How are you scheduling your climate/hvac temperatures? I’m currently using the scheduler card, which works ok, I’m just wondering if there’s a better option available. I just need a simple way to schedule the daily schedules.
I have a heat pump/mini splits, so I’d like to be able to schedule these independently. I do usually have them off in the summer, and a couple of the integrations I’ve looked at don’t have that ability, just a minimum temperature. I could however, just disable the schedule during summer, I haven’t fully decided on that yet.
I’m just curious what others are using/prefer.
A couple I’ve looked at, but seem like overkill for simple scheduling (feel free to tell me I’m wrong/overlooked something):
- velair
- versatile thermostat
- there was another I looked at briefly and don’t remember the name, but realized it was vibe-coded, so those aren’t generally maintained very long
Edit: the minisplits I have don’t have an actual thermostat. I use esphome controllers to control each one via wifi
I have a ludicrously complicated script that sets the temperature for my pellet stove, using a generic thermostat (using a zigbee temperature sensor, and a Shelly switch to control the stove).
For example, if the temperature outside is above 50 (F), set the pellet stove temperature to something really low to turn it off. Turn on below 45.
If the electric heat kicks on (from the main hvac thermostat), set the pellet stove temperature high - I want that running if the electric heat is on.
I think it aims for 72 during the day and 70 at night, or something like that.
Oh and the ceiling fan nearby kicks on if the pellet stove is running. As does a vent fan in our bedroom.
Yeah, my thermostat automations and scripts are crazy complicated. They also involve location and motion of course.
Our Ecobee thermostat does detect motion and can, in theory, automatically let the temperature drop if no one is home, for example. I tried it when we first got it, and I found that it must have been detecting our cats, so it was activating the heat when no one was home. I turned that feature off and went with the schedule instead.
Also, we have a heat pump with electric heat backup, so it may actually be cheaper to keep the heat constant, if it avoids using the electric heat. Unfortunately, I have no idea where that break-even point is (i.e., at some point, it’s likely cheaper to kick on the electric heat to bring the house up to temperature, versus running the heat pump for many hours - but I don’t know where that point is - and it certainly varies based on outside temperature, sun hitting the house, etc…).
These days, my schedule is extremely variable, so I just leave the normal schedule in place most of the time. I wish Ecobee made it easier to go, “Hey, today, I’m going to be out from 10-3, so let the temperature drop during that time.” (As it is, I have to adjust the permanent schedule each time, or I can change it as I’m leaving the house and tell it to resume the normal schedule in a few hours. But I forget to do it.) Home Assistant isn’t great with that kind of one-off thing either, unfortunately, as far as I’m aware - you pretty much have to set up an automation to run.
Yeah, I have mine run if I’m home via location of my phone, then it adjusts room-by-room based on where people (or the Cat) are. It’s pretty much completely automatic based on a bunch of variables, I rarely have to adjust it manually.
I feel you on not knowing where the break even point of heat pumps is! It’s so frustrating that that isn’t published.