Home products from ecobee are connected devices within a smart home environment that require minimal interruption and effort. Although ecobee provides detailed and illustrated installation guides, the thermostat may still experience issues on its system which may result in its rebooting multiple times.
Your ecobee may keep on rebooting because of compatibility issues. If you own a proprietary-style system, such as a unit with variable fan speed capability, an ecobee thermostat will not function as an initial plug-and-play solution. Your ecobee may also constantly reboot if it has a circuit or a wiring issue.
When compatibility issues are present, or wiring discrepancies exist, there is a good chance the system will not communicate with your new ecobee smart thermostat. It may be beneficial to contact the customer support line to verify that an ecobee unit is compatible and the settings are correct.
Each product and system situation is different and it may require a bit of research to ensure your ecobee is working as efficiently as possible. No worries, because we’ve done the work for you and found 5 common reasons why your ecobee might constantly reboot. We will also explore how an ecobee thermostat works and its warranty coverage.
How Does the ecobee Smart Thermostat Work?
By using comfort settings, homeowners can control the temperature of their ecobee smart thermostat from a mobile device. These settings include home, away, or sleeping modes. The ecobee thermostat is installed with a new central air conditioning, furnace, boiler, or heat pump system.
The ecobee replaces existing thermostats to incorporate smart home functionality and the thermostat requires 24VAC voltage controls. The C wire provides continuous 24VAC voltage to the unit – also known as the common wire.
Ecobee smart thermostats are controlled by features accessed through a touch screen interface. Remote sensors work in conjunction with smart thermostats to maintain air settings in individual spaces.
The ecobee is not compatible with millivolt systems (fireplaces, wood stoves), DC voltage (recreational vehicle HVAC), or line/high voltage systems (electric baseboard heaters). If no C wire exists, installing a Power Extender Kit (PEK) may support your current system setup.
The ecobee is able to work efficiently because of the following features:
- Conventional Furnace and Air Conditioning. The ecobee supports up to 2 stages of heat and two cool stages for a furnace and air conditioning combo system. Only a single-speed fan control is supported. Variable-speed fan controls are not compatible with the ecobee smart thermostat. This application supports the use of a PEK when a C wire is missing.
- Heat pumps. The ecobee supports geothermal applications. Up to 4 stages of heat and two cool stages are supported, and only a single-speed fan control is applicable. The heat pump supports the PEK if a C wire is not present.
- Boilers. Boiler applications support up to 2 stages of heat. A boiler does not allow the ecobee PEK if a C wire is not present. Homeowners can find detailed wiring for systems with a boiler and air handler combination here.
- Dual transformer (boiler & air conditioning). Dual transformers support up to two stages of heat and two cool stages. Only a single-speed fan control is allowed. The C wire must be used from the air handler and not the boiler, while the PEK cannot be used if a PEK if a C wire is not available.
The ecobee supports almost all HVAC residential system types. Wiring requirements will differ depending on specific systems and will need to be considered before installation. The status of the systems C wire heavily influences the installation of an ecobee smart thermostat in each application.
Why Does my ecobee Keep Restarting?
There are multiple reasons why your ecobee smart thermostat unit continuously restarts. If you are experiencing a loss of power during the cooling season (summer/warmer months), review the following potential causes and 5 reasons why ecobee keeps rebooting:
1. The Float Switch/Condensate Pump Has Tripped (Loss of Power)
Central air conditioning units indoor air coils release condensation into a drip pan that flows down through a PVC pipe into a condensate pump. The water may collect in the pan, and when water levels are too high, the float switch sends a signal to the thermostat to shut the unit off. The pump will push the water outside the house. If dirt, debris, and other contaminants block access, the pump will signal the thermostat to cut the unit off.
2. Bad Wiring
Backward wiring, missing, damaged, loosely tightened, and generally mishandled will create a bad connection. This will cause the thermostat to restart due to improper electrical continuity continuously. Ensure all wiring is free of damage exposing wires.
3. Wrong PEK Wiring
The PEK is used when no C (common) wire is available. If the PEK wiring is incorrect, the thermostat will have no power or will continuously turn off and on with no stable connectivity. The PEK wiring is as follows:
| R Wire | to | RC Terminal |
| G Wire | to | C Terminal |
| W Wire | to | W1 Terminal |
| Y Wire | to | PEK Terminal |
4. Tripped Circuit
If your breaker box has tripped your breaker powering your HVAC system, reset the unit and check if it has turned back on. A bad capacitor or wiring may also be the cause of the system tripping the circuit breaker.
5. Tripped High-limit Temp Sensor
When calling for heat, the thermostat may be rebooting due to a tripped high-limit temperature sensor. The high-limit sensor senses ambient air temperature. When the system gets too hot, it trips the furnace to prevent damage from high temperatures. If changing the high-limit sensor will not prevent it from tripping the unit, check if the flame sensor is dirty. The flame sensor detects the air temperature and will send false readings to the high-limit switch.
If each of the above possible causes and solutions does not solve the issue, it may be a defective product. Contacting ecobee direct is the best way to understand the root cause and receive guidance on how to return your unit for a replacement.
Due to the complexity of some HVAC systems, venturing outside of possible troubleshooting solutions may lead to more damage. Consult with your local HVAC contractor for suspected system issues and ecobee directly for your thermostat.
Why is my ecobee not Working?
The most common issue with an ecobee not working is related to power. Check the wiring against the diagrams offered at ecobee.com from their installation page here. If you continue to experience problems, consult with your local HVAC contractor or contact ecobee customer support at 1-877-932-6233 for specific product-related matters.
One reason why your ecobee may not work is it may not be compatible with your household devices. What ecobee.com suggests before installing a thermostat is to check first for proper compatibility
You can follow this link to request a referral from ecobee for a professional referral. ecobee does not guarantee or verify the contractor’s qualifications. They do not endorse any particular contractors and provide the service only as a convenience to their customers.
How Do I Check My ecobee Warranty?
Ecobee provides information regarding their limited warranty. Their website advises against buying their products from auction websites and other sellers not endorsed by ecobee. Various vendors offer programmable thermostats, WiFi thermostats, and smart thermostats. The warranty includes their product purchased on ecobee.com and selects authorized sellers, including:
- Home Depot
- Best Buy
- Lowes
- Amazon
- Canadian Tire (Canada Only)
You can check the specific limited warranty for your ecobee products by visiting ecobee’s hardware warranty center page here. Checking your receipt will also help with understanding the status of your thermostats warranty. Check if your unit is experiencing issues within the 3-year limited warranty period and follow up with ecobee customer service at 1-877-932-6233.
How Long is the Warranty on an ecobee?
From the date of purchase by the consumer, the ecobee warranty period is for 3 years. This includes models such as the Smart Thermostat with voice control, ecobee3, ecobee3 lite, and ecobee4.
With the proof of purchase, the ecobee thermostat is guaranteed free of defects and workmanship. The warranty is only valid in the same country the product was purchased. ecobee will then provide a replacement or repaired device; for defective products, call ecobee customer service at 1-877-932-6233.
ecobee will also determine if a replacement is sent and should be returned or not. They will place a hold on the customer’s credit card if the replacement requires sending in the defective unit. Once the unit is received by ecobee, the credit card hold is lifted.
The 3-year limited ecobee thermostat warranty does not cover the following:
- The thermostat is subjected to abnormal operations. Improper maintenance or abnormal usage during the life of the thermostat before the warranty claim is not covered.
- A licensed HVAC technician did not install the device. Ecobee provides detailed wiring instructions. Ecobee products offer simple installation promoting a DIY approach, but if someone other than a licensed HVAC contractor installs the ecobee thermostat, the warranty will not be honored.
- Accidents or acts of nature. Similar to most products and manufacturers’ limited warranties, ecobee does not cover accidents or acts of nature. This includes lightning damage, flood damage, or generally unintentional or intentional physical damage.
- Cost of installation. The cost to install the new ecobee thermostat will not be covered. The homeowner is responsible for any labor charges required by a licensed HVAC contractor. If a contractor originally installed your existing ecobee thermostat, check If they cover labor from the original installation. Ecobee projects the cost of installation to be around $120-$200.
Final Thoughts
With a large selection of smart home products, ecobee has remained a North American comfort solutions leader since 2008. While considering an ecobee for your home, the first step is to determine system compatibility. Ecobee offers various documentation online to resolve a large selection of troubleshooting issues.
When your ecobee seems to be rebooting continuously, there are different possible causes. These include a tripped float switch, high-limit temperature sensor, tripped circuit, bad wiring, or an incorrectly installed PEK unit. Ensuring that an ecobee smart thermostat is correctly wired and compatible with an existing HVAC system is the foundation of a smooth installation.
Product defects, when they exist, can be resolved with ecobee and are covered under a limited 3-year warranty. Consulting with a licensed HVAC technician in your area before installing an ecobee thermostat is the best approach.
Ecobee honors the 3-year warranty only if a licensed HVAC technician installs the thermostat. When considering a new installation or resolving existing troubleshooting concerns, removing the DIY approach and leaving the wiring to a professional should be the first consideration.
