The Ecobee thermostat comes with various technological offerings to give you the most accurate temperature readout in your home. However, with the compatibility to connect with up to 32 different sensors, the Ecobee thermostat can inevitably run into some issues regarding accurate temperature readings. If the displayed temperature from one of your sensors is wrong, there are a couple of reasons why this may be occurring.

If your Ecobee sensor is not displaying the correct temperature, it is likely that it either needs to be recalibrated, is not properly placed, or needs to have the batteries replaced in the device. You can check the status of the sensor from your thermostat or accompanying smartphone app.

Depending on the location of your thermostat, it is essential to consider sensor placement and the settings allocated for that particular sensor. It is also possible that the sensor was disconnected from either the thermostat or Wi-Fi, either of which can result in false temperature readings. Given there are numerous issues that may cause your Ecobee room sensor to give off an incorrect reading, we will go over the most common problems below.

Sensor is Experiencing Communication Issues

The Ecobee room sensors are wireless, using Wi-Fi to remain connected to the thermostat device they are registered to. Therefore, there can be communication issues between the sensor and the thermostat that may need to be fixed on the user’s end.

To reset the sensor to your thermostat, you’ll need to remove the batteries from the sensor itself.

  • Start by taking off the circular cap on the back of the device.Then, take the batteries out and let the sensor sit untouched for about thirty seconds.Replace the batteries and stand with the sensor near the installed thermostat.The Ecobee will prompt that it has found a new sensor and will ask if you would like to register it. Select Yes, and the thermostat will begin pairing with the sensor.From here, you can name or change the room label for that sensor if you’d like.

After rebooting, if the sensor is still sending an inaccurate temperature readout, you can go to the thermostat and change the temperature calibration on the Ecobee. This will only be beneficial if all of your sensors or the thermostat itself is reading incorrectly.

From the thermostat, select: Menu > Settings > Installation Settings > Thresholds, and then choose Temperature Correction. This will allow you to adjust the thermostat and sensors’ overall temperature up or down according to your needs.

Sensor is Placed Incorrectly

Another reason your sensor may be reading an incorrect temperature is due to the location of its placement. When looking to get an accurate reading, placing the sensor in an undisturbed area is the best choice.

The general rule of thumb is to place the sensor on a surface unobstructed by household items that may disrupt its connection to the thermostat. With this in mind, it wouldn’t hurt to experiment with a variety of different placements to see just how the sensor may react.

If you are still encountering errors with the sensor, check to see where the room’s airflow is directed. If the sensor is placed directly below an air vent, it may record higher or lower than the rest of the room as it is positioned under the area being immediately heated or cooled.

Other items that give off heat, such as candles, gaming systems, or appliances, may also impact the device’s temperature readout. Relocating the sensor to a relatively neutral space in your room may be the key to your comfort here.

Sensor Battery Needs Replacement

If you have checked both the sensor’s calibration and its placement within a specified room and you’re still having issues, it may be time to change the batteries in the sensor.

Ecobee room sensors use 3-volt CR-2032 batteries that can easily be replaced by removing the back cover. There will be an icon on your Ecobee thermostat indicating the power level of the connected sensors, which will usually show if the battery needs to be replaced.

Ecobee sensor batteries don’t need to be replaced very often, so if it’s been a while since you’ve bought your sensor, it’s more than likely time for new batteries.

When changing the old batteries out for the new, it’s a good idea to let the sensor reset itself by sitting for thirty seconds, as mentioned earlier.

In Summary

When finding an error with your Ecobee Thermostat’s sensor, be sure to cover all of the areas we discussed above to ensure it is in proper working condition. If recalibrating, reconnecting, checking placement, and replacing the sensor’s battery does not fix the temperature readout, you can contact Ecobee support for further assistance.