The Affordable Smart Thermostat Users Can't Stop Talking About

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Thermostats are small and unobtrusive, but an important part of a home. They help you keep your house at a temperature that makes you the most comfortable. However, they only work if you set them right. Basic thermostats let you set temperatures and maybe schedules, but they don't consider anything beyond that. With a smart thermostat, you can adjust settings remotely, and sometimes take into account the outside temperatures and energy usage when running, helping you save money. In fact, even HGTV's Mike Holmes recommends you reduce your bills with this popular home tech item.

Smart thermostats offer many perks over basic models, but some cost as much as $1,000, making them impractical for many budgets. If you're looking for something with extra features, there is an option worth checking out. The Sensi Smart Thermostat by Emerson is available on Amazon. It's a fairly affordable device, only costing around $130. While it doesn't have all the fancy features some other — much more expensive — devices come with, it does offer a lot of perks. 

Despite the rather low cost, the Sensi Smart Thermostat has quite a few features that may be worth the price. For one, the company claims you can save roughly 23 percent on energy related to your HVAC system. It's also easy to install, controllable from your phone, and it alerts you when you need to do regular maintenance.

With 4.4 stars on Amazon and over 20,000 reviews, it's easy to see that the majority of people enjoy this device. The reasons why are pretty obvious at a glance. It's designed to help cut utility costs. It's also easy to install yourself. It can be controlled via a phone app, and it works with any device that has access to the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. It connects with quite a few different types of HVAC systems, and can work with heating and cooling as well as gas and electric options. Even if you're intimidated by wiring, reviewers say the step-by-step instructions make installation feel simple. It's a great upgrade from a basic thermostat, without hurting your wallet.

According to one reviewer on Amazon, "This Smart Thermostat makes an excellent choice for the typical user who wants straightforward, intuitive controls with the added advantage of a WiFi connection." They go on to explain that the installation was simple and they were surprised by how intuitive the step-by-step instructions were. Once installed, the app helped them by providing easy-to-understand controls. "I would highly recommend this Smart Thermostat!"

Of course, no product is perfect. Many negative reviews note that while it works well at first, the Wi-Fi connection often stops functioning over time. Risk of function failure is one of the downsides to smart thermostats that no one is telling you about, and it can be a frustrating issue, as some buyers have found out. In some cases, the Wi-Fi symbol disappears entirely, and the device won't attempt to reconnect. 

One reviewer explained, "These are not reliable to have remote access. I bought three of these units. They do work in standalone mode in a reliable manner, but the number of times they go offline, or can't connect is frustrating." They also complained about the battery life, stating, "You need to replace the AA batteries if they get to 75%, or you will definitely lose remote access and also need to go through the re-setup process."

In short, this smart thermostat is affordable, but it may not perform reliably over the long term. If you don't mind balancing an affordable smart thermostat with the occasional disconnects, then this might be a good option. If you are not sure if this is the one for you, check out some of the best smart thermostats for your household as well, and see if there are features or costs that fit your needs better.