How To Use An Ecobee With A Gas Fireplace

The temperature in your home may be controlled with the help of smart appliances like the Ecobee thermostat. You’ve come to the right website if you’re wondering if your Ecobee and gas fireplace work together.

Gas fireplaces are compatible with Ecobee, yes. Ecobee thermostats work with the majority of gas, oil, electric, and dual-fuel heating and cooling systems in homes. For simpler installation and better performance, consider a millivolt gas fireplace.

You must first confirm that your Ecobee is compatible with your gas fireplace before setting it up so you know what to do next. Continue reading to learn more about home heating, gas fireplaces, and Ecobee thermostats.

Do Gas Fireplaces Work With Ecobee?

Because they provide users with more safety and control options, gas fireplaces are a significant improvement over traditional wood-burning fireplaces. Even a thermostat can be used to manage these heating systems.

A gas fireplace may be used with any thermostat, switch, or remote control because to its remarkable versatility.

However, if you want a thermostat to control a gas fireplace, a millivolt kind is preferable for simplicity of installation and general operation.

How Do Gas Fireplaces And Ecobee Work Together?

A gas fireplace should have a thermostat installed. Why? Because you can easily control the temperature, fuel flow, and liquid heat of the fireplace to produce the perfect level of heat for your comfort.

Installation of an Ecobee thermostat is a straightforward do-it-yourself project that normally takes 20 to 30 minutes to complete.

Since the installation guide contains thorough instructions that make it simple to install and connect your thermostat, you should utilize it as your main source of information.

Step 1
Before removing your thermostat from the wall, look for any unused wires that are not already connected to it. Pay close attention to the thermostat located behind the wall as well.

The wire bundle at the thermostat may have more than two wires in total, and there may be more unused wires that are available for use.

Step 2
The next step is to check the wiring connections between your thermostat and the heating system for your gas fireplace. Note the thermostat’s wiring colors and the various terminal types to which each one is connected.

Then locate the heating system’s thermostat wires. You must locate the point where the two low-voltage thermostat wires meet your device.

If your thermostat’s wires enter through terminals with the letters Th, Tr, and Th-Tr, they most likely link to a gas valve.

You must follow the wires from the gas valve to the 24 VAC transformer for the heating apparatus to locate your “C” connection.

Which Thermostats Are Compatible With Gas Fireplaces?

The best type of thermostat for a gas fireplace is a millivolt one. This type of thermostat operates at low electrical voltage. It is therefore easy to install and use.

The wiring system of the house does not need to be connected to a step-down transformer. Despite their simplicity, millivolt thermostats have all the user-friendly settings. They are available in smart, digital, and programmable varieties.

You can add a remote to your gas log if it already has a millivolt valve installed.

Even better, you may completely replace your existing gas log set with a thermostatic and variable flame remote control system.

The normal operating voltage for a millivolt thermostat is 750 millivolts. Like other low voltage systems, it offers a range of features, such as touchscreens, digital displays, wireless remote controllers, and programmable settings.

Millivolt Thermostat: What Is It?

Unlike ordinary low-voltage systems and electric powered line voltage systems, millivolt heating systems are managed by millivolt thermostats.

An electric-free floor or wall heater, such as a gas fireplace or a gas-powered wall heater, is the norm for millivolt heating systems. Thermostats for controlling millivolt systems are also known as millivolt thermostats.

They are powered by a device called a thermopile generator, which produces a strong direct current. The thermopile generator can be installed easily and economically with a push-in clip. Generally speaking, millivolt thermostat devices are easy to use and generate heat.

Can A Gas Fireplace Have A Wall Switch Added?

Gas fireplaces, available in both natural gas and electric designs, give the warmth and comfort of a traditional fireplace while also doing away with the labor-intensive task of wood-chopping.

Most systems are configured to vent to the outside. This renders them risk-free to use and stops carbon monoxide from building up in your home. A fireplace switch can be added to gas logs, fire glass, and other hearths.

In most cases, drywall doesn’t need to be removed in order to install a fireplace switch. It does not necessitate running wire back to the main breaker panel, unlike a lighting circuit. A wire from the switch to the fireplace gas valve needs to be run.

In other words, there is a lot of flexibility in the location of the switch’s wall mounting. The design of your house, the materials utilized for the fireplace surround, and other design factors all play a role in this decision.

The wall switch sends an electrical signal to your fireplace, which opens a valve and releases gas so the pilot light can light it. Most fireplace valves require electricity to function.

How Is Ecobee’s Power Source?

If you recently updated to an Ecobee smart thermostat, you may have noticed that it comes with a Power Extender Kit (PEK). What is the PEK then, and how does it operate?

Your present thermostat wires are linked to the Ecobee Power Extender Kit to form a full circuit in order to power your thermostat on a regular basis without using a C wire.

On the heating system’s control board, the PEK must be installed. Installing an Ecobee thermostat on your own is easy if your house has a C wire, also known as a common wire.

Smart thermostats require a C wire in order to provide the thermostat with constant electricity. Even while it is off, the thermostat needs power to run the display screen and other essential functionality. Use of an Ecobee power extender kit requires four wires on your heating system control board.

There are four wires: G, R, W, and Y. Utilized with fans is the green G wire. The R, RC, or RH, which are red, are used in 24 voltage power systems. Heating systems use white W wire, which is colorless. The yellow Y or Y1 is used in air conditioning systems.

These are the most often used wire colors, despite the fact that there may be more varieties.

Make sure your heating system’s energy is shut off at the breaker box before installing the Ecobee power kit.

Are Ecobee Thermostats Battery-Operated?

If you’re like most people, you probably don’t think much about the kind of batteries your thermostat uses. Why is knowing what kind of battery your thermostat uses so important?

Knowing what kind of battery to buy is essential when it’s time to replace one. Second, the lifespans of various battery kinds vary. Knowing what kind of battery your thermostat uses will therefore enable you to predict when it needs to be replaced.

The battery life of an Ecobee Room Sensor can last between 18 and 24 months, depending on usage. The standard Room Sensor requires one CR2032 battery. The more modern Ecobee Smart Sensor’s larger CR2477 battery has an usual lifespan of three to five years.

How To Extend The Life Of Your Ecobee Thermostat’s Battery

There are a few things you can do to extend the life of your Ecobee battery. Initially, be sure you are utilizing only brand-new batteries. Aside from having a shorter lifespan, used batteries could damage your Ecobee.

Second, stay away from using your Ecobee in excessive heat or cold. If the environment is too hot or cold, the battery will deplete more quickly.

Finally, if you don’t use your Ecobee frequently, it’s a good idea to remove the batteries. You can prevent them from leaking and injuring your Ecobee by doing this.

Can Ecobee Function Without WiFi?

Yes. Your Ecobee will continue to function as a typical thermostat whether or not you have a Wi-Fi connection. However, smart devices can’t reach their full potential without WiFi.

Even without WiFi, the Ecobee 3 will function as a regular thermostat, but it will simply display the current temperature and humidity in the house.

Conclusion

Although Ecobee thermostats are made to operate with gas fireplaces, you need first confirm that your heating system is compatible with them.

Despite the fact that a millivolt heating system is ideal for a gas fireplace thermostat control because of how easy it is to install and use.