[Technology] Wireless Thermostat help

[METALMICKY]

Our plumber installed a Honeywell wireless thermostat, has an app and works with Alexa. Pretty happy with it, especially as it still works after spilling a pint over the controller!

What is the name of the app you use? Just had combi boiler and we have the Honeywell CM727 wireless controller.

 

[CheeseRolls]

I've got Tado smart thermostats that work well with Tado smart TRVs/

For those wondering what the advantages are of smart thermostats:
They can make adjustments automatically depending on the weather outside. i.e. a suprise hot day they will turn down the demand to get to a set temperature because they know it will be reached. A conventional stat will demand the heating so you can heat the house to 20 deg, the stat will switch off but because of the burst of heat and outside temp. you're likely to rise to 25 deg plus.

They can turn off automatically if you leave the house, turn on automatically when they detect you within a radius you can set returning to the house.

You can programme different stats for week days / weekends / different parts of the house.

They learn how quickly it takes to raise the temperature of the house. Rather than just full demand or not, they learn that it might take an hour to raise the temperature 3 degs linked to outside conditions. Rather than you setting your heating to come on an hour before you need the house at say 20 deg, you can set the stat to be 20 deg at 07.00 and it will know when to come on to achieve that.

Yes, fundamentally there are no different to a manual turn stat and a manual programmer. But they can do a lot more besides.

Hate to get into a pissing contest on NSC, but I wonder on what basis so many people think they have the best solution. Like you I have a Tado. If no one is at home I don't have to remember to check my smartphone to turn off the heating. It knows no one is home and doesn't turn on, until someone is nearby.

I have integrated my heating and water controls with Google Home (Alexa also works), but it is an academic exercise. I literally never have to touch it.

They also have a £50 installation service if you don't feel confident enough to do it yourself and it will save you money.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

 

[father_and_son]

After some advice on what to buy...?

I have and Ideal combi boiler and a Boss wireless thermostat all fitted new about 5 years ago. The issue I have is it isn't smart as in use my phone via app to control heating and secondly despite the hallway control being less than 3 meters from boiler upstairs it's always losing connection so heating doesn't come on or doesn't turn off when you turn it down and this is driving me nuts, having to turn boiler from winter to summer mode to turn heating off sometimes.

So I would like to replace it and whilst I'm doing I might as well get one where I can control via my phone through the wifi.

I know there is Hive and Nest which look expansive to buy, couple hundred pounds and think there is also a monthly fee for app?

Any one on NSC use an alternative they can recommend, ideally with out a monthly fee?

If you get NEST through British Gas or someone like that, there is a fee. If you buy the units yourself then there is no ongoing cost. Connecting to a boiler is quite easy (but a job for a pro, obviously) and NEST can do so much more (assume Hive can too).

I had heating and smoke/fire alarms from NEST and linked to my phone via their app and it is a powerful combo for anyone who is actually wasting electric/gas heating an empty home.

If however, home life is quite stable and you are always home at the same time, out at the same time, etc, then there isn't really much of a saving to be made and certainly not enough to cover the upfront costs.

We had no issues over distance between the boiler (in an extension so behind a solid wall) and the WiFi hub, nor did I ever have issues with the app. All in all it is a good system but not everyone will actually benefit.

 

[Official Old Man]

I'm in the Tado camp but expect all the systems are similar. Geofencing means that if the house is empty then the heating stays off (always heats to 10c if freezing outside) and the system knows the outdoor conditions. Whatever you decide, wait till Black Friday for a bargain.

 

[Muhammad - I’m hard - Bruce Lee]

step 1. stand up.
step 2. walk to thermostat.
step 3. adjust thermostat to control the on/off state.
step 3a. when away turn down and turn up on return.

how did we ever cope before smart phones?

the main advantage is to generate sales for the smart heating control industry.

The main advantage is to control the boiler efficiently.
The clunky old bi-metal manual thermostats are accurate to between 3-5 degrees.
I’ve fitted several Hive stats, accurate to 0.1 degree

 

[Blue&WhiteSea]

What is the name of the app you use? Just had combi boiler and we have the Honeywell CM727 wireless controller.

It's just called Honeywell Home

 

[LamieRobertson]

I’ve got Nest. Works perfectly - can change settings over wifi or a mobile signal. No monthly charge.

Just had a Nest thermostat installed ..bit of a learning curve!

I’ve thing that I miss from the old one is the ability to just press a button to boost heating for an hour period ..I know you can boost the heat by turning the temp up either manually or via app ...but then u have to turn it back down again when not required ..or am I missing something

 

[GT49er]

Try moving the thermostat. When I was working I always had the boiler on a timer, which worked fine for me. Once I retired I decided to switch to using the thermostat. Although it was less than 3 metres from the boiler (and on the same floor, with only a doorway between them, no wall) it didn't work. Turned out it was inexplicably in a blind spot. Moved it upstairs to the bedroom (might as well make sure I'm nice and cosy getting up and dressed in the morning!) and it works fine.

 

[Shippers]

Just had a Nest thermostat installed ..bit of a learning curve!

I’ve thing that I miss from the old one is the ability to just press a button to boost heating for an hour period ..I know you can boost the heat by turning the temp up either manually or via app ...but then u have to turn it back down again when not required ..or am I missing something

On The back of this post, I brought the Hive and fitted my self.
This has a boost function on the wall mounted thermostat or on the app on my phone. You can then adjust time and temp, for example boost for 30 mins with a target of 21 deg, it will then switch off when one of the targets is reached (normally time).

Not sure on the Nest but must have a similar function?

 

[Official Old Man]

Just had a Nest thermostat installed ..bit of a learning curve!

I’ve thing that I miss from the old one is the ability to just press a button to boost heating for an hour period ..I know you can boost the heat by turning the temp up either manually or via app ...but then u have to turn it back down again when not required ..or am I missing something

I have Tado but expect the system to be similar. Do you have Alexa?
If you have an app, set up time zones. Night could be 10pm - 7am, morning 7am to 9am, day 9am to 5pm & evening 5pm to 10pm.
Next set temperatures for these zones. If you are out by day then have it set to 'off'. Remember to set up geo-fencing on your phone so that if you are out at 5pm the heating stays off. Geo-fencing should be put on the phone of all residents at the house. So now it's all set up to come on if you are at home. Note. It may give you an option to set minimum temperature overnight to keep the house 'warm'.
Now on to your question. If you have and set up Alexa you can ask her to turn on the heating and then set a temperature. You can do the same with the app, simply click 'on'
Where you have set up the 'time zones' the heating will automatically reset at the next time zone. For example turn on the heating at 4pm to 25C (phew) it will automatically reset to the temperature you set up for 5pm.
Complicated, but I hope you understand all of this.

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

I’d like some advice if at all possible. How do people have there heating set up? The reason I ask is because I’m my house we suffer with ridiculous amounts of condensation on the windows, the Mrs (who must be obeyed) doesn’t seem too fussed about the windows and sills completely dripping but it winds me up. Mrs DFP isn’t a fan of having the heating in as she’s afraid of the associated costs, so at best it comes on for about 2-3hrs each evening. I have no doubt this is a big contributor in the constant condensation on the windows as well as on the ceiling in our bedroom. Am I right in thinking that if we turned the heating to ON and set the thermostat at a modest temperature the heating would just come on and off as and when it needed, and that we could turn it down to stop it coming on when we’re at work?

 

[warlingham seagull]

Our plumber installed a Honeywell wireless thermostat, has an app and works with Alexa. Pretty happy with it, especially as it still works after spilling a pint over the controller!

Our plumber did the same and also pretty happy with it. No pint spilt yet......

 

[Shippers]

I’d like some advice if at all possible. How do people have there heating set up? The reason I ask is because I’m my house we suffer with ridiculous amounts of condensation on the windows, the Mrs (who must be obeyed) doesn’t seem too fussed about the windows and sills completely dripping but it winds me up. Mrs DFP isn’t a fan of having the heating in as she’s afraid of the associated costs, so at best it comes on for about 2-3hrs each evening. I have no doubt this is a big contributor in the constant condensation on the windows as well as on the ceiling in our bedroom. Am I right in thinking that if we turned the heating to ON and set the thermostat at a modest temperature the heating would just come on and off as and when it needed, and that we could turn it down to stop it coming on when we’re at work?

Think opening some windows for periods of the day may help, you need air circulation.
Do you dry your laundry in the house as that will cause condensation.
We brought a dehumidifier quite a few years back and that helps massively.

 

[Indurain's Lungs]

I have just put tado into our house when we had an extension. We have underfloor downstairs and radiators upstairs.

The system is great, I like the app and I can change the heating from anywhere in the world.

Geofencing doesn't work well with underfloor due to the long lag times but I love the ability to programme the day differently in each zone and boost from either app or Stat.

A word of warning, whilst the smart TRVs are great for individually controlling each room and having a fully smart system, they are loud. They have a small motor in them that opens/closes the valve and the noise amplifies hugely through the radiator. We found them unusable in bedrooms but they would be a good option if you wanted room-by-room control on a traditional system (no need for a separate Stat in each room).

Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

Think opening some windows for periods of the day may help, you need air circulation.
Do you dry your laundry in the house as that will cause condensation.
We brought a dehumidifier quite a few years back and that helps massively.

I’ve tried the open window route, but the Mrs hates the cold that brings. I’m in a lose lose situation. We rarely dry laundry in the house

 

[GT49er]

I’ve tried the open window route, but the Mrs hates the cold that brings. I’m in a lose lose situation. We rarely dry laundry in the house

Just out of interest, have you recently had cavity wall insulation fitted? I had a dry house, but since getting cavity wall insulation fitted I have windows streaming with water in the mornings, and I'm forever wiping mould off the frames.

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

Just out of interest, have you recently had cavity wall insulation fitted? I had a dry house, but since getting cavity wall insulation fitted I have windows streaming with water in the mornings, and I'm forever wiping mould off the frames.

No, we’ve been here for just over 3 years so it’s possible it was done before, however we have had new windows fitted, the old ones were completely shot. Like yourself, constant condensation on windows and chasing mould on the frames

 

[Goldstone1976]

Just had a Nest thermostat installed ..bit of a learning curve!

I’ve thing that I miss from the old one is the ability to just press a button to boost heating for an hour period ..I know you can boost the heat by turning the temp up either manually or via app ...but then u have to turn it back down again when not required ..or am I missing something

I can boost my hot water for 30 mins, 1 hr or 2 hrs in the way you describe, but not the heating - which can only be controlled manually at the device, remotely via the app, or with the scheduling manually at the device or on the app...

 

[LamieRobertson]

I have Tado but expect the system to be similar. Do you have Alexa?
If you have an app, set up time zones. Night could be 10pm - 7am, morning 7am to 9am, day 9am to 5pm & evening 5pm to 10pm.
Next set temperatures for these zones. If you are out by day then have it set to 'off'. Remember to set up geo-fencing on your phone so that if you are out at 5pm the heating stays off. Geo-fencing should be put on the phone of all residents at the house. So now it's all set up to come on if you are at home. Note. It may give you an option to set minimum temperature overnight to keep the house 'warm'.
Now on to your question. If you have and set up Alexa you can ask her to turn on the heating and then set a temperature. You can do the same with the app, simply click 'on'
Where you have set up the 'time zones' the heating will automatically reset at the next time zone. For example turn on the heating at 4pm to 25C (phew) it will automatically reset to the temperature you set up for 5pm.
Complicated, but I hope you understand all of this.

Thanks for the replies.....unfortunately the person who will be turning the heating on outside of its normal schedule hasn’t got a smart phone and isn’t that keen on technology ... they can just turn the temperature up on the nest to get the boiler to kick in....but need to take it back down again

 

[LamieRobertson]

I can boost my hot water for 30 mins, 1 hr or 2 hrs in the way you describe, but not the heating - which can only be controlled manually at the device, remotely via the app, or with the scheduling manually at the device or on the app...

Thanks ..thought as much ...the person who needs to use the non existent boost facility isn’t that technological minded....anyway it will just be turning the temperature up and remembering to turn it down

I like the flexibility the nest offers ..certainly as weekdays I’m the person who gets in at different times.