Why This Companion Is Here
ecobee ships the Smart Thermostat Premium with a mounting plate, a remote sensor, a power adapter, and a small Quick‑Start card. The full manual is a digital PDF that covers multiple models. Every day, people search for an “ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium manual” because they need clear, real‑world help: how to connect to 5 GHz Wi‑Fi, what the occupancy sensor does, how the air quality monitor works, or how to fix a thermostat that won’t turn on. This guide gives you all of that in plain, practical English.
What Comes in the Box
Your package includes:
- The ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (model EB‑STATE6‑01) – a sleek black‑framed touchscreen
- A mounting plate with pre‑attached wiring terminals
- A remote SmartSensor (for a second room)
- A Power Extender Kit (PEK) for homes without a C‑wire
- A set of screws and drywall anchors
- A Quick‑Start Guide and safety booklet
No screwdriver or wire stripper is included; you’ll need a Philips screwdriver and a small flathead screwdriver if you’re installing it yourself.
Physical Tour and Touchscreen Basics
The thermostat has a bright, full‑colour touchscreen. The home screen shows the current room temperature, the target temperature, the outdoor weather, and a small air quality indicator.
- Swipe up from the bottom to access the main menu: Comfort Settings, Schedule, Sensors, Air Quality, Reminders, and Settings.
- Tap the temperature to manually adjust the heat or cool setpoint. Drag the slider to your desired temperature, or use the +/– buttons.
- A small microphone icon indicates the built‑in Alexa speaker is active. You can say “Alexa, set the temperature to 21 degrees.”
- The occupancy sensor (behind the screen) detects when you’re in the room and adjusts settings based on your presence.
First‑Time Setup and Wi‑Fi Connection
- If you’re installing the thermostat yourself, turn off the power to your HVAC system at the breaker box. Remove your old thermostat, label the wires, and attach them to the ecobee mounting plate using the labelled terminals. If you don’t have a C‑wire, install the included Power Extender Kit (PEK) at your furnace control board.
- Once wiring is complete, attach the thermostat display to the mounting plate. It snaps on magnetically.
- Turn the power back on. The thermostat will boot up and guide you through the initial on‑screen setup: language, Wi‑Fi, and location.
- For Wi‑Fi, the ecobee Premium supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks. If your network has the same name for both bands, the thermostat will automatically pick the stronger signal. Enter your Wi‑Fi password. The thermostat will connect and check for firmware updates.
- After setup, you’ll be asked to configure your HVAC system type (furnace, heat pump, boiler, etc.). The thermostat uses this to optimise heating and cooling.
- Pair the included remote SmartSensor: go to Main Menu > Sensors > Add Sensor. Pull the battery tab on the sensor, and the thermostat will detect it. Place the sensor in a different room to balance temperatures.
Understanding Comfort Settings and Schedule
The ecobee uses a concept of “Comfort Settings” rather than a rigid schedule. You define what “Home,” “Away,” and “Sleep” mean in terms of temperature, and the thermostat automatically switches between them based on your schedule or occupancy.
- Home: The temperature you want when you’re awake and at home.
- Away: The temperature you want when no one is home (saves energy).
- Sleep: The temperature you want when you’re asleep, often a few degrees cooler in winter.
To set up a schedule: Go to Main Menu > Schedule. Tap the day you want to adjust, then tap “Add Activity” and choose Home, Away, or Sleep for a specific time. The thermostat will begin transitioning to that Comfort Setting at the time you set, so the house is comfortable when you wake up or arrive home.
Smart Home & Away (eco+): The thermostat uses the built‑in occupancy sensor and the remote sensors to detect if anyone is home. If the house is empty, it automatically switches to Away mode to save energy. When you come back, it switches back to Home. You can enable or disable this in Main Menu > eco+.
Air Quality Monitoring and Alerts
The Premium has built‑in sensors that track particulate matter (PM2.5), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and estimated CO2. The home screen shows a coloured leaf icon: green (good), yellow (moderate), red (unhealthy).
- Tap the leaf icon to see detailed readings.
- You can set alerts: go to Main Menu > Reminders & Alerts > Air Quality. Enable alerts for “Poor” air quality, and the thermostat will notify you on the screen and in the ecobee app.
- The thermostat doesn’t control air purifiers automatically, but the data helps you decide when to run a standalone purifier or open a window.
Using Alexa and the Built‑in Speaker
The Premium has a built‑in microphone and speaker, so it acts as a small Alexa smart speaker. You can say, “Alexa, what’s the weather?” or “Alexa, set a timer.” The microphone can be muted with a physical switch on the back of the unit. The speaker quality is clear enough for voice responses but not for music streaming.
How to Manually Override the Temperature
A manual hold overrides the current Comfort Setting for a set period.
- On the home screen, tap the temperature. Drag the slider to your desired temperature. You’ll be asked how long you want to hold it: 2 hours, 4 hours, until the next schedule change, or indefinitely.
- The thermostat will return to the programmed schedule after the hold period ends.
Troubleshooting Common Issue
| Problem | Likely Cause | What to Try |
|---|---|---|
| Thermostat won’t turn on | Wiring issue or no C‑wire | Check that the breaker is on. If you used the PEK, ensure it’s wired correctly at the furnace. The thermostat’s screen should light up immediately when connected. |
| Heat or cool won’t start | System type misconfigured | Go to Main Menu > Settings > Installation Settings > Equipment > Furnace/Heat Pump. Verify that the correct type is selected. |
| Wi‑Fi disconnects often | Weak signal or router incompatibility | Move the router closer, or try the 2.4 GHz band if 5 GHz is weak. In Settings > Wi‑Fi, forget the network and reconnect. |
| Sensor shows “Unavailable” | Low battery or out of range | Replace the sensor’s CR‑2477 battery. Move the sensor closer to the thermostat. |
| Air quality readings seem inaccurate | Dust on the sensor | Gently wipe the top edge of the thermostat with a dry microfiber cloth. Give it 24 hours to recalibrate. |
| Alexa not responding | Microphone muted | Ensure the mute switch on the back is set to “On.” Say “Alexa” clearly; the wake word works after a short chime. |
How to Restart and Factory Reset
Restart: Go to Main Menu > Settings > Reset > Restart. This reboots the device and keeps all your settings.
Factory reset (clear everything): Main Menu > Settings > Reset > Factory Reset. Confirm. This removes your Wi‑Fi, schedules, and account link. Use this before moving or selling the thermostat.
Quick Reference Card
| Task | How |
|---|---|
| Change temperature | Tap the home screen temperature, drag slider |
| Access Comfort Settings | Swipe up, tap Comfort Settings |
| Add a Smart Sensor | Main Menu > Sensors > Add Sensor |
| Enable Smart Home/Away | Main Menu > eco+ > Smart Home & Away |
| Restart | Main Menu > Settings > Reset > Restart |
| Mute Alexa microphone | Slide the physical switch on the back |
