How to install your ecobee
Download the ecobee app The ecobee app has instructions, step-by-step videos, and diagrams customized to your wiring setup. Register your ecobee after installation to unlock smart features, like Amazon Alexa.
Important Information Look out for these icons at the bottom of each step. They indicate useful tips and important reminders.
First things first. Here’s what you’ll find in the box.
You’ll also need these tools: Drill for mounting anchors (3/16” drill bit) Small flathead screwdriver Phillips screwdriver Pencil Wire stripper OPTIONAL Hammer 4
STEP 1 Power off your Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system by using the master switch or circuit breaker box. This is important for your safety. ON OFF 5 OR ON OFF TIP: Look for your master switch or circuit breaker box in the basement, attic, utility closet, or behind a wall panel near the thermostat.
STEP 2 Confirm your system is off by turning on your heat (during winter) or your AC (during summer). Wait a few minutes — you should not feel air coming from your vents. TIP: If you have a boiler, check to see that the main flame is extinguished.
STEP 3 Remove your old thermostat cover from the wall. OR 7 TIP: Many thermostats simply pop off or unclip from the base, while others may have screws that you will need to remove.
C H E C K P O I N T: CO M PAT I B I L I T Y Does your old thermostat’s backplate have any of these indicators? 110 VAC OR 120 VAC OR 240 VAC WARNING HIGH VOLTAGE L1 L2 YES Sadly, you might not be compatible. You can double-check at ecobee.com/compatibility. NO Great, please continue to the NEXT PAGE.
STEP 4 Take a picture of the wires connected to the terminals of your old thermostat. You may need to reference this photo later on. 9 WARNING: ecobee3 lite smart thermostat is designed for 24VAC with a 2A maximum current. Do not connect it to line (high) voltage or millivolt systems.
C H E C K P O I N T: C W I R E Do you have a C wire connected to your old thermostat? YES Great! Continue to the NEXT PAGE. RC RH NO Go to PAGE 24 to install with a PEK. RC RH TIP: The wiring on your old thermostat may look different — just check to see if there’s a C wire.
Install your ecobee with a C wire If you have a C wire, it will power your ecobee. You won’t need the Power Extender Kit (PEK) included in the box. TIP: To install accessories (humidifier, dehumidifier or ventilator) please refer to the wiring diagrams at ecobee.com/wiring.
STEP 5 Carefully disconnect and label the wires from your old thermostat one at a time, using the labels provided. Rc 1 W/W Y/Y1 RC RH 12 TIP: If you have a jumper between RC , R H , or R, leave it alone. Only label the wires that run from your wall into a terminal block.
STEP 6 Unscrew the mounting plate of your old thermostat to remove it from the wall. RC 1 W/W Y/Y1 RC RH WARNING: Be careful, as some thermostats may contain mercury. Recycle your old thermostat safely with your local hazardous waste facility.
STEP 7 Decide if you want to use the trim plate with your ecobee. The trim plate is useful if you want to hide marks or holes left on the wall by your old thermostat. If using the trim plate, align the mounting holes on the trim plate and backplate and press them into place together.
STEP 8 Y Y/ 1 Pull the wires through the hole in the middle of the backplate and then attach the backplate to the wall using the drywall anchors and screws provided. W/W1 G Rc C TIP: Use a 3/16" drill bit to drill a hole for the drywall anchors.
C H E C K P O I N T: I N S E R T YO U R R W I R E (S ) Do you have more than one R wire (that includes R, RC , and RH)? YES NO Insert your wires: R or RC ➔ RC RH ➔ RH Insert your single wire: R, RC , or R H ➔ RC Rc R RH RH C O/B 16 W /W 1 Y/Y RH G C G Y1 Y2 RH Rc G G C 1 W1 Y1 W2 Y2 PEK O/B W1 W /W 1 Y/Y C 1 W2 PEK
STEP 9 Insert your remaining wires into the side (not the front) of their corresponding terminal blocks. Rc Rc G Rc G G Y1 Y2 O/B 1 Y/Y RH C C W1 W /W 1 Y1 Y2 W2 PEK Rc G Y1 TIP: Press the terminal block levers to insert the wires more easily.
STEP 10 Tug on the wires gently to ensure they are securely connected. RH C W 1 W 2 PE K 18 TIP: When a wire has been connected correctly, the lever on that block will lower.
STEP 11 Carefully push any excess wires back into the hole and ensure there are no drafts coming from the hole(s) in the wall. TIP: Large holes behind your thermostat will affect temperature readings. Prevent drafts by covering the hole(s).
STEP 12 W/W1 Y1 G Rc Gently press your ecobee into the backplate until it ‘clicks’ into place. C 20 TIP: If the thermostat ‘rocks’ or is not flush with the wall, be sure the excess wires are pushed all the way into the wall.
STEP 13 Turn the power to your HVAC system back on using the master switch or at the circuit breaker box.
Congratulations, you did it! Say hi to your new ecobee! To complete your setup and registrations, follow the instructions on your ecobee screen. hi 22 TIP: If your thermostat does not power on, please see the troubleshooting section on PAGE 49.
We can help you find a pro Installation with the Power Extender Kit (PEK) will require you to handle electrical wiring. If you’d rather leave it up to a professional, we can help you find one quickly. ecobee.
Install your ecobee without a C wire If you don’t have a C wire, you’ll need to use the Power Extender Kit (PEK) included to reliably power your ecobee.
C H E C K P O I N T: 3 O R 4 W I R E S The Power Extender Kit requires your system to have either of the following: 4 wires W/W1, Y/Y1, G, and R (or RC or RH) or 3 wires Y/Y1, G, and R (or RC or RH) Do you have these wires? YES Continue to the NEXT PAGE The Power Extender Kit will work with your system! R RCC R RHH 25 NO Contact us Visit our compatibility checker at ecobee.com/compatibility.
STEP 5 Take your Power Extender Kit, wire labels, tools, your smartphone, and go to your HVAC system. Label the wires at your thermostat. TIP: Your HVAC system can most often be found in your basement or your attic.
STEP 6 Open your HVAC system’s cover to reveal the control board. Y W G C R Control board 27 WARNING: HVAC systems contain high voltage wires. Use caution when working with the control board. If you’d rather leave it up to a professional, we can help you find one quickly. Visit ecobee.com/proinstall.
STEP 7 Take a picture of the wires connected to your control board. You may need to reference this photo later on.
STEP 8 Label only the R, Y or Y1, G, and W or W1 wires with the matching labels provided. If you have more than one wire going into these terminals, only label those going to your thermostat. Wires going to your A/C (ignore these) Y Y W G C R R W G Wires going to your thermostat Find detailed step-by-step videos at ecobee.com/installation. 29 TIP: If you have wires connected to both Rc and Rh terminals at the control board you may have a two transformer system.
STEP 9 Disconnect the wires labeled R, Y, G, and W from the control board.
STEP 10 Connect the wires you disconnected from the control board into their matching gray terminal blocks on the Power Extender Kit. Y G W Y R 31 TIP: Press the buttons to insert the wires more easily. G Find detailed step-by-step videos at ecobee.com/installation.
STEP 11 Tug on the wires gently to ensure they are securely connected. R Y G W W Y G R TIP: When a wire has been connected correctly, the button on that block will lower.
STEP 12 Connect the five white wires coming out of your Power Extender Kit to their corresponding terminals on the control board. Y W G C R R C G W Y Y W G R Find detailed step-by-step videos at ecobee.com/installation. 33 TIP: Once again, tug on the wires gently to ensure they are securely connected.
C H E C K P O I N T: P OW E R E X T E N D E R K I T Check that you have installed the Power Extender Kit correctly. It should be installed between your thermostat wiring and your control board.
STEP 13 Mount the Power Extender Kit inside your HVAC system, taking care not to strain the wires. Close the HVAC cover panel securely and return to your thermostat. Find detailed step-by-step videos at ecobee.com/installation. 35 TIP: Make sure your HVAC panel is fully closed. Some systems will not turn on if the cover panel has not been closed properly.
STEP 14 Back at your thermostat: Carefully disconnect and label the wires from your old thermostat one at a time, using the labels provided. Rc 1 W/W Y/Y1 RC RH TIP: If you have a jumper between Rc, Rh, or R, leave it alone. Only label the wires that run from your wall into a terminal block.
STEP 15 Unscrew the mounting plate of your old thermostat to remove it from the wall. RC Y/Y1 1 W/W RC RH 37 WARNING: Be careful, as some thermostats may contain mercury. Recycle your old thermostat safely with your local hazardous waste facility.
STEP 16 Decide if you want to use the trim plate with your ecobee. The trim plate is useful if you want to hide marks or holes left on the wall by your old thermostat. If using the trim plate, align the mounting holes on the trim plate and backplate and press them into place together.
S T E P 17 Y Y/ 1 Pull the wires through the hole in the middle of the backplate and then attach it to the wall using the drywall anchors and screws provided. W/W1 G Rc C 39 TIP: Use a 3/16” drill bit to drill a hole for the drywall anchors.
STEP 18 Remove the Rc, C, and PEK white labels from the label sheet and attach them to the wires as shown below: R/RC/RH ➔ RC Label the wires at your thermostat.
STEP 19 First, connect these 3 wires as shown: RC , C, PEK. Then, connect any remaining wires to their corresponding terminal. Rc 1 Y/ Y Y2 O/B W/W1 Y1 RH G G Rc G Rc C W1 Y1 Y2 W2 PEK O Rc G Y1 41 TIP: Press the terminal block levers to insert the wires more easily.
C H E C K P O I N T: D O N ’ T S K I P A H E A D C G W/W1 Y1 Y/ Y O/B 1 Y2 PEK G RH Rc Rc Did you connect the correct wires to the RC , C, and PEK terminals, as shown below? RH C W1 W2 PEK YES NO Continue to the NEXT PAGE. Please ensure that your wiring is as shown above.
STEP 20 Tug on the wires gently to ensure they are securely connected. RH C W 1 W 2 PE K 43 TIP: When a wire has been connected correctly, the lever on that block will lower.
STEP 21 Carefully push any excess wires back into the hole and ensure there are no drafts coming from the hole(s) in the wall. TIP: Large holes behind your thermostat will affect temperature readings. Prevent drafts by covering the hole(s).
STEP 22 W/W1 Y1 G Rc Gently press your ecobee into the backplate until it ‘clicks’ into place. C 45 TIP: If the thermostat ‘rocks’ or is not flush with the wall, be sure the excess wires are pushed all the way into the wall.
STEP 23 Turn the power to your HVAC system back on using the master switch or at the circuit breaker box.
Congratulations, you did it! Say hi to your new ecobee! To complete your setup and registrations, follow the instructions on your ecobee screen.
EXT RAS In here you’ll find: Troubleshooting Meet your ecobee Warranty and Legal 48
T R O U B L E S H O OT I N G If your ecobee doesn’t turn on, please try these steps: RH C W 1 W 2 PE K 1. Check that all wires are properly 49 2. Make sure your HVAC cover panel is inserted into the terminal blocks closed. Some systems will not turn at the thermostat. Tug on the wires on if the cover panel has not been to ensure they are not loose. closed properly.
T R O U B L E S H O OT I N G Y1 Y2 O/B 1 Your R, Rc, or Rh wire RH W/W1 Y2 G G Y1 Rc Y/ Y G Rc Rc C W1 W2 PEK O/B 3. If you have only one R wire 4. If you installed the Power Extender (either R, Rc, or Rh), make sure it’s Kit, make sure you inserted the inserted into the Rc terminal. wires into the correct terminals.
M EE T YOUR E CO B E E Here’s what you’ll see on the home screen: Slider to adjust Temperature System Mode Humidity Indoor Temperature Menu 51 Live Weather Quick Changes
MEE T YOUR E CO B E E And here’s what that means: System Mode Menu Shows your current ecobee Allows you to control your setting [heat/cool/auto/off] system, schedule a vacation, and more Humidity Shows the indoor humidity in your home Temperature Shows the temperature in your home Weather Shows the local weather and forecast for the week Quick Changes Touch this button to easily switch from Home and Away Slider to adjust Temperature Slide the bubble up or down to adjust your preferred temperature
M EE T YOUR E CO B E E These system mode icons are shown on the Home screen and in Quick Changes. 53 Heat Cool Your system is in heat mode. A white icon means your system is off. An orange icon means your system is running. Your system is in cool mode. A white icon means your system is off. A blue icon means your system is running. Fan Auto Your fan is currently running. Your system is in Auto mode, meaning your system will heat or cool as required.
M EE T YOUR E CO B E E More common icons you’ll find: Home Screen 2 Menu Menu (with notification) Weather Quick Changes Registration System Reminders and Alerts Schedule Vacation Settings Comfort Settings About Away Sleep Custom 1 (of 5) Menu Comfort Settings Home 54
STILL NEED HELP? We’re here for you Have questions or concerns? Get in touch. 1.877.932.6233 ecobee.com/support We can help you find a pro Installation requires you to uninstall your old device and handle electrical wiring. If you’d rather leave it up to a professional, we can help you find one quickly. ecobee.com/proinstall Installing Accessories? To install accessories (humidifier, dehumidifier or ventilator) please refer to the wiring diagrams at ecobee.com/wiring.
LEGAL Approvals 1. This device may not cause harmful interference. This product was designed and built in accordance to RoHS directive 2002/95/EC and contains no hazardous substances as defined by this directive. 2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. FCC Compliance Statement Compliance Notice: Change or modifications that are not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
from all persons and must not be colocated or operating in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter. FCC ID: WR9EBSTAT3LT01 IC: 7981A-EBSTAT3LT01 CAN ICES-3 (B)/NMB-3(B) Warning: Changes or modifications not expressly approved by ecobee Inc.
ecobee’s sole responsibility shall be to repair or replace the Product within the terms stated above. ECOBEE SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RESULTING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, FROM ANY BREACH OF ANY WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, OR ANY OTHER FAILURE OF THIS PRODUCT.
We’re here to help. ecobee.com support@ecobee.com 1.877.932.6233 © 2020 ecobee, Inc. All rights reserved. ecobee and the ecobee logo are trademarks of ecobee Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
