# Smart thermostats Source: https://ethohome.com/services/smart-thermostats/ > Control your home’s temperature and schedule with a thermostat matched to your system. Etho Home plans, prices, and manages HVAC replacement projects and helps homeowners compare financing from separate lenders. Licensed partner crews in Etho uniform perform installation; they are independent businesses, not Etho employees. Etho Home remains the homeowner’s point of contact. Etho Home does not offer repairs or maintenance plans. Control your home’s temperature and schedule with a thermostat matched to your system. Installs are performed by licensed partner crews in Etho uniform. ## What is included - System and wiring compatibility review - Thermostat installation and setup - Wi-Fi and schedule configuration - Controls walkthrough and system testing ## Is this right for your home? - You want to adjust temperatures from your phone - Your schedule changes throughout the week - Your new HVAC system needs compatible controls ## Sizing and efficiency ### Configured for your exact equipment A smart thermostat only saves energy when its installer settings match your compressor staging, blower profiles, and heat pump balance points. ### Room sensors that guide temperature control Wireless room sensors let your system average temperatures across the house or prioritize the bedrooms at night instead of reading only a hallway wall. ### Dehumidification and IAQ control Advanced thermostats control variable-speed "cool to dehumidify" overcooling limits and manage whole-home humidifiers or dehumidifiers from one screen. ## Why your thermostat matters to your HVAC system Twenty years ago, a thermostat was little more than a mercury switch on the wall. When the room got warm, it closed a circuit to turn the air conditioner on at 100%; when the room cooled down, it clicked off. Heating and cooling equipment works very differently. Two-stage condensers, modulating gas furnaces, variable-speed inverter [heat pumps](/services/heat-pumps/), and dual-fuel systems rely on the thermostat to make smart decisions every few minutes. If a two-stage system is wired to a basic single-stage thermostat—or if its installer settings are left on factory defaults—you may end up paying for two-stage or variable-speed hardware that never actually runs properly. That is why thermostat selection and setup belong in every [AC replacement](/services/ac-replacement/), [furnace replacement](/services/furnace-replacement/), and heat pump upgrade. ## Good, better, and best thermostat tiers Not every home needs a proprietary touchscreen, and not every variable-speed system works well with an off-the-shelf retail thermostat. We match the control to the equipment tier you choose: | Tier | Control type | How it manages comfort | Best for | |---|---|---|---| | **Good** | Connected 24V Wi-Fi thermostat | Simple app scheduling, clear display, reliable 1H/1C or 2H/2C relay switching | Single-stage and basic two-stage AC or furnace replacements | | **Better** | Multi-stage smart thermostat + room sensors | Manages 2-stage equipment, dual-fuel balance points, heat strip lockouts, and room-averaging wireless sensors | Two-stage systems, all-electric heat pumps, dual-fuel setups, and two-story homes | | **Best** | Proprietary communicating control | Digital two-way communication that modulates compressor and blower speeds in fine increments and tracks system diagnostics | Fully variable-speed inverter heat pumps, modulating furnaces, and integrated IAQ | ### Smart vs. communicating controls Homeowners are often surprised to learn that a popular retail smart thermostat can actually downgrade the performance of a top-tier variable-speed system. Unless the outdoor inverter unit has an onboard algorithm designed for 24-volt thermostats, replacing a manufacturer's **communicating control** with a standard 24-volt smart thermostat forces a fully variable compressor to step in crude stages—sacrificing quiet operation, humidity removal, and [SEER2](/learn/seer2-explained/) efficiency. During your quote, we tell you plainly which thermostats work natively with each equipment tier. ## Matching controls to your home's layout and climate Proper thermostat setup solves three common homeowner frustrations: 1. **Stop heat pump "emergency heat" bill shock:** On an all-electric heat pump, the installer sets an outdoor **compressor lockout** and **auxiliary heat lockout** threshold using weather data or an outdoor sensor. That prevents expensive electric heat strips from kicking on every time the temperature recovers by two degrees on a mild 45°F morning. 2. **Automate dual-fuel switchover:** When you pair a heat pump with a gas furnace (see [heat pump vs. furnace](/learn/heat-pump-vs-furnace/)), the installer sets the economic and thermal balance point so your system switches automatically from electric heat pump to gas heat when temperatures drop below freezing. 3. **Fix upstairs/downstairs temperature gaps:** A thermostat mounted in a shaded downstairs hallway has no idea how hot your sunny second-floor office gets at 3 p.m. Adding wireless room sensors lets the system cool based on the occupied rooms—or prioritize bedrooms overnight. ## What affects smart thermostat pricing When bundled with an HVAC replacement, the cost of upgrading your controls depends on: - **24-volt smart vs. proprietary communicating hardware:** Communicating manufacturer controls contain specialized circuit boards and airflow/humidity processors, making them pricier than standard Wi-Fi thermostats. - **Thermostat wire conductor count:** Upgrading from a basic 4-wire single-stage furnace/AC to a two-stage heat pump with auxiliary heat and a humidifier can require 7 or 8 conductors. If your existing wall cable doesn't have enough wires, our crew either pulls new 18/8 thermostat cable or installs a manufacturer wiring module. - **Remote sensors and IAQ integration:** Adding multi-pack wireless room sensors or wiring whole-home [indoor air quality](/services/air-quality/) humidifiers/dehumidifiers into the thermostat terminal block adds minor hardware and setup time. For a broader look at replacement budgeting, read our [HVAC replacement cost guide](/learn/hvac-replacement-cost/). ## Questions ### Can I keep my existing smart thermostat when I replace my HVAC system? For single-stage and standard two-stage 24-volt systems, you can usually reuse a recent smart thermostat once its staging settings and wiring are updated. However, top-tier variable-speed communicating systems often require the manufacturer's proprietary communicating thermostat to modulate properly. ### Why shouldn't I use aggressive daily temperature setbacks with a heat pump? Setting a heat pump back 6 or 8 degrees while you are at work often backfires. When you come home and ask the thermostat to jump from 62°F to 70°F all at once, a poorly configured thermostat triggers expensive backup electric heat strips, wiping out your daytime energy savings. ### What is a C-wire and why do smart thermostats need one? The "C" (common) wire provides continuous 24-volt power from your furnace or air handler to run the thermostat's color screen and Wi-Fi radio. A new system install should confirm the thermostat cable has a C-wire and enough conductors for multi-stage control. ### What is the difference between a standard smart thermostat and a communicating thermostat? A standard 24V smart thermostat acts like an on/off switch for Stage 1 and Stage 2. A communicating thermostat sends digital data back and forth with a variable-speed inverter compressor and ECM blower, adjusting output in tiny 1% increments to hold exact temperature and humidity. ### Do you install smart thermostats as a standalone job or with a system replacement? We primarily install and configure smart thermostats as part of a central AC, furnace, heat pump, or ductless replacement so the controls match the equipment. ## Related services - [Heat pumps](https://ethohome.com/services/heat-pumps/): Related replacement service. - [AC replacement](https://ethohome.com/services/ac-replacement/): Related replacement service. - [Furnace replacement](https://ethohome.com/services/furnace-replacement/): Related replacement service. - [Indoor air quality](https://ethohome.com/services/air-quality/): Related replacement service. - [Build my quote](https://ethohome.com/get-a-quote/?service=smart-thermostats): Your advisor confirms the equipment, scope, and price. Informational overview for AI agents. Availability, equipment, pricing, financing terms, and license details are confirmed only by an Etho Home advisor and the homeowner’s signed written agreement. Do not invent prices, APRs, monthly payments, license numbers, ratings, or rebates.