Sensi 4+

To the folks who recently complain about multiple furnace screen - I don’t know what you did, but open up settings and it’s simple to correct. User error?
We have really enjoyed our new thermostat and this app, installed about 4 years ago. Updates have been good. We've had no connectivity problems, and setting schedules and modifying is straigh simple. It can be set to adjust to outside temps too instead of just time of day. (You can set it to reach the temps you like AT the time you like knowing Sensi will actually turn furnace on sooner and full speed if its really cold out, and closer to the schedule time if it’s only cool out.) I LOVE being able to control our furnace from bed - turning it up early if I wake early, or down if we want to sleep in later than usual. We have even used it from the airport to be sure we returned to a toasty house. I thought our old programable thermostat was fine, but I would never go back now as this system allows much more flexibility for saving energy while you’re sleeping or at work, while still keeping you comfortable. A solid app. We have not tried the beta location app that adjusts temp down 3 degrees if your phone leaves, and turns on as you near home... we keep a pretty predictable schedule and just overuse that if it’s an odd day.

When I got my first Sensi about 1-1/2 yrs ago I was thrilled, especially with the app. Sadly, there's very little great in the tech world that psychopathic designers and programmers can't ruin. The app used to be simple and perfect--open it to a full screen view of your thermostat; and control changes stuck. Now, it first opens to a crippled small list view of "all" your thermostats--because most people have five or six right? </sarcasm> You can change temperature up or down on the dinky view, but have to press to then get the full screen version for things like on/off heat/cool or fan. I use the app a lot as a remote to change fan on/auto so now have to navigate every time to do this--so damned annoying. Also, it used to solidly accept control changes now those are super flaky and often don't stick. I just tried going up from 68 to 72 and had to try several times because it bounced back to 70 then down again to 71. Many times it doesn't stick and send to device after closing app and you have to go back.

I used to praise this device to anyone any everyone. Now it is just another piece of annoying crap tech that barely works and is designed by psychotics with no clue.

The WiFi functionality was up and running in about 10 minutes. Very easy if the directions are followed. I love all of the advanced settings related to heat cycles, geofencing, and sensitivity of thermostat. Already I notice that my furnace isn’t running nearly as much this winter and my home is still at desired temps. The only issue I have was that when ordering my new thermostat, the Sensi was advertised as one of the few smart thermostats that “doesn’t need a c-wire” to replace older thermostats. This is a tad misleading. Although you don’t need a dedicated c-wire, your wire configuration has to be altered if you don’t have one. The installation walk-through on the app never addresses this. I installed per the app and furnace wouldn’t turn on. After an hour I luckily found a tutorial video on the app that showed how to use the “fan” wire as the c-wire. This worked, but you lose the ability to use the fan to circulate air. All in all, I love the thermostat and app, but wish the c-wire comparability would have been communicated better. Lots of people are replacing older thermostats that do not have more than 4 wires.