutes or less, while in reality, it takes about 20-30 minutes. I’m hopeful this will improve as the system learns my home’s heating patterns.
Another interesting feature is the motion sensor. When I’m within 1-2 feet of the thermostat, the display lights up, showing the current temperature and mode. I wonder if this motion detection could be used to trigger other actions, like changing modes when someone enters the room.
Areas for Improvement
While the thermostat performs well overall, there are a few areas where Wyze could enhance the user experience:
- Configurable Display: I’d love to see options to customize the display, such as showing outdoor temperature or target temperature.
- Temperature Accuracy: The thermostat tends to be 0.5-1.0°F higher than my old Honeywell unit. It would be great if this could be adjusted or if the system could learn and correct for this over time.
- Temperature Increments: Smaller increments for temperature adjustments, like 0.5°F, would be a nice addition for more precise control.
- Safety Temperatures: A higher maximum safety temperature would be beneficial, especially for households with pets.
Integration with Alexa
I was pleased to find that integrating the Wyze Thermostat with Alexa was seamless. The app authenticated easily with the Alexa app, allowing me to control the thermostat through voice commands. While I couldn’t set modes like ‘sleep’ directly through Alexa, adjusting the temperature was straightforward.
Overall Thoughts
At $50, the Wyze Thermostat offers excellent value for money. It combines solid features with ease of use, making it a great choice for those looking to upgrade their heating system. My only hope is that future updates will address some of the minor issues I’ve encountered, particularly with temperature accuracy and heating time estimates.
Rating: 4/5
Would you consider upgrading to the Wyze Thermostat? I’d love to hear your thoughts or experiences in the comments below!