Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Smart Home
  3. Reviews

Emerson Sensi Thermostat review

John R. Quain
By
Emerson Sensi thermometer review front 2
Emerson Sensi Thermostat
Score Details
“The Sensi smart thermostat offers plain Jane functionality at a price that’s easy on the wallet.”
Pros
  • No-nonsense design
  • Does not require separate power line
  • Easy operation
Cons
  • Installation app needs to understand more systems
  • No fancy geofencing or learning functions

It isn’t easy being green—especially for thermostats. Making them smart enough to improve energy efficiency yet dumb enough that we can operate them without a degree in astrophysics is a challenge. Fortunately, Emerson’s Sensi earns some good grades on both counts, albeit with a few deductions for poor penmanship.

There are no cute icons to tell you you’re saving energy or have the personal thanks of Ed Begley, Jr.

Related

Joining the growing ranks of remote-controlled smart thermostats, the Sensi is less expensive that sexier models such as the Nest and Honeywell’s Lyric. With an average retail price of $125, it’s half the price of others, yet it has the basic functions you’d expect from a smart, Internet-connected thermostat. The Sensi connects wirelessly to a home Wi-Fi network, allowing it to be controlled and programmed using an iOS or Android device.

As well as being less expensive, the Sensi is also low maintenance. It doesn’t, for example, require separate power (the so-called C wire) and can run on two included AA batteries. It does not have a color LCD screen or a proximity sensor, so it doesn’t attract much attention and it doesn’t track your whereabouts. Its plain Jane monochrome screen is succinct (battery level, temperature, time, and Wi-Fi connection); there are no cute icons to tell you you’re saving energy or have the personal thanks of Ed Begley, Jr.

The Sensi also isn’t picky. It works with a wide variety of heating and cooling systems, including heat pumps and most 24-volt systems.

Installation and Setup

If you’re replacing an old rotary thermostat, you’ll need a screwdriver and a drill to install the Sensi. It’s nearly 6 inches wide, so it needs a little more wall space and a couple of new holes. Your instructions, like so much else these days, come in the form of a downloadable app (there’s no detailed paper manual).

For the most part, the app has sufficient information. The Android version makes helpful suggestions, such as to take a picture of the existing wire configuration, although it glosses over other points, such as explaining the importance of the built-in level. And we found it was far from perfect.

In the midst of our installation, the app failed to recognize our wiring configuration (R and W). Making matters worse, it would not allow us to proceed. There was no way to move forward in the app or proceed on our own. The installation process was halted and a dialog box asked us to contact the company with the thermostat model. Frustrated, we noted that the app did not include Emerson’s help number, although it’s on the Sensi pamphlet.

Support staff suggested simply telling the app we had a C wire (even though we didn’t) and ignoring subsequent references to the C wire. We followed their instructions and the rest of the process—activating the thermostat via direct Wi-Fi and then connecting it to our network—worked without further trouble.

We tested the Sensi using the app to set a high temperature that would initiate the heating system. Within seconds the heat came on and everything functioned as it should, sans the C wire.

Living With Sensi

In day-to-day use, the Sensi is responsive and not overly complex. You set the temperature on the app, and it either turns red to indicate the heat is on or blue for cooling. The thermostat also proved obedient to online commands, turning on the heat almost immediately.

Rather than automatically learning your quotidian habits, the Sensi takes the traditional programmable approach, allowing you to create your own heating and cooling schedules. You can set a typical week for turning things up and down Monday through Friday, and then a weekend schedule, or create your own custom seven-day routine. You don’t have to sort through menu settings on the thermostat itself (and then hope for the best). All the scheduling can be done easily via the Android or iOS app. While there isn’t a lot of complexity associated with the Sensi, it does allow you to make one important tweak. In the advanced settings area of the app you can adjust the thermostat to register the same temperature as your old thermostat. For example, our old model said it was 62 degrees Fahrenheit in the basement, but the Sensi model said it was 64. No problem, just bring the Sensi down 2 degrees and it will register the same 62. Why would you want to recalibrate this? Mainly because if you’re accustomed to setting the temperature, let’s say, in winter to prevent the pipes from freezing, you’ll want the new thermostat to register the same as before given one’s experience with past winters and protecting your home.

On the downside, after our experience with the C-wire issue, Sensi support staff warned us that the batteries may run down more quickly (perhaps within weeks) and that the thermostat would probably sever the Wi-Fi connection to conserve power. After one week of use, our Sensi was still online; your mileage may vary.

Who Should Buy It

If you’re not looking for sex appeal in your smart home a home thermostat and are more concerned with utilitarian values, the Sensi is a worthwhile bargain. It won’t hook up to any other elaborate smart home systems, and it won’t learn your circadian rhythms and start adjusting the heat and cooling automatically. You have to tell it what to do. That isn’t always a bad thing.

Highs

  • No-nonsense design
  • Does not require separate power line
  • Easy operation

Lows

  • Installation app needs to understand more systems
  • No fancy geofencing or learning functions

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
John R. Quain
John R. Quain
John R. Quain writes for The New York Times, Men's Journal, and several other publications. He is also the personal…
Best air conditioner deals: Portable and window units on sale
The GE 10,000 BTU portable air conditioner cools a living room while a woman reads.

With the rising temperatures of spring and summer can come the frustrations of tossing and turning at night, sweating in the late afternoons, and simply trying to keep cool during the dog days of summer. Both portable air conditioners and windows units are great options if you don’t have central air, and they’re particularly attractive for apartments, dorms, offices, and if you just have a room or two to cool off. Right now you can land some good savings on air conditioners of all kinds from top air conditioner brands like Frigidaire and GE. We’ve rounded up all of the best air conditioner deals currently taking place, so read onward for more details.
Evapolar evaCHILL — $85, was $99

The Evapolar evaCHILL provides personal comfort on a small scale. At just 6.77 x 6.69 x 6.69 inches, it is highly portable and perfect for taking with you on camping trips or other excursions. To use it, just fill up its 800mL tank, which provides about 8 hours of continuous use (though customers report lower times for high-heat scenarios). This makes it perfect for getting to sleep. Plus, since it uses water as a source of chill, it can double as a humidifier. The Evapolar evaCHILL charges via USB cable and consumes less than 10W of power.

Read more
Best coffee maker deals: Cuisinart, Ninja, Mr. Coffee starting at $20
The Mr. Coffee 5-cup coffee maker on a kitchen stand.

That first cup of coffee in the morning can be one of the most important moments of the day. Having quick access to coffee in general is very important. That's where a coffee maker or espresso machine can come in really handy since it lets you brew a cup of your favorite beverage with minimal hassle. Not only that but depending on your budget, you can get some really fancy features, from delayed brewing to machines that can make a brew for both a carafe and a mug at the same time. Either way, we've gone out to find our favorite deals to save you the hassle, and we've collected all of the ones we think will give you the best return on your investment below.
Mr. Coffee 5-cup coffee maker -- $20, was $40

This coffee maker makes up to 25 ounces of coffee at a time, which is just right for two 12-ounce cups. Its compact design fits nicely into small spaces, making it a great consideration for apartment renters and small offices. This is also a good coffee maker if you find yourself in a constant hurry in the morning, as it has an auto-pause feature that lets you grab a cup before brewing is finished and a two-hour auto shut-off that turns off the coffee maker so you don’t have to.

Read more
Ring Battery Doorbell Pro vs. Aqara G4: Which is the better video doorbell?
The Ring Battery Doorbell Pro installed near a door.

The Ring Battery Doorbell Pro is one of the newest and most popular additions to the Ring lineup, but it's also quite expensive at $230. If you're looking for an affordable alternative, you may have stumbled upon the Aqara G4. This device offers similar features as the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro yet clocks in at nearly half the price. But is it a good companion for your front door, or should you opt for the expensive Ring video doorbell?

From design and pricing to installation and available features, here's a look at the Aqara G4 and Ring Battery Doorbell Pro to help you decide.
Design

Read more