Do you have a heating thermostat?

Former_MSE_Rebecca

Hi,

Does anyone use a heating thermostat such as Nest or Hive? If so, do you find it useful and use it often? Or is it something you aren't willing to pay for?


Thanks,

Rebecca

System

MSE_Rebecca wrote: »

Hi,

Does anyone use a heating thermostat such as Nest or Hive? If so, do you find it useful and use it often? Or is it something you aren't willing to pay for?


Thanks,

Rebecca

There are multiple threads on these types of devices on this forum. Both Nest and Hive have been the subject of big marketing claims and are little more than a wireless thermostat with t'internet control.

http://recombu.com/digital/news/smart-energy-systems-nest-hive-evohome-heat-genius-owl-tado-salus-it500-cosy_M13058.html

That said, if you have a disjointed lifestyle; i.e., unplanned late nights at work then remote access can save you money.

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/gadgets/appliances/british-gas-hive-1266485/review

If you want full control of your heating then you would be better off with a zoning system.

Biggles

Hengus wrote: »

Both Nest and Hive have been the subject of big marketing claims and are little more than a wireless thermostat with t'internet control.

True. I've had an intelligent, optimising thermostat for some 20 or more years; the only thing new about Nest and Hive is that you can control them from your smartphone.

The really different one, which is multi-zone as well as intelligent, is Honeywell Evohome but that came on the market slightly later and hasn't got the same publicity behind it yet. It should wipe the floor with the other two when it does.

I must say I was confused by the pointless/thoughtless subject title - 'Do you have a heating thermostat?'.

System

I have to declare an interest. I have Evohome installed and it is brilliant. We can 'heat' just a family room during the day without heating any other rooms.

For those interested in technical details:

http://youlearn.honeywelluk.com/index.php

You have to sign up but it tells you everything that you need to know and more. For those considering Hive/Nest, you can buy the Evohome controller and use it like a Hive/Nest plus you will have the capability to build on the system in future years.

Former_MSE_Rebecca

Hi Hengus,

Thanks for the reply - how much on average do you think the Evohome has saved you since you've had it?

MillicentBystander

I too have purchased an Evohome system. Basically, after a huge amount of personal research into 'smart thermostats' and flirting with the whole house systems I came to the conclusion that the likes of Hive, Nest and Tado were basically just replicating the inherent drawbacks in a whole house heating control system. As Biggles states once Evohome starts getting the publicity that have been afforded Hive and Nest it will I am sure become very popular. Yes, of course it is more expensive than Hive, Nest, Tado etc but it really is the best solution for making your heating system 'smart'.

Having said all that, Honeywell need to sort out their network of recognised installers. I bought my Evohome system online then contacted several of them to get a quote for fitting it. No response from any of them so had to get in touch with Honeywell to register my dismay (I think the reason they didn't fancy the job was because I had already bought the system at a discounted price so that negated the possibility of them not only charging for the install but also making a hefty profit on supplying the actual system), Anyway, I was eventually contacted by a recognised Evohome specialist fitter and the sysyem will be installed next week.Looking forward to using it, especially now the weather is turning colder.

Biggles

MillicentBystander wrote: »

Having said all that, Honeywell need to sort out their network of recognised installers.

I think getting them all 'accredited' is in progress. When my CH engineer came to service my (33-year-old!) boiler, he told me that he was in line to go on an Evohome course in the near future.

System

MSE_Rebecca wrote: »

Hi Hengus,

Thanks for the reply - how much on average do you think the Evohome has saved you since you've had it?

That is a difficult one as the Evohome system was only marketed in the UK in the Spring of this year. The Evohome HW kit controls my hot water in the range 50 to 60C (system boiler and unvented tank) and our gas savings are 25% (sadly, not in cost because of standing charges). University of Salford research on heating controls in 2013 gave the following results:

1. No Temperature Control = 0% savings.

2. Room thermostat only = 12% savings.

3. Control by room thermostat and TRVs = 40.7%

Installers of Evohome and Heat Genius tend to concentrate on the 40.7% figure but I suspect that not all installations start from the no temperature control position. FWiW, wifi TRVs are not cheap; however, when heat is not demanded they are OFF; i.e., cold. The real beauty of the system is that rooms not in use can effectively be selected out of the heating system.

MillicentBystander

Hengus wrote: »

That is a difficult one as the Evohome system was only marketed in the UK in the Spring of this year. The Evohome HW kit controls my hot water in the range 50 to 60C (system boiler and unvented tank) and our gas savings are 25% (sadly, not in cost because of standing charges). University of Salford research on heating controls in 2013 gave the following results:

1. No Temperature Control = 0% savings.

2. Room thermostat only = 12% savings.

3. Control by room thermostat and TRVs = 40.7%

Installers of Evohome and Heat Genius tend to concentrate on the 40.7% figure but I suspect that not all installations start from the no temperature control position. FWiW, wifi TRVs are not cheap; however, when heat is not demanded they are OFF; i.e., cold. The real beauty of the system is that rooms not in use can effectively be selected out of the heating system.

Agreed but Evohome goes further than that in that it can also (remotely and automatically) heat occasionally used rooms only at the times they will be used, which I think is one of the maain advantages of the system. I know people say why not just turn your TRV on and off yourself and I can see the argument but, hand on heart, who actually would do this all the time? Plus Evohome apparently learns how long it takes any particualr room to heat to the desired temparature so should you set the temp in, say, a bedroom to be 20c at 10pm then that's the temp the bedroom will be at at 10pm. Very clever. Can't wait to put it to the test...

Nada666

Hengus wrote: »

That said, if you have a disjointed lifestyle; i.e., unplanned late nights at work then remote access can save you money

That only works if there is only one of you. In which case not using the twice-a-day timer is a simpler and cheaper solution.

redux

Hengus wrote: »

The real beauty of the system is that rooms not in use can effectively be selected out of the heating system.

But surely that can happen anyway?

Just using valves, two bedrooms here are completely unheated except when there are visitors staying and my bedroom is unheated most of the time. I just turn up my room's radiator slightly when its very cold outside.