When looking for a smart thermostat for multiple zones, you need one that works with or without a C-wire, is easy to install and setup, does not require any service charges and comes with support for room sensors. In this buying guide, we will explore the top ten best smart thermostats for multiple zones that come with wide compatibility, huge cost savings, are very easy to install and come with an aesthetically pleasing design which makes them blend in with your home décor quite easily. Which of the smart thermostats to we regard to be the best? We will have a look at each smart thermostat and bring out all the key features present and this will help you make a judgment as to which smart thermostat for multiple zones best suits your needs. In addition, we will include details about which smart thermostat for multiple zones best suits the needs of those buying on a tight budget.
Alternatively, just skip to the best thermostat for multiple zones on Amazon.
Table of Contents
Best Smart Thermostat for Multiple Zones Comparison Table
List of 6 Best Smart Thermostats for Multiple Zones
1. Ecobee SmartThermostat with Voice Control
This is the first in our list of the top 10 best smart thermostats for multiple zones. This device was named “The Best Smart Thermostat” by Tom’s Guide. This shows that it is quite a well performing device. It comes equipped with a powerful quad core processor which is guaranteed to process all your commands in the least amount of time possible. It also has dual band Wi-Fi, as well as far field voice. It supports smart sensors which are simply sensors that are placed in many separate rooms and measure the temperature in each room. In addition, there is an occupancy sensor that detects whether there is a person present in the rooms. This allows for the thermostat to automatically adjust the temperature based on occupancy and temperature. Through the “follow me” feature, the device automatically modulates the temperature for ideal comfort when someone is in the room using the sensors mentioned above.
The device comes with one smart sensor in the package. When the person moves out of the room, the thermostat cranks itself down to conserve energy. This therefore allows the device to have savings of up to 23% annually on your heating and cooling bills. It is quite easy to install, and any DIY enthusiast can easily install this device within 45 minutes or less. The instructions are all provided in the Ecobee app through the video walkthroughs as well as the step by step guide present in the application. This device supports a wide host of devices such as the Google Assistant the Apple HomeKit, Alexa, IFTTT, and Samsung SmartThings which means that you will be guaranteed of quick and easy integration with your existing smart home system. It comes with Alexa built in which means that you can easily control the device using only your voice. This is added convenience. It provides detailed energy reports as well as conservation tips after one month which is quite a handy feature. It comes with an application for both Android and iOS.
This device does come with a few drawbacks. This device requires a C-wire which may not be present in older homes. It comes with a room sensor. If you want to set up multiple zones, you will need to buy more, and the additional room sensors can be purchased in packs of 2. It also has problems with managing temperatures in different zones of the house. You cannot maintain different temperatures for different zones because when you change the temperature in one zone, all of the temperatures in the rooms will be changed. Disabling the Alexa voice assistant causes an annoying red light to flash continuously. This is the best smart thermostat for multiple zones on the market.
2. Honeywell RCHT8610WF2006 Lyric T5 Wi-Fi Smart 7 Day Programmable Touchscreen Thermostat with Geofencing
This is another product from Honeywell. This is a relatively bare bones smart thermostat that does lack features that other smart thermostats have. For example, the device does not have the ability to learn your schedules automatically. In addition, it is not able to detect your presence in different zones in your house. In order to do this you can purchase additional sensors to place around your homes. These sensors can be controlled using the smartphone lyric application and you can also use the application to create schedules for all of them. You can also use your smartphones, and it can use the location of these smartphones to detect where exactly the occupants are in the home. This will help the smart thermostat to take advantage of the multiple zone functionality as it will modulate the temperature in the rooms accordingly.
It is quite easy to install the device, as the device comes with a step by step process of how to install the smart thermostat and set it up. It also gives steps on how to set up Geofencing as well as the different temperature settings for Sleep, Away, Home and Wake Up settings. This means that any DIY enthusiast will be able to set up the device in a couple of minutes. The device can easily be connected to a smartphone via you home Wi-Fi network. The smart thermostat is energy star certified which shows how efficient it is. It has wide compatibility as it is compatible with most single stage and multi stage conventional and heat pump heating and cooling systems. The device is also compatible with iOS or Android smartphones.
This device from Honeywell is compatible with the Apple HomeKit and Amazon Echo. It is compatible with Amazon’s Alexa which allows for you to use your voice to control the device. It also has adaptive recovery in which the device learns how long it takes for it to reach the right temperature at the right time. It then automatically runs your system to reach the desired temperature.
The device does have a few drawbacks. The product requires C-Wire which might not be available in older homes. It does not allow for Geofencing and scheduling for the same device at the same time. It also does not come equipped with motion sensors, and it does not have separate room sensors included in the package. This is the cheapest smart thermostat for multiple zones on the market.
3. Google, T4000ES, Nest Thermostat E
This is the third device in our list of best smart thermostats for multiple zones. This device was created with a very soft and organic looking finish. This helps it to be unobtrusive as it blends with your home décor quite easily. It supports smart home systems such as Google Home, Alexa as well as many others, with the exception of Apple HomeKit. It can easily adjust the temperature when the house is unoccupied through the Home/Away assist feature. This allows for savings in your electricity bills. The sensor detects if there is any movement in the room where it is put, and when there is no movement, the thermostat automatically adjusts the temperature. It has a learning ability that allows for added convenience. It also allows for you, the user to create a simple schedule which makes it quite convenient to you. It works with your wireless connection, and is compatible with both 2.4 and 5GHz Wi-Fi networks.
It comes with a built in rechargeable lithium-ion battery. It also comes with temperature, humidity, occupancy, ambient light and magnetic sensors. It works with 85% of 24V heating and cooling systems including gas, forced air, heat pump, radiant, oil, hot water, geothermal, solar and electric systems. The device comes with an application which is compatible with both android and iOS. In addition, you can login to the nest website to adjust the temperature, as well as to see how much money you are saving.
The device does have a few drawbacks. It does support room sensors but there is no room sensor included in the package. As mentioned above, it does not support the Apple HomeKit which is quite a disadvantage for Apple users.
4. Google Nest T3019US Learning Thermostat 3rd Gen Smart Thermostat
This is another product from the search engine giant, Google. This device is a smart thermostat that is aesthetically pleasing. Nest is one of the most trusted brands for home automation, so if you do buy this device, you are guaranteed that you are buying a high quality device. This device learns your habits, and adjusts the temperature in accordance with your habits. It does so by interpreting the daily thermostat readings and these allow it to determine your behavior and allows it to change the temperature automatically to suite your needs. The device is quite easy to install and set up. The package comes with everything that you will need to set up the device. This includes the hardware tools such as the trim kit, mounting screws and the nest screwdriver, as well as the informational tools you will need which are all in the installation guide. It takes an average user less than 20 minutes to set up the device. It has the far sight feature in which the thermostat uses the inbuilt motion sensors to light up beautifully to show you details such as the temperature, weather as well as the current time when it detects you near it. It is also energy star certified which means that it is energy efficient. The company boasts that you can save between 10 and 15 on your monthly energy bills.
The device allows for you to check your energy history which allows you to identify exactly where your energy is going. It has the Home/Away assist feature in which the device automatically turns itself down when nobody is present at home. This allows for it to save energy. It works with Amazon’s Alexa which allows for you to control it using your voice. You can easily control this device by connecting it to your home’s Wi-Fi network. This will allow you control it using your phone, laptop or tablet. This smart thermostat also has 10 different sensors that measure ambient light, motion, humidity, and other parameters. It can be controlled using buttons set up on the outer ring of the device. It can also be used with various home automation devices and platforms such as Google Home, WeMo switches, Smart lightings by LIFX, Haiku fans, etc. Through the thermostat’s ability to interact intelligently with other smart devices, the device is able to make devices such as the lights flash in the occupant’s zone to get their attention when there is an emergency.
It allows for you to install as many sensors as you need in different rooms, and you can control the temperature in each room individually. These sensors allow for the thermostat to heat or cool a particular zone based on whether there is anyone present in that particular zone. This leads to huge energy savings. The product comes with 2-year limited manufacturer’s warranty. All these features could easily make this the best smart thermostat for multiple zones. This device has a few drawbacks. The device comes with no room sensor. This means that you need to separately purchase a room sensor. You also need a C-Wire.
5. Honeywell Home T9 WIFI Smart Thermostat with 1 Smart Room Sensor
This comes from the popular manufacturing giant, Honeywell. This company creates very good sensors and monitoring devices for many manufacturing and production industries and these devices last for years. The smart room sensors provide a signal for up to 200 feet, which makes it very easy to manage separate rooms from a single thermostat. The smart thermostat comes with a simple, unobtrusive design and it comes with one sensor. The smart room sensor utilizes batteries and it is made to automatically detect the temperature present in the room. In addition, it also determines room occupancy. This helps the smart thermostat to automatically heat or cool rooms that are occupied and focus only on those occupied rooms. This helps for the thermostat to save both money and energy. It comes with the ability to handle multiple rooms to focus on.
This allows for you, the homeowner to gain control instead of having the thermostat automatically choose one room over another. The device intelligently learns your home’s heating and cooling patterns. This allows for it to deliver the right temperature at the right time through the Auto home/away scheduling feature. It is quite easy for you to control the thermostat using your mobile device from anywhere using either your android, or your iOS device. The device also comes with a power adapter which is quite easy to install, and is quite useful if your home does not have a C-Wire installed. It works with Alexa and the Google Assistant.
The device does have a few drawbacks. This device does not work with the Apple HomeKit. This therefore means that if you are an Apple user, this means that this device is not for you. The device also does not come with a motions sensor and you need to choose between scheduling and Geofencing. In addition, the thermostat has no built in motion sensor.
6. GLAS Smart Thermostat by Johnson Controls
This is a device from Johnson Controls. It is a very stylish looking device that is guaranteed to be a head turner. It is one of the most stylish thermostats available on the market, and it will definitely match your home’s décor. It has advanced features such as the ability to set up different zones and control the temperature in each zone individually. This device can be controlled entirely from the device’s touch screen which is quite a handy feature. It works with Amazon’s Alexa as well as the Google Assistant which means you can easily control this device with your voice. It also allows for mobile connectivity through the GLAS by JCI smart thermostat mobile application. This application is available for both Android and iOS users. It is possible to control multiple glass thermostats in different locations using that one mobile application. The device allows for indoor air quality monitoring. This includes humidity, total VOCs and the equivalent CO2. It also allows for outdoor air quality reports of the following: air quality index and UV index, as well as allergens. It is compatible with a wide variety of HVAC configurations such as: electric, oil, gas, forced air, heat pump systems. It also allows for dual fuel support for heat pumps. The thermostat allows for remote software updates. This means that the software keeps getting better as bugs are continuously removed in the updates that are installed on the device. It has the Home/Away/sleep features. Home and Away are activated based on occupancy sensors. The Sleep feature is enabled on the sleep time. This needs to be manually programmed into the device. It also comes with a built in backup battery which will keep your settings saved in the event of a power surge.
The device has a few drawbacks. The occupancy sensor only works when you walk past the device. This makes it much less effective than remote sensing or Geofencing options. The device is rather pricey too. All the features in the device could have easily made it the best smart thermostat for multiple zones if it wasn’t for these drawbacks.
Best Smart Thermostat for Multiple Zones Brands
The best smart thermostat for multiple zones brands are the following: Honeywell, Nest and ecobee. ecobee makes very good thermostats that are renowned for their “smart” features as well as the energy savings that users get when they install ecobee thermostats. Honeywell is an industrial giant and most industrial managers can give testimonies about how reliable Honeywell devices are. Nest is a home automation giant. It is a brand that is owned by Google and the brand has become a favorite for home owners.
Best Smart Thermostat for Multiple Zones
The best smart thermostat for multiple zones is the ecobee SmartThermostat with Voice Control. This device is quite a well performing device. It comes equipped with a powerful quad core processor which is guaranteed to process all the instructions you send to it in record-breaking time. It has dual band Wi-Fi and it was named “The Best Smart Thermostat” by Tom’s Guide. All of these factors have made us find it become our favorite.
Here are a few key things we love about this smart thermostat:
- Wide compatibility
- Huge cost-savings
- Provides detailed energy reports each month
- Easy to install
- Amazing tech support
- Follow me
- Voice Control
- Apple Kit Support
Cheapest Smart Thermostat for Multiple Zones
The cheapest smart thermostat from our list of the best smart thermostats for multiple zones is the Honeywell RCHT8610WF2006 Lyric T5 Wi-Fi Smart 7 Day Programmable Touchscreen Thermostat with Geofencing. This is a relatively bare bones smart thermostat that lacks the features that other smart thermostats have such as the intelligent learning feature in which the smart thermostat learns your schedule automatically. It is a rather reliable device and it is quite easy to install and operate.
Here are the key things we like about this device:
- Easy to install
- Smartphone apps for both Android and iOS
- Voice Control
- Adaptive recovery
- Energy star certified
How much do Smart Thermostats for Multiple Zones Cost?
The smart thermostats for multiples zones do cost quite a bit. They will definitely shake your pocket a bit, but don’t worry. They won’t leave a gaping hole in your pocket.
The higher end smart thermostats for multiple zones are in the 200-300 USD range. These thermostats have all the features you could ever dream of in a smart thermostat. Examples of devices found in this price range are the GLAS Smart Thermostat by Johnson Controls and the Google Nest T3019US Learning Thermostat 3rd Gen Smart Thermostat. Most of these devices come with inbuilt sensors, and some even come with a remote sensor included in the package.
The mid to lower end smart thermostats for multiple zones are in the sub 200 USD range. These thermostats have most of the features you find useful in a smart thermostat. Some of the thermostats in this range are identical versions of higher end smart thermostats but with a few features removed e.g. a few sensors removed, and remote sensors included in the package also removed. An example of a device in this range is the bare bones smart thermostat, the Honeywell RCHT8610WF2006 Lyric T5 Wi-Fi Smart 7 Day Programmable Touchscreen Thermostat with Geofencing.
Smart Thermostat for Multiple Zones FAQ
I Heard That Smart Thermostat For Multiple Zones Save Energy. How?
Well this is quite a good question to ask. These smart devices use the inbuilt sensors, remote sensors as well as other technologies such as Geofencing to determine if you are present in the home. If these technologies do detect that you are present at home, then they further determine your exact location in the room. This allows for the heating systems to only heat or cool the room in which you are. All other rooms that are currently unoccupied are not heated/cooled as much as the room in which you are. When you are away from home, the thermostat goes into some form of an “Away” mode in which it turns itself down and, thus, reduces the heating/cooling. This saves money in the long run as the device automatically turns off itself when you are not present, and it also reduces the temperature in rooms that you are not currently occupying (assuming it’s cold).
What Is The Recommended Temperature For Smart Thermostats With Multiple Zones?
It is a good idea to set the thermostats to around 72°F during winter. You can turn it down to 68°F if you want to conserve energy. When you are asleep, there is no need to have the temperature so high since you will be in your blankets. You can therefore bring the temperature down to 62°F when asleep.
During the summer season, it would be a good idea to set the temperature to around 78°F. You can bring it down to around 75°F at night time to help you stay comfortable.
All these temperatures really depend on your exact location and the prevailing weather conditions. These are just rough guidelines.
What Happens If The Thermostat Cannot Access The Internet?
Well that depends on the exact thermostat you have. In most cases you cannot remotely access the thermostat. This means that you cannot remotely control the temperature by use of your mobile phone or through the use of a web application. What usually happens is the device keeps functioning normally, and you will need to manually change the temperature if need be using the device’s interface, which is usually a touch screen.
How Do You Program The Smart Thermostats For Multiple Zones?
This is usually done whilst you install the device. What usually occurs is that you connect the thermostat to your local Wi-Fi connection. You then download the mobile application that is associated with that device. After that you enter details about your home’s heating and cooling systems. You also enter your preferred temperatures. After this, you will need to set up the separate zones, and set up the specific temperatures for them.
How Do You Read Smart Thermostats For Multiple Zones?
Well that is quite easy. Most of the thermostats come with LCD or LED screens. These screens come with a touch interface that allow you to control the device using the screen. If there is no touchscreen present, then fear not. There will be a set of buttons or a key pad that will allow for you to navigate the interface.
What Do You Do If the Thermostat Battery Dies?
This is not much of a problem in most applications. This is because the smart thermostats usually use your home’s power source. If this is not the case, then check for the low battery warning. Buy a replacement battery and consult your user manual for instructions on how to replace the battery. If you do not know exactly how to install the new battery try contacting customer support for assistance.
Why Do You Need a Smart Thermostat for Multiple Zones?
Well, there are a wide variety of reasons for this. Different rooms in the house need different cooling needs. This is where a smart thermostat with support for multiple zones shines. Remote sensors are located in different rooms and they send back information to the thermostat about the temperature in each room. In addition, some models also send back information indicating whether or not the room is occupied through the use of motion sensors. The thermostat will then adjust the heating or cooling pattern to make the rooms hotter or cooler and make the entire room comfortable. This will help avoid the scenario in which you heat or cool an empty room. In addition, features such as Home/Away allow for the thermostat to automatically adjust the temperature to your needs when you come home so that you get home to the exact temperatures you love, and reduce the heating when there is nobody at home.
Factors to consider when buying Smart Thermostat for Multiple Zones
1. Room Sensors
This is the most important factor when considering the best smart thermostat for your home. The thermostats need the remote sensors in order to get information such as whether the room is occupied or not, as well as the temperature that is present in each room. Make sure that your smart thermostat supports multiple remote sensors. Also have a look at the maximum number of sensors supported. It is quite normal to use one sensor in each room. If you have very many rooms, then make sure that your smart thermostat supports very many remote sensors.
2. Mobile Application Platform
You need to check whether the smart thermostat that you intend to buy supports the mobile device that you currently own. It would really feel like a waste of money to buy a thermostat that has an application that is not supported by your mobile device so save yourself the stress and check whether your phone is compatible first.
3. Compatibility
You probably have a home automation system already in place. If you don’t then you will probably have one soon. Choose a smart thermostat for multiple zones that is compatible with your home automation system. Also check whether the thermostat supports your devices. For example, if you are an apple user, through the use of the Apple HomeKit, you can easily control the smart thermostat through the use of the iWatch, iPad, iMac, or virtually anything Apple. Without support for the Apple HomeKit, you may not be able to use your smart devices to control the smart Thermostat.
4. Power Extender Kit
Does your home have a C-Wire? If your home does not have a C-Wire then it is best to get the thermostat that comes with a power extender kit. This allows for you to power the device with your traditional home wiring. This allows for your thermostat to function properly without any modifications to your home. Make sure you buy a thermostat with this if you do not have a C-Wire.
5. Installation
Make sure that your smart thermostat is easy to install and set up. The whole purpose of purchasing a smart thermostat for multiple zones is added convenience. It is not very convenient to have a device that is quite difficult to set up and use.
6. Service Charges
It is very possible to purchase a smart thermostat and end up having to pay some additional fees. These fees may be charged in order for you to gain remote access to the thermostat. It is important to check whether there aren’t any hidden costs before you purchase the thermostat.
What is a Smart Thermostat for Multiple Zones?
A thermostat is simply a device that is used for the control of a heating or cooling system. The thermostat measures the temperature present in the environment in which it is put and compares it to the temperature that is supposed to be present (set point). If the temperature present is higher than the set point, then the heating system is turned off. If the temperature goes lower than that set point, then the heating system is activated. Smart thermostats use advanced features in order to control the heating or cooling system in each zone. These advanced features include the use of remote sensors placed in each zone as well as other features such as Geofencing and motion detection. This allows for the thermostat to make sure that the temperature in each occupied zone is optimized to the homeowner’s needs. When there is nobody present in the zones, then the thermostat automatically gets into the energy saving mode in which it uses the minimum amount of energy possible.
How Do Smart Thermostats for Multiple Zones Work?
These thermostats usually come with remote sensors. The remote sensors are placed in each zone to be controlled. These sensors come equipped with technologies such as temperature, and motion detection. When these sensors detect motion of a human being, they send a signal to the smart thermostat. The smart thermostat automatically changes the HVAC settings to allow for the room that is occupied to reach the optimum settings. The thermostat only focuses on the occupied rooms, thus eliminating the problem of heating/cooling unoccupied rooms. They also work with technologies such as Geofencing in which they detect whether the home owner is in the home or not. If the home owner is out of the home, the thermostat enters the energy saving mode. When the home owner is a few miles away from his home, the thermostat automatically starts to heat/cool the home to reach the homeowner’s exact needs.
Conclusion
This article has explored the various smart thermostats for multiple zones. We have given a list of the top 10 best smart thermostats for multiple zones and have given a thorough analysis of each device. In addition, we have also given factors to consider when choosing the right thermostat for you. Check out the best thermostat for multiple zones on Amazon.
