Diagnosis
The ecobee SmartThermostat Premium utilizes a suite of energy-saving algorithms grouped under the "eco+" umbrella. The "Smart Home & Away" feature specifically relies on the built-in occupancy sensor (the proximity sensor on the device itself) and the geofencing data from your linked smartphone to determine if the house is vacant. When this feature is active, the thermostat overrides your scheduled setpoints and triggers "Smart Recovery" or "Away" temperatures to reduce HVAC runtime, which often leads to the home feeling too cold or too warm upon your return if the sensor fails to trigger. The core of the issue is that many users perceive eco+ as a single "on/off" switch. However, the system is modular. You can disable the occupancy-based logic (Smart Home & Away) without impacting other critical eco+ modules like "time-of-use" optimization (which shifts heating/cooling to cheaper electricity windows) or "optimize" (which adjusts for humidity and outdoor temperature). You can confirm this feature is currently active if you see the "Smart Home & Away" icon on your main screen or if your thermostat unexpectedly switches to a "Home" or "Away" state despite your manual settings.
How to Fix It
To disable Smart Home & Away while maintaining your other eco+ optimizations, follow these precise steps on the thermostat hardware:
- Tap the Main Menu (the three horizontal lines) on the home screen.
- Navigate to and select eco+ from the list of options.
- You will see a list of active features. Locate Smart Home & Away.
- Tap the toggle switch next to Smart Home & Away to move it to the Off position. The highlight will change from green/blue to grey.
- Wait for the "Settings Saved" confirmation on the screen.
- Exit back to the main screen. You will notice that the thermostat no longer automatically shifts setpoints based on occupancy, but other eco+ features (like "time-of-use") will remain active in the menu.
If That Didn't Work
- Check Geofencing Permissions: If the thermostat continues to switch to "Away" mode even after disabling the feature, your smartphone's geofencing may be overriding the local setting. Go to the app's Account settings, select Geofencing, and remove your device from the circle or disable the feature entirely.
- Verify Remote Sensor Priority: If you have SmartSensors installed in other rooms, the thermostat may be using "Follow Me" logic rather than "Smart Home & Away." Go to Main Menu > Sensors and ensure your "Comfort Settings" are not set to prioritize a room that is currently unoccupied, which can mimic the "Away" behavior.
- Perform a Power Cycle: In rare cases, a firmware glitch keeps the eco+ state cached. Pull the thermostat off the wall plate for 30 seconds to disconnect it from the 24V C-wire power, then snap it back in to force a reboot of the local settings.
- Update Firmware: Ensure your device is on the latest version. Go to Main Menu > Settings > Device to check for updates. Outdated firmware can cause the eco+ toggle to appear "off" while the logic remains active in the background.
Heads Up
- Sensor Interference: Avoid placing curtains, furniture, or decorative covers in front of the SmartThermostat Premium. The proximity sensor requires a clear line of sight to detect motion; otherwise, it may trigger "Away" mode even while you are in the room.
- C-Wire Stability: If your thermostat frequently restarts or loses eco+ settings, check the 24V C-wire connection. Intermittent power can cause the device to revert to default factory settings, which often enables all eco+ features by default.
- Battery Drain: If using geofencing as part of your home/away logic, be aware that "Always Allow" location permissions on your mobile device will increase battery consumption on your smartphone.
- Comfort Settings: Remember that disabling Smart Home & Away does not disable your standard "Sleep" or "Home" schedules. You must still manage those in the Comfort Settings menu to ensure the house reaches your desired temperature.