Switching boiler on remotely - is this impossible?

vaio

http://www.heatmisershop.co.uk

no recommendation but maybe worth a look

On the boiler issue, switching the mains is relatively trivial but wouldn't work if your boiler is one where you need to press & hold the gas valve knob to override the flame failure device when lighting it from cold

macman

aliasojo wrote: »

Which is exactly what I was asking about and now, thanks to the replies, I know it's not possible.

As for the 'illogical' comment, I'm not sure that was necessary? You could easily have made your point without that.

Anyway, thanks to all for the replies, it would seem leaving the boiler on is the way to go.

Because (at the risk of sounding like Mr Spock) your concerns are illogical. If you are concerned about the safety of your gas and electrical installations, then why are you content to use them when you are in the property, but not when you are out?
There's no point in leaving the boiler on unless you have a frost 'stat fitted and working. Otherwise you are reliant on the room 'stat or programmer triggering the heating in cold weather.

vaio

macman wrote: »

.......There's no point in leaving the boiler on unless you have a frost 'stat fitted and working. Otherwise you are reliant on the room 'stat or programmer triggering the heating in cold weather.

Yep, if the boiler is lit then the frost 'stat will bring it on whereas if you rely on the room 'stat to bring it on then that will only happen when the time clock is on too.

espresso

Turning the off the electric supply to the boiler is pointless unless you also turn off the gas supply:

MX5huggy

espresso wrote: »

Turning the off the electric supply to the boiler is pointless unless you also turn off the gas supply:

I love spot the diffrence, this one is difficult, I can only see that there is Clio on the drive in the second photo.

ValHaller

MX5huggy wrote: »

I love spot the diffrence, this one is difficult, I can only see that there is Clio on the drive in the second photo.

Red awning on the building to the right has been taken down. Telephone line has been photoshopped out. You really are not trying very hard.

cool_dude_2000

British Gas have a service called Remote Heating. Had it installed month ago - its fantastic!

Basically i can control my heating remotely from anywhere in the world. Can use my smartphone app, website or even text message.

Its great for setting the heating on if I return to an empty house after long period of time.

Requires installation of a wireless thermostat and hub which plugs into router. Its £200 from British Gas inc installation.

macman

vaio wrote: »

Yep, if the boiler is lit then the frost 'stat will bring it on whereas if you rely on the room 'stat to bring it on then that will only happen when the time clock is on too.

So, in the absence of a frost 'stat, you'd need to leave the heating permanently set to 'on' and regulated only by the room 'stat.
Most modern digital programmers have a frost 'stat function built in.

MrCardigan

There are quite a few programmable thermostats available that have remote access, from wifi, smartphone apps etc, Salus do a nice one. But a word of warning - I fitted one for a young couple a few months ago when I fitted the boiler. They now argue over the heating (he likes it cold, she likes it hot) as they sit in front of the TV and subtly turn the heating up/down constantly without the other realising
Turn your stopcock off and leave your boiler on when away - most have inbuilt frost protection and if they don't then the programmable stats normally have a frost setting in them anyway.