My HVAC system is circa 1997 and has the old style thermostats. (Round, totally manual dials.) I'd like to switch these out for something fancy. Or, at least, digital. :)

The problem I have is that I have 2 primary thermostats (which have options for heat/cool, on/off, and temp) as well as 3 additional zone thermostats, which only offer temperature control but ALSO can force the HVAC on/off by calling for heating or cooling. (Based on the primary thermostat's heat/cool setting.)

Two of these zone thermostats control physical dampers, and one seems to simply call for heating/cooling as it does not appear to have an associated damper.

So what are my options here? I really wanted a NEST or Ecobee, but those aren't compatible (it seems) with systems that can have multiple thermostats calling for heating/cooling.

I'm fine going with a basic programmable thermostat and then, ideally, zone thermostats which I can program to have a temperature range and setbacks. Right now, I'm forced to run around the house making sure the zone thermostats are set super low or super high as we switch from heating to cooling or visa versa.

Sometimes you also may want to be guarded about programing above say 25 degrees F -if as in another post you pick up on AHP heating of the home. SAVINGS can simply be better at times, not-programing more than 2 degrees-daily-differences in heating or just leaving heating with most any HP's alone and increasing back-up timing-delays and/or temperature differences between thermostat stages.

GTmuse - understood. Right now, I'm just using an oil fired furnace and standard A/C. (Still evaluating ASHP / GSHP). Once I move to one of these options, I'll be sure to avoid major setbacks.