Topic: Smart Thermostat

[JC the Messiah]

Moving in to a new house in the next month or so, and am looking at getting a smart thermostat for the central heating and hot water.

They all seem to look good, but difficult to choose between the alternatives, such add Nest, Hive, Taco and a whole load of others that are out there. I'm sure they all have their pros and cons, so trying to work out which is the best for me.

Anyone got any advice on this, with ones they have, ones to avoid and ones they'd recommend? We're moving into a new build, 4-bed detached, and it's just me and the missus, and she works from home most days. Central heating system has a tank in the airing cupboard, rather than being a combi. Any thoughts and opinions appreciated.

[CHOPPER]

Just phone her and tell her to switch the fucker on.

[JC the Messiah]

Just phone her and tell her to switch the fucker on.

[killer-heels]

Chopper does speak the truth.

I know someone who has a Nest system and raves about it. It learns apparently so its pretty much an automated system based on how you use the heating and water. It was my first choice but it needed to be fitted near a power point and I didnt want more electric work taking place in the house nor did I want that thermostat in either the kitchen, living or dining rooms.

I then chose the Hive system as it runs off batteries and its really good. Its more manual in control in terms of its used from my phone but i have had it almost a year and it works brilliantly.

[JC the Messiah]

The Genius system looks good, but it's pricey. Not sure if the Nest or Hive will be able to control the multiple "zones" in the house. Still investigating the different systems, and it seems that some work for some houses and setups, but not for others.

Then there's also Chopper's solution 

[Claire.]

we have the Hive and it's really good, but it's a combi setup, you'll have to talk to people who have the same setup as you as I seem to remember when I was looking at them that there were issues with a tank setup, but that was a few years ago so may well have been sorted. The Hive has a water option on it so they must do it.

[.adam]

I've got a Nest. Combi boiler, installed it myself.

I knew nothing about installation and sort of "figured it out" - there is no one solution for all boiler types though so your installation might be more or less complicated than mine.

I like the fact that the system 'learns' how long it takes to get up to temperature so, for example, I'll tell it that I want it to be 20 degrees at 5:30PM (when I get home from work) and it only switches on to get up to this temperature at the required time, dependent on the ambient temperature. On a warmer day it might only need to come on half an hour before 5:30 whilst on a colder day it might need to come on an hour and a half before 5:30.

This differs from a normal thermostat in that I tell it what temperature at what time and it 'learns' when to come on based on the ambient temperature (as opposed to "20 degrees at 6PM", guessing that it will be warm enough at 7:30PM).

I also like being able to set the temperature whilst I'm away from home. It's good being able to land at the airport after returning from holiday, fire up the app, whack the temperature up and then get home to a warm house.

[Mark Walters]

I've got Nest and it's great and not great at the same time. 

Because I can work away and I live alone, the whole point was that I have periods when I'm not in the house, sometimes for days, so I've set it up to recognise when I'm away from home and put it into Eco mode which switches the heating off when I'm abroad.  The problem is that just as you can forget the switch the heating off before you leave, you can also forget to switch it on before you come home.  So I've often arrived home to a freezing cold house becuase I've forgotten to switch it on.  In my mind, the algorithm should be able to detect that you're moving in the direction of home and prompt you to switch it on, especially if it knows that it's going to take 2 hours to get to 23 degrees!

Also, because I have open plan living downstairs, the space take a longer time to get to the required temperature so it'll be a furnace in the bedrooms upstairs and just comfortable in the living area or, depending on the location of the thermostat, comfortable upstairs but still a little cool downstairs.

Of course, it's great to be able to turn it on remotely or still set a schedule if I'm going to be at home for a period of time and it does save me money so I shouldn't really complain.

[pw1008]

Got a hive last December on Black Friday for about £100 and it’s so much better than the old timer we had.
No problems so far but read battery can be an issue as replacement often don’t last long - but generally get offered a new hive if there are issues

If I moved house I’d buy the same day even if it was full price

[Claire.]

what do you mean about the batteries? It just has 4 AAs in the back?

[gazzalfc]

I've got Hive ready to be fitted as soon as we get the radiators plumbed back in (waiting on plaster to dry).

Issue I have is that the house I'm in has 2 heating control panels and need to work out what one is controlling the radiaitors so I can junction box one of them off and fit the Hive panel to the correct one.

[Nitramdorf]

I have a Hive and think its great. I just use the app to change anything - Boost the heat for half an hour or so or change the timings for an extra hour, or turn it on a bit earlier for when you get in. Have never touched the actual battery driven thermostat.
Told a few lads at work about it and they love it as well after getting it installed.
Not Hive related but I remember the engineer telling me about some new scheme they have for any breakdowns on a boiler, where they can read it remotely and so know what part is knackered. Instead of turning up with no parts in their van. Think thats costs extra though and only works for new boilers.

[pw1008]

 

what do you mean about the batteries? It just has 4 AAs in the back?

Not sure what the batteries it uses but I’ve read a few issues when people replace them but that might have also had something To with a software update but from what I read they send out a replacement box if you contact them

Believe batteries last about 18 months

[Claire.]

Not sure what the batteries it uses but I’ve read a few issues when people replace them but that might have also had something To with a software update but from what I read they send out a replacement box if you contact them

Believe batteries last about 18 months

I've changed the batteries in our one, it was pissing about and dropping off the network when the old ones were on their way out, had to replace the batteries and restart it, been fine!

The other stuff like the sensors work on batteries, not had to change one yet, but if they drop off the network you can open them up and there's a reset button on the board inside.

[Ben S]

Hive is gash, mines started chewing throught new sets duracells in about 3 months, keep meaning to phone them and kick off but not got round to it.

Overall Nest is a miles better system from the appearence to the interface.

[red_lfc_costello]

Reviving this topic....

I've been thinking of setting up a Hive system at home for a while now and with 'black Friday' discounts now might be the time. We have a 1930's house and did an extension a couple of years ago. We installed a new combi boiler and put in some fancy new rads into the extension and new valves on all the other rads in the house. The thermostat is in the hallway at the moment. When the heating kicks in downstairs gets nice and warm really quickly due to the super new rads but upstairs stays quite cold.

Im thinking of going for the hive system and getting the radiator valves. Due to my limited knowledge of home heating, im thinking that the new rads heat downstairs up quickly before the rads upstairs get a chance to kick in fully and once downstairs is up to temp the thermostat kicks the heating off again. I assume getting the radiator valves that you can control the temp on each one will help us to control the temp upstairs better? Also, would we need to put valves on all rads or just the ones upstairs? Any help or experiences would be great thanks.

[Red Raw]

Reviving this topic....

Sounds like your system may not be balanced particularly well - if the lockshields are opened too much on the radiators nearest the boiler they will get hotter first and may starve those further away.  Balancing is a pain in the ass but if you are patient it should be a relatively simple job, made easier if you have time and a digital thermometer.  Lots of how-to guides in the internet.

Remotely operated radiator valves will help you zone your system to match the heating to the way you occupy your home (e.g. keep some bits cooler when they are not occupied) but you might find that a balanced system with functioning TRVs gives you what you need without the addional expense.

If the system is not balanced you might find that the expensive new valves are effectively fighting against your system.

[gazzam1963]

Reviving this topic....

I've been thinking of setting up a Hive system at home for a while now and with 'black Friday' discounts now might be the time. We have a 1930's house and did an extension a couple of years ago. We installed a new combi boiler and put in some fancy new rads into the extension and new valves on all the other rads in the house. The thermostat is in the hallway at the moment. When the heating kicks in downstairs gets nice and warm really quickly due to the super new rads but upstairs stays quite cold.

Im thinking of going for the hive system and getting the radiator valves. Due to my limited knowledge of home heating, im thinking that the new rads heat downstairs up quickly before the rads upstairs get a chance to kick in fully and once downstairs is up to temp the thermostat kicks the heating off again. I assume getting the radiator valves that you can control the temp on each one will help us to control the temp upstairs better? Also, would we need to put valves on all rads or just the ones upstairs? Any help or experiences would be great thanks.

I’m not too dissimilar but have recently reinsulated the loft and have found the upstairs is much warmer