Carrier Infinity is a reliable and popular brand for both HVAC heating and cooling systems as well as thermostats to go with their systems. The brand offers some of the most consistent performance out there which means that they are one of the preferred companies for developers and homeowners looking to upgrade their heating and cooling systems.
One big difference with this company is that their heating and cooling systems are proprietary, which means that they only work with a very select number of thermostats. However, they recommend three different thermostats as being compatible with their systems, so we’ll look over all three in this review.
Quick Recommendations
INFINITY SYSTEM CONTROL
INFINITY SYSTEM CONTROL
ECOBEE SMART THERMOSTAT PRO
ECOBEE SMART THERMOSTAT PRO
ECOBEE 3 LITE PRO
ECOBEE 3 LITE PRO
Best Smart Thermostat for Carrier Infinity
Infinity® System Control
The Infinity System was created specifically for Carrier Infinity as their proprietary control system for their heating and cooling system. It’s their most advanced system overall and designed to give you the best possible control over their internal temperature systems.
One of the big standout features of this thermostat is that it’s designed so that you can create up to 8 different heating and cooling zones in your home that each have their own unique control and a different temperature.
This system is also set up to automatically detect occupancy and adjust according to the needs of your home. When you aren’t around the system will be able to tell that the home is unoccupied and automatically change settings to save energy.
When you return home the thermostat should also be able to detect that you’re back and quickly return your home to its normal temperature settings.
It’s also designed to work with most major smartphone and tablet brands, which means that you have a greater level of compatibility if you have to change phones or other systems. Wider compatibility means less research when it’s time for an upgrade and most confidence that you will avoid costly compatibility issues.
The Infinity system also goes beyond a simple thermostat control. It also monitors and can adjust airflow rates, humidity, and other environmental comfort settings so you can create the exact environment you want in your home.
However, unlike some other smart thermostats, the Infinity smart thermostat is not designed to function as a secondary smart hub, so it’s best for people who are just looking for a thermostat not a lot of smart home bells and whistles.
Pros
- Single thermostat capable of creating multiple temperature zones in your house
- Smart occupancy sensing to tell when you’re home or not
- Quick temperature adjustment
- Works to control humidity and airflow in addition to temperature
Cons
- Proprietary system designed specifically for Carrier Infinity, not designed to work with other heating and cooling systems
ecobee SmartThermostat Pro with Voice Control
Ecobee is another company that’s compatible with the Carrier Infinity heating and cooling systems, but unlike the Infinity thermostat it isn’t a proprietary system, this thermostat will work with other systems as well.
This system is also a slightly more affordable thermostat than the Infinity system, which means it’s a good choice for people who don’t need quite as much detailed control as the Infinity system offers.
That doesn’t mean that this system isn’t an advanced thermostat though. The thermostat responds to voice control.
You can change the settings on your thermostat verbally without having to grab a remote or opening the app on your phone or tablet.
It uses Amazon Alexa to give you voice control, which also means that this thermostat is Alexa enabled and can work with your other Alexa enabled equipment to give you more control from more places in your home.
This thermostat also works more like a smart hub than some other options. It allows for hands-free voice calling with speakers built into the thermostat.
That’s especially useful if your thermostat is placed somewhere central in your home, but it may be less useful if it’s in a more remote location.
The speakers can also be used to play music through a Bluetooth connection, essentially working as another smart speaker in your home.
Carrier does offer a 5-year warranty on this system, but they require that you purchase the thermostat from them and pay for a professional Carrier technician to install the system in your home.
Pros
- Speaker system for Bluetooth music and hands-free calling
- Detailed temperature control
- Compatible with a wider range of HVAC systems
- Good warranty offered if you buy through Carrier Infinity
Cons
- Warranty only offered if you pay for professional installation
ecobee3 Lite Pro
This system is another thermostat from ecobee, and from the outside, it looks very similar to the Voice Control thermostat that works with Carrier Infinity.
This model is a good option if you’re looking for a slightly more affordable option and don’t mind not having a ton of different features. This system is probably closest to a basic smart thermostat, but that doesn’t mean that it won’t function well as a thermostat.
The biggest advantage that this thermostat has is that it does monitor the temperature outside. That allows the thermostat to work a little better than a standard thermostat because it knows whether your home is gaining or losing heat before the temperature actually changes.
So it can adjust the temperature more actively, while still optimizing your energy use so that you aren’t spending more than you need to on your temperature control systems.
The thermostat also displays the outside temperature on the screen just under the indoor temperature it’s reporting. That can be an invaluable tool for getting ready in the morning and planning your day.
However, unlike the other two thermostats offered with Carrier Infinity heating and cooling systems, this thermostat is very slimmed down. That said, the other big advantage of this system is that ecobee’s thermostats are incredibly cross-compatible with other smart devices and other smart home systems like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Homekit.
Pros
- Energy-saving efficiency design
- Effective app design for easy remote access
- Monitors and responds to outdoor and indoor temperature
- Compatible with a lot of different smart home software
Cons
- Only controls temperature, no other environmental control features
Buying Guide
Infinity or Ecobee?
Between these two brands, you may be wondering whether you’re better off investing in the proprietary Infinity thermostat, or if you’ll still get similar benefits from the slightly more affordable ecobee options.
At the end of the day, it depends on which features you think are most important for your home. If you like the thought of having a lot of different temperature zones in your home you’ll probably actually save money investing in the Infinity system.
But if you’re looking for something a little more like a smart hub, the Voice Control ecobee thermostat is likely the better option.
If budget is your primary concern you can get a slimmer more streamlined version with ecobee and potentially upgrade later if you need additional features and functionality.
Comfort Features
There are a lot of different features that Carrier Infinity can offer, especially if you go with the Infinity thermostat that’s designed to get the most out of their system. It’s important if you’re looking for a thermostat for this company’s system, it’s important to consider if you want or need airflow and humidity control.
If you do you probably want to go with their proprietary system.
But if you don’t need those features it’s less important and you can use a different compatible model.
Control Features
This is where you start looking at different ease of use problems. Many smart thermostats, these included, are best controlled from an app rather than the thermostat itself.
The one exception here is the Voice Control thermostat which is easier to control overall. It’s wide degree of compatibility with other smart home devices and software.
Professional Installation
One other thing to note before you choose the thermostat you’d like to install is the installation. The Infinity system largely cannot be installed on your own unless you’re a qualified professional. Because Carrier Infinity offers proprietary systems and has a proprietary wiring system it’s a good idea to get professional installation.
That’s why all three of these thermostats need professional installation to have a warranty from the company.
Can You Use a Non-Proprietary Smart Thermostat With Carrier Infinity?
The short answer is no, you should not use a different smart thermostat with carrier infinity. However, it’s not technically impossible.
Skilled electricians can occasionally work with proprietary wiring to convert it to standard thermostat wiring, but you may lose efficiency or product durability in the process, so it’s not recommended.
How Accurate Are Ecobee Thermostats?
Ecobee thermostats are one of the more accurate and durable brands of smart thermostats on the market right now. They aren’t quite as long-lasting as the Infinity line can be, but they still perform well compared to the rest of the smart thermostat market.
Conclusion
Carrier Infinity might be more of a proprietary system, but that doesn’t mean you have to settle for a lower quality thermostat. In fact, the opposite is true.
Carrier Infinity has done a good job of making sure that the thermostats they are compatible with are high-quality models that represent some of the best smart thermostats instead of being a general sample.
