Mysa Smart Thermostat Review: The Savior for Baseboard Heating?

The High-Voltage Problem

If you have electric baseboard heaters, fan-forced wall heaters, or in-floor heating, you know the struggle. You cannot simply install a standard smart thermostat because your system runs on “line voltage” (120V-240V), while most smart devices run on low voltage (24V). Attempting to wire a Nest into a baseboard heater without a complex transformer relay setup will fry the unit instantly.

This is where Mysa enters the conversation. Designed by a Canadian company specifically to handle high-voltage loads, Mysa (derived from a Swedish word for “cozy”) aims to be the thermostat for baseboard heaters that design-conscious homeowners have been waiting for. In this review, we break down the design, installation, features, and whether it truly saves you money.

Product Overview: What is Mysa?

Mysa currently offers three primary products:

• Mysa for Baseboards (V1 & V2): For electric baseboards and in-wall fan heaters.
• Mysa for In-Floor: Specifically for electric radiant floor heating.
• Mysa for AC: A smart controller for window AC units and ductless mini-splits.

This review focuses primarily on the Mysa for Baseboard Heaters V2, their flagship product. It is a sleek, minimalist device that replaces your old manual dial. It connects to Wi-Fi, allowing you to control your heating from anywhere via an app, set schedules, and integrate with smart home ecosystems like HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Assistant.

Design and Build Quality

Gone are the days of yellowed plastic dials. Mysa features a modern, unobtrusive design. The faceplate is simple, featuring capacitive touch buttons for raising and lowering the temperature. The display is an LED matrix that shines through the plastic casing, giving it a futuristic “ghost” effect. It looks clean and disappears when not in use.

Size: It is larger than a standard dial thermostat. This is intentional; it needs to dissipate heat generated by the high-voltage relay inside. However, the V2 model is 40% smaller than the original V1, addressing one of the biggest complaints about the first generation.

Installation: Not for the Faint of Heart?

We need to be clear: This involves high-voltage wiring. Unlike low-voltage systems where a mistake might blow a 3-amp fuse, mistakes here involve 120V or 240V mains power. If you are not comfortable with electrical work, hire a professional.

For the DIY enthusiast, Mysa provides excellent in-app guides. The installation involves identifying your Line (power in) and Load (power to heater) wires. The Mysa unit is quite bulky in the back, so you need a gang box with enough depth. If you have a crowded electrical box, cramming the wires back in can be a challenge.

If you are confused about general thermostat setups, read our guide on thermostat instructions for homeowners before opening your wall.

Features & Smart Functionality

Does Mysa make your “dumb” heater smart? Absolutely. Here is what stands out:

1. Precision Zoning

Since baseboard heaters are usually installed room-by-room, Mysa allows for true zoning. You can group the Living Room and Kitchen together while keeping the Bedroom separate. This is vastly superior to a central furnace system where you often need expensive zoning dampers.

2. Geofencing

Mysa uses your phone’s location to determine if you are home. If you leave for work, it lowers the temperature. If you return early, it warms up. To understand the mechanics of this feature, check out our article: What is a geofencing thermostat?

3. Energy Charting

The app provides detailed graphs showing exactly how much energy you used and what it cost you. This transparency is crucial for answering the question: Do smart thermostats really save money? With Mysa, you can see the savings in real-time.

4. Smart Ecosystems

Unlike some niche products, Mysa plays nice with everyone. It has native support for Apple HomeKit, which is a rarity in the high-voltage space. It also works seamlessly with Alexa and Google Assistant.

Performance Evaluation

In our testing, the Mysa V2 maintained temperature within 0.5 degrees of the setpoint. This is a massive improvement over mechanical bi-metal dials, which often have a “swing” of +/- 5 degrees, leading to uncomfortable cycles of sweating and freezing.

The “TRIAC” Advantage

Mysa uses a TRIAC (Triode for Alternating Current) switching mechanism. Standard relays click loudly when turning on and off. Mysa is silent. Furthermore, it can modulate the power. Instead of just 100% ON or OFF, it can pulse the power to maintain a steady temperature, which is more efficient.

However, relying on Wi-Fi means you are subject to network stability. If you wonder are WiFi thermostats worth it given connection issues, Mysa mitigates this by functioning as a standard manual thermostat even if the internet goes down.

Comparison: Mysa vs. The Competition

How does Mysa stack up against its few competitors like Sinope or even low-voltage giants?

While you might be tempted to compare Honeywell vs Nest, remember that neither natively supports baseboard heat. Mysa is the clear winner for high-voltage simplicity.

Pros & Cons

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

No device is perfect. Here are common issues users face with Mysa:

• Connectivity Drops: Like many IoT devices, Mysa can struggle with mesh networks that combine 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands.
• “H2” Error: This usually indicates the unit is getting too hot. Ensure the gang box isn’t overstuffed with wires.
• Heater Won’t Turn Off: If your thermostat says heat on but no heat, or vice-versa, verify the wiring. Swapping Line and Load wires is a common mistake.
• Rebooting: If the thermostat keeps rebooting, check for loose wire nuts in the gang box.

Frequently Asked Questions