No timer on my central heating thermostat - would it be expensive to get 1 installed?

Kay.Samuels

I am in a private rented house and my thermostat for the central heating doesn't have a timer on. Would like one so I can time it to warm rooms up before we get up but if it costs a lot won't bother as this isn't a forever house.

What am I looking at to get a timer installed?
I am clueless at all things technical and DIY related so any advice appreciated.

latecomer

but the boiler/ central heating controls must have some kind of a timing device or is your heating on 24/7?

sooz

Older ones didn't have to. You have an on/off switch for control of heating, & water heats up when you turn on the tap
No idea how much it would cost though, sorry.

SailorSam

Where your on/off switch is now, is it possible to change that to a single socket ?
Maybe you could get one of these plug in timers that plug into sockets

DVardysShadow

SailorSam wrote: »

Where your on/off switch is now, is it possible to change that to a single socket ?
Maybe you could get one of these plug in timers that plug into sockets

Be careful with this advice. Some boilers and systems require a permanent live connection. A socket type connection would be inappropriate and dependingon how it was done, the plug could potentially be live.

gas4you

It would help immensely if you told us the make and model of your boiler and type of system you have.

SailorSam

I think the cheapest way you're going to get it done is to get something like this from toolstation, approx £40 plus fitting, and it shouldn't be a big job.
7 Day Electronic Socket Box Timer

Catalogue p237

• 20 on and off programmes
• Fits standard 32mm box or pattress

Ideal for general timing applications including lighting, security, heating and combination boilers.

CodeDeliveredLogin?Price inc VAT 84213 7 Day Electronic Socket Box Timer 230V AC 13 amp Each9?£41.22

jcb208

Install some thing like a drayton digistat here usually just 2 wires to swap from your old room stat and can be programed to come on amd off 6 times a day at different temperatures

Owain_Moneysaver

You need to establish what sort of heating system controls you have.

The usual way would be to replace the wall thermostat, which only has 2 wires (mains live and call-for-heat) with a battery powered programmable thermostat. This would handle both time and temperature for your heating.

They cost £60-100 but you could take it with you when you leave, and just put the thermostat back.

How is your hot water controlled? It sometimes isn't possible to have heating on unless the hot water is also on.

Was looking at the one JCB208 found, on Screwfix site, but not sure if it's suitable. That's the general idea though.

VoucherMan

Plus one for jcb208's suggestion.

I fitted this one from Screwfix a couple of year ago.

Two wires to fit. The batteries are still fine.

Kay.Samuels

Thanks for all these replies! I currently have two boilers, one for water and one for radiotors but will have warmfront coming in soon hopefully to replace them both with a combi boiler. The heating is either off (thermostat set to zero) or on at the temp I want.

Will take a look at links this evening when my son is in bed but lots of helpful advice so thank you.

My CH boiler I think doesn't have a plug for me to fiddle with (not that I'd want to really I wouldn't trust myself), so a plug in timer thingy wouldn't work.