One of the most common and costly issues at short-term rentals involves guests changing thermostat settings in ways that strain HVAC systems, increase energy costs, or prevent proper heating and cooling altogether.
Using the ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential, hosts can allow guests to adjust the temperature within reasonable limits—while preventing schedule changes, system overrides, or extreme settings that can damage equipment or drive up utility bills. This is one reason why the ecobee thermostat is our top recommendation for short-term rentals, but you can accomplish the same thing with other thermostats as well.
This guide walks through the recommended ecobee configuration for short-term rentals, using settings that work reliably with calendar-based automation and smart-device control.
Why We Recommend the ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential
The ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential has all the features & capabilities you need at your short-term rental. It’s a strong choice because it offers:
- Granular control over heating and cooling ranges
- Intuitive interface that is easy for guests to use
- Compatibility with automation platforms and smart-home hubs
- Consistent behavior across guest stays
Most importantly, it allows hosts to limit what guests can change without locking the thermostat down completely.
Read our full review on the ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential:
What This Guide Covers (and What It Doesn’t)
This guide assumes:
- Your ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential is already installed
- The thermostat is connected to Wi-Fi
- The device is paired with the ecobee app
It does not cover physical installation or wiring. If you need help with installation, ecobee’s official setup documentation is the best starting point.
Step 1: Set Allowed Temperature Ranges
The first and most important control is restricting how far guests can raise or lower the temperature.
This prevents:
- Overheating or overcooling the home
- HVAC systems running continuously
- Freeze risks in winter
- Excessive energy usage
Recommended Temperature Ranges
These ranges allow comfort while protecting equipment:
- Heating range: 50°–75°F (10°-24°C)
- Cooling range: 65°–90°F (18°-32°C)
How to Configure Temperature Ranges
- Open the ecobee mobile app
- Select the thermostat you want to configure
- Tap More >
- Tap the Settings (gear icon)
- Select Device Settings
- Set the Heating Range
- Tap Save
- Set the Cooling Range
- Tap Save
These limits apply to both the physical thermostat and the app.
Step 2: Enable Access Control (Prevent Schedule & Mode Changes)
Temperature limits alone aren’t enough. Without access control, guests can still modify schedules, vacation settings, or operating modes.
To prevent this, ecobee requires enabling Access Control, which is only available through the web interface.
How to Enable Access Control
- Visit ecobee.com and sign in
- Open the thermostat and click View Full Details
- Click Settings
- Select Access Control
- Enable Access Control
- Set a PIN code
- Enable restrictions for:
- Schedule
- Vacation
With these settings enabled:
- Guests cannot modify schedules
- Guests cannot create or edit vacations
- Guests cannot change system-level settings like turning the heat off in the winter
- Guests can still adjust temperature within your defined limits
- Guests can use temporary holds (which reset naturally)
This strikes the right balance between guest comfort and host control.
How This Works With Smart-Home Automation
These thermostat restrictions pair perfectly with calendar-based automation.
When combined with automation:
- The thermostat can be pre-conditioned before check-in
- Energy-saving settings can activate automatically at checkout
- Guests remain comfortable without risking system misuse
- Manual corrections are rarely needed
The thermostat becomes a managed device, not a guest-controlled variable.
Common Questions Hosts Ask
Can guests still change the temperature?
Yes — but only within the safe ranges you define.
Can guests turn the system completely off?
No. Access Control prevents changes to operating modes and schedules.
Do these settings work on other ecobee models?
Yes, ecobee uses the same configuration flow in their software for all ecobee models.
Will this interfere with automation?
No. These settings are designed to work alongside automation workflows.
Best Practices for Short-Term Rentals
- Use conservative but reasonable temperature ranges
- Avoid extreme lock-downs that frustrate guests
- Pair thermostat restrictions with:
- Occupancy-aware automation
- Calendar-based temperature adjustments
- Test settings between stays to ensure expected behavior
The ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential gives short-term rental hosts the ability to protect HVAC systems, control energy costs, and maintain guest comfort—without constant oversight.
By limiting temperature ranges and locking down system-level settings, you ensure your thermostat behaves predictably across every stay, while still allowing guests to feel in control of their environment.
When combined with smart-device automation, thermostat restrictions become a powerful operational safeguard rather than a reactive fix.
Your thermostat shouldn’t be a liability. Rental Home Automator connects your booking calendar directly to smart thermostats—so temperature settings adjust automatically before, during, and after every stay.
