1 month in, I like my Sensi Smart Thermostat! But I’m still on the fence about if they are a good idea.
July 2022, at the peak of a 99 – 106 degree heat wave, my central air conditioner broke. I learned that there are a lot of differing thoughts on the best solution for our little 1100 sq ft home.
So I ended up going with my third cheapest option, which included an Emerson Sensi Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat. [Amazon Link]
Here are my thoughts after using my new thermostat for over a month:
Loving the Convenience
This is the thermostat of my dreams when it comes to convenience! For years I have wished that I could set a temperature range instead of switching between heater and a/c on those crazy days when the weather is all over the place. And I can’t tell you how many times I wished I could adjust the temperature for just a little while in the morning or night without having to get out of bed.
I love how programmable my Sensi Smart Thermostat is! I have mine set for bursts of comfort at 6AM when I’m about to get out of bed and 9:30PM when I’m winding down to go to back to sleep.
The only thing missing is a sensor to know when our windows and doors have been opened for more than 5 minutes so it doesn’t waste electricity trying to cool off the state of Texas. … And maybe a button to open and close the windows for me because some of them are hard to do.
Content with the Security
Any time I add something to my home network, security is a concern. I worried how easy it would be for a hacker to adjust my thermostat to uncomfortable temperatures, resulting in a high electric bill. But Sensi has a security PDF on the Emerson website. I am going to go out on a limb and trust that their security team knows more about this than I do.
Security concerns are the reason I did not opt into the “Smart Savers Texas” program, which would allow Sensi to adjust my thermostat during peak electric demand. I am totally willing to adjust my thermostat during events that put a strain on the power grid. But I already tend to set my home on the hot or cold side to keep my electric bill low.
After recently hearing about citizens of Colorado being locked out of their thermostats, I am glad that I opted out.
Reliability -I think it’s good
The guys who quoted me were split 50/50 on if they suggested a smart thermostat or traditional. Some stated that they have more problems with the smart thermostats. But the guy I ended up buying from strongly recommended it. – So far I am glad that I followed his advice. But I have considered looking into traditional thermostats in case I ever feel the need to switch.
Daily Usage – Neat!
I can check my daily and monthly usage in the app. (Daily only keeps about 1 week history) It doesn’t tell me how much electricity was pulled, but I can see how many hours/minutes I ran the a/c, fan, and heater each day for the past week. There is also a “Monthly Archive” showing that I ran my air conditioner for 142 hours and 10 minutes the month I got it.