Okay, so I’ve been messing around with this ecobee thermostat for a while, and let me tell you, the geofencing feature on my iPhone is a game-changer. It’s not rocket science, but it did take a bit of trial and error to get it working just right. So, I thought I’d share my experience in case anyone else is scratching their heads over it.
First off, I made sure my ecobee app was up to date. You know how it goes, gotta have the latest version, or things can get wonky. Then, I jumped into the app. At the first time I found that geofencing on an Android phone can also be used in the ecobee app, even if you are using an iOS phone. Then, I tapped on that little gear icon in the top right corner of the Home screen – that’s where all the good stuff is hidden.
Next, I scrolled down until I saw “HomeKit” and gave that a tap. Under that menu, I spotted my ecobee device listed under “Accessory.” I realized that I needed to set up an “Arrive Home” and “Leave Home” scene in the Home app on my iPhone, and these scenes would be triggered by the geofence.
Setting Up Scenes in the Home App
So, I switched over to the Home app and started tinkering. I set up two scenes:
- “Arrive Home”: This one kicks in when I’m getting close to home.
- “Leave Home”: This one activates when I’m heading out.
The trick here is to link these scenes to the geofence. When I set up the scenes, there’s an option to choose when they should be triggered. I selected “When I Arrive” for the “Arrive Home” scene and “When I Leave” for the “Leave Home” scene. Pretty straightforward, right?
Configuring Comfort Settings in the ecobee App
Back in the ecobee app, I had to set up the “Away” comfort setting. This is basically telling the thermostat what temperature I want when I’m not home. I went to “Comfort Settings” and then “Away” and adjusted the temperature to something that would save energy but still keep things comfortable.
Enable Multi-User Geofencing
To make the most of Multi-User Geofencing on HomeKit, I ensure that all devices are updated to at least iOS 16 or tvOS 16 for Apple TV. Besides, I made sure that I have a home hub to take advantage of the feature.
Test, Test, Test
With everything set up, I did a few test runs. I drove around the block a couple of times, pretending I was coming and going. At first, it didn’t work exactly as I expected. The timing was off, and sometimes the thermostat wouldn’t adjust in time. I went back into the settings and tweaked the geofence radius a bit. I made it a little wider, so the thermostat would have more time to adjust before I actually got home.
The Result
After a few adjustments, I finally got it working like a charm. Now, whenever I leave home, the thermostat automatically goes into energy-saving mode. And as I’m heading back, it starts adjusting the temperature so that it’s nice and comfy by the time I walk in the door. It’s pretty awesome not having to fiddle with the thermostat every time I come and go.
Honestly, the best part is knowing that I’m saving energy without even thinking about it. I’ve noticed a difference in my energy bills, and it feels good to be a little more eco-friendly. Plus, it’s just super convenient. I love that my home is always the right temperature when I get there.
So, if you’ve got an ecobee and an iPhone, I definitely recommend giving geofencing a try. It might take a little patience to get it set up, but once it’s working, it’s a total game-changer. Trust me, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it!