Industry Partners

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Where can I learn more about Ecovent?

We host online workshops and information sessions with interested industry partners. If you're interested in learning more, check out our Industry Partners page and sign up for our portal where there are marketing and sales resources for your use.

General Information

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Why does Ecovent exist?

Ecovent exists because we believe that every family has the right to be healthy and comfortable in their own homes.

We are more health and energy conscious than ever before, yet we still lack the basic comfort, health and control in our own homes. We are on a mission to solve this once and for all.

What do you mean when you say that a customer is for life?

We believe that our Digital Zoning system is only the starting point for a lifetime relationship.

A lifetime view means that we operate differently. It drives a transparent approach to our pursuits. For example, lifetime software upgrades mean our customers benefit in real time from our ongoing innovation.

We have solved the “this room is too hot or cold” problem, but we are just getting started on our quest to optimize health, comfort, and savings in the home.

What is Ecovent’s Digital Zoning and how does it work?

Ecovent’s Digital Zoning is an integrated system of Sensor Enabled Vents, Room Climate Sensors, a connected thermostat, and our Smart Hub that provides unprecedented room by room climate control.

Our system is optimized to safely manage the airflow within your home HVAC system while maintaing home wide comfort.

All you do is set your preferences for each room using a virtual thermostat on our mobile app, and we do the rest!

Will this work in any home? What are the requirements?

Ecovent is compatible with over 90 million homes in the US, but is not compatible in every home...yet! Ecovent is compatible with 98% of residential HVAC units currently installed in the US. The only exceptions are the highest end systems such as Carrier Infinity and systems with Constant Volume Flow fans.

Minimum requirements:

1. Forced (central) air conditioning and/or heating in your home
2. Grounded wall outlets
3. An internet connection and wireless router

How do you size the system to my home?

This is why we developed our scoping tool! If you click Get A Quote, you will see it in action!

The tool will help you verify that your home is compatible and assure optimal system configuration.

We strongly recommend replacing EVERY vent, and never less than 80% of all vents in the home. If the system is not installed into the entire home, then the system will not be able to provide sufficient protection to you HVAC and comfort to each room. The system must have at least 5 Room Climate Sensors to be effective.

What do you mean by “HVAC Contractor Approved?” My contractor says this may be dangerous to my HVAC unit.

Ecovent has passed multiple independent tests by HVAC professionals. Our technology has been proven to safely manage the static pressure and airflow in ducts.

The concern that your contractor has is that if you close off vents, it causes a rise in static pressure, which can result in burning out your furnace or freezing the coils in your AC. We solved this issue, and ensure the safety of the HVAC by effectively managing the airflow and pressure. We have a plethora of sensors measuring pressure, temperature and humidity. This core science has been validated by HVAC contractors, independent studies, and utility programs.

What does this system compare to?

The closest competitor or comparison is traditional wired damper zoning systems.

These are systems that involve installing dampers into the ductwork along with control panels. These systems only split your home into 2 or 3 “zones” with a separate physical thermostat for each.

These 40 year old solutions are:

1. Invasive: They involve multiple days of workers in your home.
2. Outdated: These systems are hardwired and can not adapt as new technology is created as part of the IoT and smart home movements.
3. Limited: These system only typically provide 2-3 zones for costs ranging from $6,000-$15,000+.

By comparison, Ecovent’s Digital Zoning system is:

1. Non-invasive: An installation typically takes just 90 minutes, and can be done yourself.
2. Smart: Ecovent provides lifetime software updates to ensure your home remains up to date and compatible with the latest technology.
3. Unlimited: Ecovent provides 10+ zones for ~$4,995

Can I just buy a few smart vents to get started?

To be effective in providing room by room climate control Ecovent needs to have control of every vent in the system. This is what allows us to provide climate control in each room of your home while keeping your HVAC safe.

We only sell systems that we know will be effective as our priority is making sure our customers receive the value they deserve. That is why we don’t sell single vents/sensors, and why we put the tools in place to assure it is simple for you to get your system right the first time.

I thought this was a smart vent company?

Ecovent's Digital Zoning system utilizes our proprietary smart vents as part of our complete system.

Ecovent is often compared to smart vent companies, but this is like comparing a Tesla Model S to a Battery.

One is a component, and one is a system that provides unprecedented performance. The Tesla controls and makes use of the battery to perform as a complete vehicle, at a level never before imagined.

Similarly, Ecovent's Digital Zoning system makes use of smart vents to give you control of the temperature in each room in your home at a level never before imagined...and we keep getting better!

With a smart vent product, you get to open and close the vents. Maybe even with a mobile app. This is a nice feature, but is also dangerous to your HVAC system - just ask any HVAC professional!

With Ecovent, the vents are an integral part of our room-by-room Digital Zoning system that includes the Room Climate Sensors, the virtual room-by-room thermostats, and our Smart Hub to safely manage the airflow, pressure, and climate of every room in your home - HVAC Pro approved!

How much energy can I save?

Typical homes save 15%, but the average is closer to 25%. It all depends on how you use the system! The amount of energy you’ll save depends on where you live, the type of home you have, and how many people are utilizing different rooms throughout the day.

What about Return on Investment (ROI)?

What is the ROI for a happy, comfortable, and healthy family? Children? Elderly parents? Wife or Husband? Priceless!!

In terms of energy savings, if you optimize for energy efficiency and consider the extension to the life of your HVAC; payback could be in less than 3 years.

What is the Ideal HVAC unit that works with Ecovent?

Ecovent will be compatible with all HVAC units, except for the highest end systems - in Carrier's case, this would be the Infinity Zoning system for example.

The Ideal System is a Single speed (Typically called PSC) or Dual speed fan that is appropriately sized for your ducting (do not oversize the system!). We are compliant with all of them except the constant airflow variable speed systems. (X13 is okay). These systems will increase the fan speed as the pressure builds in the duct (to maintain airflow over the heat exchanger and AC coils) and effectively fight our algorithm, which can also cause some noise issues.

We also suggest doing what you can to make your supply vents match our sizes of 4x10, 4x12, 6x10 or 6x12 in Wall, Ceiling and/or Floor. As long as your supply vent's match our sizes, a simple HVAC system enabled with Ecovent will out-perform the more complicated higher-end systems.

Other than that, if the HVAC communicates with a Sensi or Zen thermostat, we can implement our room by room climate control system.

Purchasing

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How much does a system cost?

On average, about $495 per room, but Ecovent needs to cover a minimum of 5 zones. To give a comparison, see the chart below, based on a 3,800 ft2 home:

Brand	Zones	Total Price	Price Per Zone
Traditional Zoning:  Low Bid	4	$6,560.00	$1,640.00
Emme Zoning	6	$14,816.60	$2,496.43
Honeywell	6	$13,186.86	$2,197.81
Ecovent	10	$4,903.72	$490.37

Why is Traditional Zoning so expensive?

Mostly due to the unpredictable labor requirements and the nature of wired traditional zoning. When we interviewed HVAC contractors, they told us that traditional wired zoning installation is unpredictable and cost prohibitive primarily because:

1. Ducting systems are not easily accessible in homes. An installation can take 1-3 days and require multiple technicians in the home.
2. Contractors must be certified and have both electrical and mechanical certifications.
3. Many homes do not have the extra space for the new ducting required in a traditionally zoned system, and can not have traditional zoning installed at all.

We designed our product to be installed in less than 2 hours which provides the right predictability to incorporate our product into their services.

What vent sizes are available?

We’re currently making ceiling, wall and floor vents in four standard sizes: 4”x10”, 4”x12”, 6”x10” and 6”x12”. We are working on determining future vent sizes based on market demand. If vent size is the only thing holding you back, we suggest you go here to complete a survey and get a quote!

In the mean time, we also engineered a solution that allows for our vents to sit behind the register. This will require a contractor to install, but it provides a solution for vent sizes that we do not currently manufacture. As long as the ducts are 6", 8”, 10” round, it will work with both hard ducting and flex ducting!

How do I measure my vents?

You can measure them yourself or work with a contractor/professional to do this. Either way, the simple guide to measuring your vents can be found here.

Installation – Less than 2 hours!

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How do I install the system?

You have several installtion options. You can install Ecovent yourself with support from a RemotePro technician on the phone to help. You can use a professional contractor to come to you home and do the installation. ... Or you can have your kids, or neighbor do it for you!

A typical installation (average 4 bedroom home) should take no more than 2 hours to install. Once the system is installed, you can begin setting your temperature preferences right from our app.

Do I need to replace all of my vents?

YES! In order for Ecovent to work effectively to solve the comfort and control issues so many homeowners face, it’s important to replace as close to 100% of the vents in your home as possible and never less than 80% unless approved by our technical team. This is because Ecovent is an integrated system that takes in information from your entire home and makes decisions on how to control every vent to optimize comfort and efficiency. You can usually skip replacing vents in bathrooms and closets (because they tend to be smaller and have less airflow).

Will the Room Climate Sensors take up my power outlets?

Nope – they expand them! Our sensors fit in standard power outlets and include their own outlets! In fact, Ecovent Room Climate Sensors give you even more space to plug in your gadgets, because they include two USB charging ports! Check it out here.

Technical

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How are the vents powered?

Our vents are powered with 4 AA batteries. When the batteries get low, the mobile app will send you a notification. The batteries are easy to replace, too: just pop the magnetic faceplate off the vent, take out the batteries, and put in new ones. If the batteries die before you have a chance to change them, the vent doors will open fully in order to keep your system safe from a buildup of static pressure.

How do you protect my HVAC system again?

If too many vents are closed off in your home, pressure builds up in your ducts. This can have costly and potentially dangerous consequences. Too much pressure can prematurely wear out your blower motor and decrease the airflow at your furnace or cooling coil. The heating element can get dangerously hot (and possibly crack, leading to a carbon monoxide leak) or the cooling coil can freeze into a block of ice. Pretty scary, right?

Ecovent doesn’t blindly close off vents. Our system reliably monitors the static pressure and airflow conditions at each vent and in each room. We optimize your comfort, but never put your home in a position where your heating or cooling equipment will be damaged.

Do the vents make any noise?

The opening and closing of vents is almost completely inaudible when installed. Our vents are designed for optimal airflow, which means they usually make significantly less noise than a standard vent. Please note that the vent doors calibrate themselves during installation, which makes more noise than during normal operation. This helps you know they are working properly during install.Again, the only issue with noise is with systems that have Constant Volume Flow fans, so we avoid installing with these systems until we have further integration with HVAC manufacturers.

Are there firmware updates?

Yes. Firmware is updated remotely and will be included for the life of the product. Again, our lifetime perspective of our partnership with the customer is an essential part of our mission.

What sensors does Ecovent use?

We use sensors that read temperature, humidity, and pressure. Each sensor helps us tailor the temperature of each room to your preferences.

Do I need one Room Climate Sensor for every vent?

You only need one sensor per room. You can link multiple vents to a single sensor.

What happens if I lose my internet connection?

We’ve designed our sensors and vents to communicate to the hub using a custom, low-powered radio frequency. However, an internet connection is required for Ecovent to control the thermostat. When the internet connection is lost, Ecovent will notify you through the app. You can still manually control the thermostat until an internet connection is re-established.

What wireless protocol does Ecovent use?

Ecovent’s vents and room sensors communicate using a custom, low-powered protocol on 915 MHz, completely encrypted so your data is safe!

Compatibility

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What kind of heating and cooling system do I need?

You need to have a standard forced air (central) system. Ecovent will not work with radiant heat, ductless systems, high velocity systems or window units.

How does Ecovent work with Wi-Fi thermostats?

We use your thermostat to get hot or cool air into the ducts. Once it’s in the ducts, our vents will open or close to get the air where you want it.

What Wi-Fi thermostats does Ecovent work with?

Ecovent works best with Sensi™ Wi-Fi Programmable Thermostat. Ecovent can work with most smart thermostats and we expect to be integrated with all in the near future. Therefore, if Ecovent is unable to connect with your current thermostat, let us know and we will include one with your purchase to assure optimal performance. If you have more specific questions or want to let us know about a thermostat you’d like to see us work with, you can contact our Customer Experience team here.

Does the Ecovent system include a thermostat?

Ecovent or your professional installer can replace your existing thermostat with a Sensi Wi-Fi Programmable Thermostat or our latest integration Zen, for Zigbee radio communications and WiFi independence.

Can I control the system from my smartphone, tablet or computer?

Ecovent is controlled from your smartphone or tablet. We currently have iOS and Android apps. The mobile app allows you to control the temperature in every room, turn your thermostat on and off, and see the status of every room in your home - whether you’re on the couch or away from the house.

I have multiple zones in my home. Can Ecovent still help?

Even if you have a multi-zone home, Ecovent can still help. Chances are, you have rooms that are hotter or colder than you’d like them to be. Our system enables you to break your pre-existing zones down further, and set your temperature preferences on a room-by-room basis.

Will Ecovent integrate with HomeKit, Wink, SmartThings and other platforms?

This is underway and we expect integration with many of these platforms in the near future! If you’re interested in specific integrations, please let us know what you'd like to see.

Do you have an API?

We are working on this, but currently, we don’t have an open API. Coming very soon…

Privacy and Security

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How do you secure my account?

We use industry best practices for data encryption. Most of the founding team has serious experience in data security, given their backgrounds with Lockheed Martin.

Your data is fully encrypted from the vents, room sensors and the Smart Hub, all of the way up to the cloud. Because we designed our own protocol with security as a core requirement, we can ensure that every data channel is secured from end-to-end.

Do you share my information?

No, we never share your information without your permission. Check out our plain English privacy policy here.