A homeowner adjusts the settings on their smart thermostat from their smartphone.

Ventilation systems have become a crucial part of all residential and commercial properties. Without such equipment, your HVAC system might not function properly, and you may even notice a spike in your utility bills. Recently, however, mechanical ventilation systems such as heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) and energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) have specifically garnered a lot of attention due to their efficient indoor air control.

However, not all smart thermostats have accessory slots that support this equipment type. Despite the accelerated shift toward sustainable living, we only found a handful of smart thermostats with ERV or HRV support. Some of the most popular ones include the ecobee 4 Smart Thermostat, the Honeywell T6 ProSeries, and the EvenAir Communicating Thermostat.

If you’re on the lookout for a smart thermostat that can control either of the two ventilators, this list will help you come to a conclusion regarding your purchase. So, let’s get into the nitty-gritty details of the smart thermostats that offer support and control for heat and energy recovery ventilators.

Smart Thermostats with ERV or HRV Control

In some cases, the thermostats can support one device or equipment at a time. In others, they offer multiple accessory slots to offer support for more than one piece of equipment.

The following are some of the most popular thermostats that can or can’t control your ERV or HRV:

The ecobee4 Smart Thermostat

When first introduced in 2017, the ecobee4 Smart Thermostat garnered a lot of attention due to its advanced features and unique functions. It has also become one of the most sought-after thermostats because of the added sensor that detects when a room is occupied and adjusts the entire property’s thermostats accordingly. 

Courtesy of ecobee

If that wasn’t enough to impress homeowners, it also comes with a built-in Amazon Alexa and voice control. You can adjust the thermostat through voice control or use a mobile phone app to control it remotely.

Thanks to its motion sensor, this thermostat guarantees 23% cost savings annually. 

Most importantly for our consideration, the ecobee4 is also compatible with HRVs and ERVs. The thermostat offers oil, gas, electrical, and dual fuel support for such equipment.

Its previous and latest versions, including the ecobee3 Lite and ecobee5, respectively, also offer similar support for energy and heat recovery ventilators.

Nest Learning Thermostat

Despite the Nest Learning Thermostats’ popularity amongst homeowners, primarily due to its long list of advanced features, it doesn’t offer support or control for HRVs or ERVs. Although its cost savings are minimal compared to the ecobee4 Smart Thermostat, it’s preferred by homeowners because of its easy installation and dynamic compatibilities.

The interface of the Nest Learning Thermostat
Courtesy of Google

Although the Nest is an excellent option to consider if you’re looking for a vast range of features and advantages in a single thermostat, these smart thermostats don’t entail hardware that can support cross-system integrations. But hey, at least it has an in-built sunblock that detects when it’s directly under the sunlight and doesn’t overreact like other thermostats out there. How cool is that?

The Honeywell T6 ProSeries

The Honeywell T6 ProSeries is another one of the most popular smart thermostats on the market. This model does offer support and control for ERV or HRV systems, and setting the ventilation settings is relatively easy to do.

If you already have this thermostat installed, click on the “Menu” option and tap on the right arrow till you see the “Ventilation” option. You can then go to the “Vent Mode” and choose to turn it off, on, or put it on automatic mode. 

With this thermostat, you can easily control your ERV system and turn it on or off if you feel like the indoors are getting too humid or dry, respectively. Additionally, you can also benefit from its long list of features, including integrations with several smart home systems.

Amazon Smart Thermostat

Amazon disrupted the smart thermostat market with its budgeted version. The Smart Thermostat by Amazon is compatible with almost any 24 volt HVAC system, and it was designed after a collaboration between Amazon and Honeywell’s owner, Resideo. 

Although the Amazon Smart Thermostat has several shared features with the Honeywell Smart Thermostats line, it is not compatible with systems that have multi-speed fans or systems with more than three stages. However, this thermostat is capable of controlling the climate with Hunches.

You can even check the Amazon Smart Thermostat’s compatibility for your home on the website. Although it may not support cross-system integrations or grant control for some other ventilation systems installed in your home, if you’re on the lookout for a modern, reliable, and efficient yet budget-friendly thermostat, the Amazon Smart Thermostat is an excellent option.

EvenAir Communication Thermostat

The EvenAir Communication Thermostat is one of the most efficient thermostats used to control the heating, cooling, and airflow in homes. The programmable thermostat offers control and support for several other home systems, including HRVs and ERVs.

EvenAir has been offering advanced solutions to those homeowners looking for a comfortable living environment and cleaner indoor air quality. Additionally, if you live in a two-story home, this thermostat will prove to be an excellent fit for you.

This smart thermostat detects the temperature differences between the upstairs and downstairs living areas, and if this difference is more than 2 degrees, it automatically adjusts the airflow for better HVAC efficiency, thus reducing the overall energy consumption.

Emerson Sensi Touch Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat

The Emerson Sensi Touch Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat‘s advanced features, such as flexible scheduling, geofencing, settings lock, and usage report, have also made this an attractive option for homeowners.

Courtesy of CNET

Despite it being one of the favorites amongst homeowners focused on sustainable living, this thermostat by Sensi doesn’t support HRV and ERV systems.

Additionally, if you have economizers, VAV systems, dry contacts, or evaporative coolers, you might be disappointed to find out that the Emerson Sensi Touch is not compatible with any of these. 

However, if you can overlook this particular drawback, you can benefit from its seven-day flexible scheduling, remote access, and savings calculator.

What Is the Difference Between HRVs and ERVs, Anyway?

Both HRV and ERV systems share similar attributes. They both offer a mechanical ventilation system that supplies fresh air and exhausts stale air within homes. However, one of the primary differences between the two is that the heat recovery ventilator only transfers heat while the energy recovery ventilator transfers both heat and moisture.

Choosing between these two types of equipment depends on several factors, including property size, the local climate, the building envelope’s air leaks, and the number of occupants in the property. You can consider either of the two options for enhanced ventilation, better resilience to air leaks, and reduction of airborne contaminants in your home or commercial property.

In most cases, both an HRV and ERV are suitable options. However, if you’re unsure about your particular needs, it’s best to speak to a professional to get expert advice and support.

Benefits of Smart Thermostats with ERV/HRV Control

Installing a smart thermostat is advantageous, and its benefits are no secret to those who want to invest in pieces of equipment that support sustainable living.

Those already aware of such thermostats know that they help reduce utility bills, track energy usage, and control temperatures remotely. However, not many of us know the benefits of investing in a smart thermostat that offers ERV/HRV support.

Although smart thermostats with HRV or ERV control only have a few additional specs, such as an accessory slot and a control option for such equipment, investing in them can make a significant impact on your life.

With the help of an energy or heat recovery ventilator, you exhaust polluted and stale air, rejuvenate the indoors with better air quality, save more costs, and even create a more even temperature across all rooms in your house. Additionally, a heat recovery ventilator has the added benefit of removing condensation and humidity.

If you haven’t yet considered investing in HRVs or ERVs, now is the time to consider it and even invest in a smart thermostat that helps control these systems.

A smart thermostat that offers such cross-system integrations will enable you to enhance your indoor air quality further while also ensuring that your energy and heat consumption are as minimal as possible. Consequentially, this will also help you further increase your savings with a more significant reduction in utility bills.

Concluding Thoughts

This concludes our list of smart thermostats that do and don’t control energy or heat recovery ventilators. Hopefully, you’ve found the answer to your burning question of the hour.

If you’re thinking about investing in a smart thermostat and already have a ventilation system installed, it’s always best to cross-check whether or not the thermostat is compatible with the pre-existing ventilation systems.

If we have forgotten to add your favorite thermostat to this list, let us know, and we’ll make sure to add it in the next one! Until then, keep making smart decisions and working toward sustainable living. 

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