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DerbyDad03 DerbyDad03 is offline
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Default remote control of furnace

On Monday, May 24, 2021 at 10:11:59 PM UTC-4, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
On 5/24/2021 8:16 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:


I control my Nest thermostat with my smartphone via the Nest app or with
my voice via my Echo Dot(s). The smartphone app works from anywhere.
I have 4 Dots, so that method works from anywhere in my house and garage.

Alexa, set the temperature to ___ degrees.
Alexa, increase/decrease the temperature. (changes by 2°F)
Alexa, increase/decrease the temperature by ___ degrees.
Alexa, turn the thermostat off.

Basically, anything that can be set at the thermostat can be set by the Nest
app on my phone, including the schedule. The Alexa method is a more limited.

It didn't/doesn't cost me anything. I paid $35 for the Nest through my utility
and I've gotten well over $35 in credits applied to my bill by participating in
"set-back" periods during times of high AC usage. I already had the Echo Dots
for other reasons, so all I had to do was add the (free) Nest skill.

Not a bad deal. I'd do that if offered, I have two Dots. I just don't
have the incentive to spend $100 when it is so easy for me to change it
with a couple of tops.


I assume you mean "taps".

It's easy for me to change mine with a couple of taps also. Thing is, my taps
are on the smartphone that sitting on the nightstand, while I'm still cozy in bed.
Even easier is using the whisper mode on my bedroom Dot.

Me whispering: Alexa...raise the temperature
Alexa whispering back: The temperature is set to 72


In my last house I had two programmable T-stats and rarely changed the
program. Overall worked well. I'm on one level now.


I don't ever change the *program* but I do change the temperature.

Using Eco-mode for vacations is easier than reprogramming to single
temp all the time, but not as economical. That's the one drawback of a
Nest stat - no Hold mode. I don't understand why. How hard can it be
to add that feature to the software?