How To Fix Connection Issues for ecobee Room Sensor

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Make Sure the ecobee Thermostat Is Updated

Updating the thermostat means getting the latest firmware version for it. The firmware is a certain type of software that tells the thermostat how to operate, what to show on the screen and how you can interact with it. Updating the firmware can add new features or improve existing ones, and even fix current issues. As long as your ecobee thermostat is connected to WiFi, it will keep updating its own firmware automatically. When a new update is available for the type of thermostat you have, it will be pushed out gradually to all thermostats.

Here's how to find the firmware version running on your thermostat:

1. Tap the Menu icon on the thermostat screen.
   

1. Scroll to the bottom and select About.
   

1. Check the Version number.
   

1. Compare it to the latest firmware version your ecobee thermostat is supposed to have.

1. Firmware Versions
2. Latest ecobee device firmware versions
3. If your ecobee thermostat is not up to date, you will need to contact ecobee support at 1-877-932-6233 to request a firmware upgrade. Have your Serial # ready.
   

2. Replace the Sensor's Battery

If your sensor's battery is running low or the sensor is not working as intended, it's recommended to replace its battery:

Your ecobee room sensor is powered by a single 3 Volt CR-2032 battery.

If Your Sensor Has a Stand

1. The stand also acts as the battery cover. While supporting the narrow part of the stand, use a thin tool to remove the battery cover.
   

1. Gently unseat the battery from the battery compartment.
   

1. Ensure the battery is inserted positive (+) side up as shown here. You will need to gently seat the new battery into place, allowing the metal prongs to hold the battery into place.
   

1. Replace the battery cover by snapping it back into place.

If Your Sensor Does Not Have a Stand

1. Using a thin tool such as a pen, plastic card, or your fingernail, slip the tool into one of the recessed corners of the battery cover.
   

1. Remove the battery cover.
   

1. Gently unseat the battery from the battery compartment.
   

1. Ensure the battery is inserted positive (+) side up as shown here. You will need to gently seat the new battery into place, allowing the metal prongs to hold the battery into place.
   

1. Replace the battery cover by snapping it back into place.

3. Reboot the Thermostat

There are two ways to reboot an ecobee thermostat:

Reboot From the Thermostat Itself

1. Pull the thermostat from its wall mount.
   

1. Keep the thermostat powered off for a minute then put it back on the wall.
2. Allow the thermostat to complete its boot up process.

Reboot From the Breaker Box

1. At the circuit breaker box, switch off the heating and cooling system.
   

1. Keep the thermostat powered off for a minute then switch the breaker back on.
2. Allow the thermostat to complete its boot up process.

4. Pair the Sensor to the Thermostat

1. Your ecobee will notify you that it has found a Room Sensor. Tap Yes to proceed with pairing.
   

1. Your Sensor will start to pair and a four digit code will appear on your thermostat.
   

1. Select a name for your Sensor, then tap Next.
   

1. Select when your Sensor will be active, then Tap Next.
   

1. Enable or Disable the Smart Home/Away function by tapping the desired setting.
   
2. The Smart Home/Away function uses all the sensors connected to your thermostat to detect if anyone is currently home. If, according to your normal schedule, your thermostat believes you should be â€œhome,” but your sensors detect that your home is actually unoccupied, your ecobee thermostat will make adjustments so you aren't unnecessarily heating or cooling an empty home.
3.  

1. Enable or Disable the Follow Me function by tapping the desired setting.
   
2. The Follow Me function uses all the sensors connected to your thermostat to intelligently make heating and cooling decisions for the rooms of your home that your sensors detect activity in. If the Follow Me function is disabled, your ecobee thermostat will make heating and cooling decisions based on the average temperatures measured between the sensors in your home.
3.  

5. ecobee App: Room Sensor Participation

Participation determines when and which sensors are active during Comfort Settings.

1. Open the ecobee app on your mobile device.
   

1. On your ecobee, open the Main Menu.
   

1. 
   
2. Tap Sensors.
   

1. 
   
2. Tap the Arrow next to your ecobee Sensor name.
   

1. 
   
2. Tap the Participation arrow to expand it.
   

1. 
   
2. Select which Comfort Setting you want your sensor to participate in and tap Save when done.
   

6. Pair Sensor to Thermostat

1. Wake your ecobee thermostat by tapping it.
   

1. Standing in front of your ecobee, hold up your Room Sensor and pull the green tab out of the back.
   

1. Your ecobee will notify you that it has detected a Room Sensor. Tap Yes to proceed with pairing.
   

1. This will automatically pair the sensor. Each sensor has a unique 4-digit PIN that will be displayed during the pairing process.
   
2. Jot down this PIN number. You may need it to adjust or configure your sensor's settings in the future.

1. Follow the prompts to name your Sensor, then tap Next.
   

1. Select when your Sensor will be active, then Tap Next.
   

1. Enable or Disable the Smart Home/Away function by tapping the desired setting.
   
2. The Smart Home/Away function uses all the sensors connected to your thermostat to detect if anyone is currently home. If, according to your normal schedule, your thermostat believes you should be â€œhome,” but your sensors detect that your home is actually unoccupied, your ecobee thermostat will make adjustments so you aren't unnecessarily heating or cooling an empty home.
3.  

1. Enable or Disable the Follow Me function by tapping the desired setting.
   
2. The Follow Me function uses all the sensors connected to your thermostat to intelligently make heating and cooling decisions for the rooms of your home that your sensors detect activity in. If the Follow Me function is disabled, your ecobee thermostat will make heating and cooling decisions based on the average temperatures measured between the sensors in your home.
3.  

7. Toggle Sensor

You may toggle your thermostat's sensor on or off depending on whether or not you want the thermostat to consider its reading during different Comfort Settings. For example, if your thermostat is located in a hallway or another location that you don't care to climate control compared to a major room of your home, disabling the thermostat's sensor will keep it from considering the temperature of that area.

The thermostat's sensor can only be disabled from participating in a Comfort Setting if there is at least one room sensor participating in it.

To Toggle the Thermostat's Sensor

1. Press Menu on the main screen.
   

1. Go to Sensors.
   

1. Select the thermostat.
   

1. Select Participation.
2. Check or uncheck the Comfort Setting for which you want or don't want to use the sensor.
   

8. Ignore Room Sensor

If you live in a populated area, a neighbor may also own an ecobee smart thermostat. Your ecobee unit may simply be detecting the sensor of a neighbor & is repeatedly attempting to pair with it. This is a great example of a sensor that should be added to the Ignored Sensors list.

To Ignore a Room Sensor

1. When your thermostat asks to pair with a sensor you no longer wish to receive pairing prompts for, tap No, Don't ask again.
   

1. Tap Yes, Ignore.
   

1. The sensor that your thermostat was attempting to pair with has now been added to the Ignored Sensors list, and you will no longer receive prompts to pair with it.

9. Check Current Sensor Readings

1. Wake up your ecobee Smart Thermostat, then tap the Main Menu button.
   

1. Tap Sensors.
   

1. Beside your Sensor you'll see the temperature currently being read.
   

10. Factory Reset

1. Remove the circular backing from the back of the sensor.
   

1. Remove the battery from the battery slot.
   

1. Gently lift the prongs in the middle of the battery slot with your index fingernail.
   

1. Place the battery back into the battery slot with the positive side facing down for 30 seconds.
   

1. Remove the battery and place the battery back in with the positive side facing up.
   

1. Place the backing back onto the battery slot.
   

11. Enable Follow Me

1. Wake up your ecobee Smart Thermostat, then tap Menu.
   

1. Tap Sensors.
   

1. Tap the arrow next to Follow Me to expand its options.
   

1. Tap Enable to turn on the Follow Me feature.
   

1. You can then select the Room Sensors you wish to use with Follow Me below.
   

Your ecobee Smart Thermostat will always be selected when Follow Me is enabled.

12. Proper Placement

Wireless remote sensors should be placed in the rooms of your home where you spend the most time; rooms where comfort is the most important to you. For example, if you have a small child, or a home-office that gets particularly hot or cold, place your wireless remote sensors in those rooms to prioritize comfort there.

This will make sure your ecobee smart thermostat is well-aware of the temperatures within those rooms and can make adjustments accordingly.

ecobee wireless remote sensors use the 915MHz frequency band to communicate with ecobee thermostats. Simply put, they do not require wi-fi to work with one another. To ensure security and privacy, the communication between your sensor and thermostat is encrypted.

13. Status Icon Meanings

Once you’ve connected your sensors, these icons (shown on your thermostat and ecobee app) will indicate your sensor’s current status.

Connected and Participating

If the sensor is filled in with signal waves indicating communication, it’s connected and participating in your ecobee thermostat’s temperature reading.

Connected and Not Participating

If the sensor is not filled in with signal waves, it’s connected but not participating in the temperature reading.

Not Connected and Not Participating

If the sensor is not filled in and has no signal waves, it’s not connected and not participating in the temperature reading.

14. Enable Smart Home/Away

Smart Home/Away uses ecobee room sensors to determine whether you're home or not.

1. Wake up your ecobee Smart Thermostat, then tap Menu.
   

1. Tap Sensors.
   

1. Tap Smart Home/Away.
   

1. 
   
2. Tap Enable to turn on Smart Home/Away.
   

Your ecobee Thermostat is always selected in Smart Home/Away unless you select disable. 

15. Configure Participation Settings

1. Wake up your ecobee Smart Thermostat, then tap Menu.
   

1. Tap Sensors.
   

1. Tap the Arrow next to your ecobee Sensor name.
   

1. Tap the Participation arrow to expand it.
   

1. Select which Comfort Setting you want your sensor to participate in.
   

16. Icons and What They Mean

What Comfort Setting Icons Mean

Awake

Select this to label your Comfort Setting Awake.

Home

Select this to label your Comfort Setting Home.

Auto Home

Select this to label your Comfort Setting Home automatically.

Away

Select this to label your Comfort Setting Away.

Auto Away

Select this to label your Comfort Setting Away automatically.

Asleep

Select this to label your Comfort Setting Asleep.

Custom

Select this to create your own custom Comfort Setting.

What Alert Icons Mean

Alert

Lets you know if your heating and cooling equipment isn’t performing as it should. 

Registration

Register your ecobee.

Savings

Your ecobee can help you save money.

Humidity

Sets the percentage of relative humidity at which your ecobee will generate a Low/High Humidity Alert.

Network

Possible network issues.

Settings

Settings may need to be adjusted.

Temperature

Select this to create a temperature alert.

Schedule

Scheduling alert.

Sensor

Adjust to set alerts for your sensors.

Demand Response

Demand Response (or demand management) is a way for energy companies to discourage energy use by rewarding homeowners with bill credits for reduction in energy use.

Potential Hazard

A potential issues has been found.

What Home Screen Icons Mean

Menu

The icon for your Main Menu.

Menu with Notification

You have a notification.

Weather

Various weather icons telling you the weather outside.

Quick Changes

Quickly change settings.

What Wi-Fi Icons Mean

Full Signal

The network you're trying to connect to is strong.

Medium Signal

The network you're trying to connect to is okay.

Low Signal

The network you're trying to connect to is weak.

No Signal

The network you're trying to connect to has no signal.

Cannot Connect

You can't connect to this network.

(Connected) Full Signal

You're connected and the signal is strong.

(Connected) Medium Signal

You're connected and the signal is okay.

(Connected) Low Signal

You're connected and the signal is weak.

(Connected) No Signal

You're connected but there's no signal.

(Connected) Cannot Connect

You've lost connection.

Wi-Fi Locked

Connecting to this network requires a password.

Wi-Fi Unlocked

This network is unsecured and does not require a password.

What System Icons Mean

Humidity

What level the humidity is at.

Heat Mode

Heating mode is on.

Cool Mode

Select this to label your Comfort Setting Home automatically.

Auto Mode

The ecobee selects whether to heat or cool according to your settings.

Heat Custom Settings

Custom settings you created for heat.

Aux Heat

Auxillary heating has been turned on.

Water Heat

Water heater settings.

Aux Water Heat

The auxilary threshold has been reached and is running for your water heater.

Cool Custom Settings

Custom cooling settings that you have set on your thermostat.

Humidifier

The humidifier is on or can be turned on. 

Dehumidifier

The dehumidifier is on or can be turned on. 

Fan

Either the fan is running or you can set the fan to run.

Ventilator

If you have an economizer or a ventilator present, you can cool your home for free, without running an air conditioner.

Economizer

If you have an economizer or a ventilator present, you can cool your home for free, without running an air conditioner.

What Menu Icons Mean

Registration

If this shows up with a number you still have steps to complete on your registration.

System

Settings menu dealing with your HVAC system.

Notifications

Your ecobee is trying to tell you something.

Schedule

The schedule you set.

Vacation

The vacation settings you decide.

Settings

Your ecobee's settings.

Comfort Settings

Select this to create or adjust Comfort Settings.

About

Information about your ecobee and firmware.

Sensors

Settings for your Room Sensors.

Information

Important information for your ecobee.

Log Out

Select this to log out of your ecobee.

Add Thermostat

Select this to add a new thermostat.

What Weather Icons Mean

Sunny

The sun is out.

Mostly Sunny

There's sun and clouds.

Cloudy

There's clouds.

Mostly Cloudy

There's cloud and sun.

Rain

It's raining.

Snow

It's snowing.

Thunderstorm

Thunder and lightning.

Fog

It's foggy or misty outside.

Wind

High winds.

Tornado

Take cover as there is a tornado nearby.

No Weather

Either there is no connection to a weather station or there is an issue with your ecobee.

Clear Night

The night is clear. Events happening at night will include a mood.

17. Introduction

If you're unable to pair your ecobee Room Sensor to your ecobee Thermostat, there are a few things you can try to fix the issue. This guide will take you through all the steps you can try on your own before requesting assistance from ecobee support. You need to make sure your thermostat is updated and running on the latest firmware and the room sensor has a good battery. After that you can attempt re-pairing the room sensor with the thermostat.

What You'll Need:

• No extra tools or supplies are needed.

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Before You Begin:

Make sure the ecobee Thermostat is connected to WiFi

• How to Connect an ecobee Thermostat to WiFi