Setting the temperature range

[Mike3023]

I recent bought thermostats I can control by app and installed in my 2- rentals.  I set the min temperature for 70 degrees F (21 Celsius).  I'm in Florida, its hot here.  I had a 3-star rating because the guest said he couldn't put it in the mid 60's as he said.   Below 68 degrees you're at risk of freezing your coils.  Wasting energy concerns me as a human, but as a host I realize guests will waste energy with a smile.  

1. Is it unreasonable or reasonable to have a thermostat you can control and lock out?   In my case not below 70 f in the summer. 

2. Do you lock out your thermostat to a set range?  How has it worked out? 

3. If you do lock out your controller what temp do you set in the summer? 

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Mike3023 As you will see in our listings we state the thermostats are locked but people can request a different temperature. We set them at around 22 degrees in Winter  but have had people request they be turned up even in July.

No adverse reactions from guests last Winter so we will see how we go this year.

[Mike3023]

Good advice, I'll update my listing, thank you. 

[Iolanda54]

I have had guest who want to set the temperature to 62 degrees while staying in my Airbnb.  I am cool with that while they are there. I leave my temperature to 68 degrees normally.

i changing out my nest thermostat because it just too smart and gets stuck in 62 degrees. I like Honeywell thermostats and they too can be controlled remotely. 
 
My AC guy told me they service a lot of nest products and they are very problematic. 

[Kia272 · Accepted solution]

@Mike3023  You can include in your property info/house rules that you control the temp, and it is set at XX in the summer and XX in the winter. As long as it's there in print, and they agree to book, then they agree to your terms. You might want to mention it again in your booking message, as that would give them time to cancel if they "missed" it while booking. 

I don't think that in a shared home situation that the guest should have ultimate control, as it affects the host and others in the home. You shouldn't live at a temp you're not comfortable in, just because a guest thinks differently. 

[Mike3023]

In this case the thermostat is locked for my other short term rental.  Thank you for the good suggestion, i'll update!

[Michael6863]

Hi Mike,

We have the same problem, believe it or not, up in Charlevoix Michigan, where summer temps rarely hit the 80s. Since we're on the 2nd level, heat rises, so I guess that explains some of it...

We use a Nest and have had issues with freezing coils when guests turn it low and leave it low. My suggestion is to create a schedule that resets the temp to 70 every 2 or 3 hours. If the guest complains, simply inform of the risk of coils freezing - this is not an uncommon problem.

I would also ask Airbnb to remove that 3 star review and I think they will, as it's unfair to penalize a host for wanting to protect expensive mechanicals from guest abuse!!

Cheers

Mike