Since most homes nowadays have heating and cooling systems installed at home, a thermostat becomes a must-have to control the temperature.
The thermostat market is changing rapidly, old dial thermostats are being replaced by programmable and smart ones. Programmable thermostats help create schedules that are followed even when you are not around.
You can still however make manual adjustments even if the thermostat is following a schedule. Scheduling is useful because you can set different schedules for the weekdays and weekends. While programmable thermostats are useful and somewhat automated, they are still not “smart”.
Smart Thermostats
Smart thermostats go a step further and automatically adapt to settings. These thermostats provide users with greater control over the thermostat.
They can be controlled through your smartphones and smart home assistants, which means you do not even have to be at home to control them. Some are equipped with advanced learning algorithms that can learn your schedules without even having to tweak the settings.
They automatically adapt to the patterns you set in the first few days. While these features mostly lie in the high-end models, geofencing is a feature commonly found in basic smart thermostats. Geofencing makes use of the GPS signals of your phone to make automatic adjustments to the heating and cooling.
Additionally, some are also equipped with sensors that help detect activity and that are then used to make changes to help users minimize costs. Thus, smart thermostats are cost-saving and energy-efficient as compared to simple programmable thermostats.
However, each smart thermostat is unique and comes with different capabilities and compatibilities. Thus, you should pick one keeping a few factors in mind (discussed below). Generally buying a smart thermostat based on someone’s recommendation is not a good idea.
I also made the mistake of buying one that my cousin had only to realize I had to get a new c-wire connection installed for it to work. When I started researching on my own I came across the Bosch BCC50 smart thermostat.
This review will help you decide whether the Bosch BCC50 is the thermostat for you. If it is not a few other alternatives are also mentioned for your convenience.
Who Should Buy Smart Thermostats?
Anyone looking to reduce their electricity bill should invest in a smart thermostat. Almost all smart thermostats are energy-efficient, some are even energy-star certified.
Since they have automatic adjustment abilities they switch to temperatures less energy-consuming when no one is home. Not only do you save your costs annually, but you can also save your time. By using the smartphone app and smart home system to change the settings you avoid having to get up.
If you are busy in the kitchen and don’t have your hands free, then you can give your voice assistant a command to adjust the temperature.
Furthermore, people who travel frequently will benefit from smart thermostats as they can control the temperature from anywhere in the world. If you have a handicapped person at home, then a smart thermostat will make their lives easier with remote access.
Not only will they be able to control the thermostat from their phone, but can also give voice commands. Hence, if you have a smart home system, then integrating the smart thermostat with it will provide more comfort.
Therefore, a smart thermostat is a must-have for people with an HVAC system, a wifi connection, and a smart assistant.
Factors to Consider Before Buying Smart Thermostats:
- Design: The interface of the smart thermostat is important for many people. It adds aesthetic value to the house as most smart thermostats have sleek and modern designs. They are also either touch LED or LCD screens that give off a sophisticated look.
- Ease of Installation: Installing a smart thermostat is mostly a breeze especially with the manuals and videos that are available. While most smart thermostats do not need professional installation, some are more complex than others and need technical help. Whether you want DIY or professional installation is something you should consider before buying a smart thermostat.
- Learning Abilities: Some smart thermostats are more “smart” than others. They have learning capabilities that make the user’s life easier by learning your schedule instead of creating one.Nest’s learning thermostat is one such thermostat. It also has sensors that detect motion and help them learn your habits like what time you wake up etc. These features help save energy costs to a great extent, but these thermostats are also more expensive than others.
- Geofencing: This is more common in basic smart thermostats. Much like learning features, geofencing allows the thermostat to make changes on its own. Once it detects that your GPS signals are not within the specified range, it automatically adjusts the temperature to an energy-efficient one.
- Monthly Reports: Some thermostats have also features that send you monthly reports at the end of each month. They are quite handy for anyone looking to see their usage and energy consumption. You can also compare the data to last month’s to see what settings work better for you.
Bosch BCC50 Smart Thermostat and its Alternatives
The Bosch BCC50 is a smart thermostat with a very sleek design. It is quite a budget-friendly thermostat, with a 2-inch LCD in the middle of a rectangular interface. Additionally, it has illuminated buttons on the sides, and the thermostat gives off a very simple and sophisticated feel.
It is compatible with conventional HVAC systems, including 2-stage dehumidifiers and heat pumps. Overall it is a reliable, programmable thermostat that is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home. It also gives alerts and reminders for maintenance purposes.
It is quite similar to the [amazon link=”B073XHD8BB” title=” Bosch” /] BCC100 in terms of features and capabilities. However, it is cheaper and instead of the large touchscreen in BCC100, it has a relatively smaller one. Similar to the BCC100, the BCC50 also requires a c-wire to connect with the HVAC system.
Essentially, they both are the same thermostats but the BCC50 is more budget-friendly and has a less fancy display. Both these Bosch thermostats are quite reliable because of the Bosch name but their smart features are unfortunately not as smart enough as other competitor’s.
[amazon fields=”B0131RG6VK” value=”thumb” image_size=”medium” image_alt=”Nest Learning thermostat”]Nest Learning Thermostat
If you are looking for a thermostat with advanced capabilities then the [amazon link=”B0131RG6VK” title=” Nest Learning Thermostat” /] is a great option. However, it is a lot more expensive than Bosch BCC50.
It is also a good option for those who are not willing to install a new c-wire connection. While the Nest thermostat is quite expensive, other models in the market that do not use a c-wire are also available.
[amazon fields=”B06W56TBLN” value=”thumb” image_size=”medium” image_alt=”Ecobee 3 Lite”]Ecobee 3 Lite
The [amazon link=”B06W56TBLN” title=” Ecobee 3 Lite” /] is one such example. It too does not require a c-wire and is compatible with far more smart home systems than the Bosch BCC50. These include Amazon Echo, Apple HomeKit, Google Home Assistant, Samsung SmartThings, Wink, and IFTTT
[amazon fields=”B01NB1OB0I” value=”thumb” image_size=”medium” image_alt=”Emerson Sensi Thermostat”]Emerson Sensi Thermostat
The [amazon link=”B01NB1OB0I” title=”Emerson Sensi thermostat” /] is a smart thermostat in a similar price range as the Bosch BCC50. It features scheduling, a smartphone app, smart alerts, and is compatible with many smart home systems.
[amazon fields=”B01FTNDGRG” value=”thumb” image_size=”medium” image_alt=”Honeywell Lyric Round”]Honeywell Lyric Round
Another option is [amazon link=”B01FTNDGRG” title=”Honeywell Lyric Round” /]. It has a small display much like the Bosch BCC50 and is energy-star certified.
It is compatible with many more smart home systems and it comes with humidity sensing technology as well. Its adaptive recovery feature also sets it apart from other smart thermostats. However, it is almost $200 more expensive than the Bosch BCC50/
Pros
- Compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home Assistant
- Budget-friendly
- Auto-on feature
- Programmable up to 4 schedules
- Compatible with most HVAC systems (heat pumps and dehumidifiers included)
- Reliable
- Sleek Design
- Smartphone app (Bosch Connected Control)
Cons
- Very small interface
- No motion sensors
- Requires a c-wire
- No geofencing feature
Features of the Bosch BCC50 Smart Thermostat
1. Bosch Connected Control App
Before setup, you need to download the Bosch connected control app. You must use this particular app as Bosch has several apps on the app store. Not only does it provide you with remote access, but also makes the installation and setup very easy.
2. Installation
The installation is even simpler, all you need to do is connect to the power through its USB cable. Alternatively, you can connect it to a battery pack as well. Downloading the Sensibo app is a breeze as you can simply scan the code from your smartphone.
3. Display
The Bosch BCC50 has a backlit touch that turns off when it is not in use. It has a 2-inch LCD touchscreen, which is quite small but does the job nonetheless. It has a circular touch in the middle of a rectangular interface. Its design is very sleek and looks sophisticated and simple for any house.
4. Auto-on
This feature helps keep your home safe by sending alerts on the app when the thermostat turns on automatically. Thus if the thermostat detects presence in the home, then it will turn on automatically.
1. Smart Alerts
The thermostat also sends alerts on the smartphone and the interface. These are usually related to air filter change or when the temperature rises or drops too low.
What users think of the Bosch BCC50 Smart Thermostat
While I was searching for customer reviews I found out that setting up the thermostat was an easy task for many. According to one user, the installation took 5 minutes! However, those that did not connect to the correct signal (2.4 GHz), faced wifi connectivity issues. Instead of connecting to the 2.4 GHz option people connected to the 5 GHz one.
Users love its app as it is easy to use and reliable. Many users also talk about its integration with Alexa and Google Home. They find it makes changing the temperature a breeze.
Especially users who have kids in their homes also rave about its panel lock feature. Its auto-on feature also makes lives easier as it lets the thermostat itself figure out whether it needs to turn on or not. In essence, users believe the features it offers are reliable even if they are simple. They also love the price that it comes for.
Final thoughts on the Bosch BCC50 Smart Thermostat
Overall, the Bosch BCC50 is an inexpensive basic smart thermostat with easy scheduling, smartphone access, and compatibility with 2 smart home apps. It has an auto-on and lock features that set it apart from others in the market, but apart from these, it isn’t very smart.
Its sleek design adds to the décor of any home and is a simple yet sophisticated device. If you are satisfied with whatever this thermostat offers then you should invest in it.
However, it lacks geofencing, compatibility with other smart home systems, and it has no sensing capabilities. Thus, for many, it is simply not suitable. For instance, if you have the Apple HomeKit at home then the Bosch BCC50 is not for you. If you want something with more smart features then you should consider the alternatives mentioned above.
Click [amazon link=”B07W6XVSGY” title=”here” /] to shop for the Bosch BCC50 Smart thermostat.
