Smart thermostat feedback

Former_MSE_Fraser

Feedback on smart thermostats

Do you use a smart thermostat (Hive, Nest, Tado, etc)?

We're researching the benefits of smart thermostats and would love to hear your stories:

• Do you find it easy to use?
• Has it saved you money?
• Would you recommend it to others?

Please leave your feedback below.

giraffe69

I have hive.
Yes. Easy to use.
Heating and hot water are easier to control so some savings but not as much as the advertising hype suggests.
Good if you travel or are away unexpectedly.
Yes.
Reliability of the app has improved since I bought it 15 months ago.

Sterlingtimes

I can see no benefit in employing such a device in a house that is occupied at most times. There could be some benefit from distributed thermostat control but I suspect that it would be difficult to justify a return on investment. Perhaps in time the functionality would become an integral feature of any new boiler system. I watch the technology with interest.

ic

I opted for a weather compensating thermostat rather than one controlled by smart app.

There is a sensor on the back wall of the house (facing North) that measures the external temperature, and the thermostat uses that to decide how hard to drive ("tune") the boiler, adjusting the flow temperature of the water in the radiators. On a mild day the temperature will be low, whilst on a cold day it'll be far hotter. Result is the boiler runs more efficiently, and internally the temperature is predictable and comfortable.

I figured with a smart app phone I'd be inclined to turn the temperature up, and lose on any savings made possible by being able to turn the boiler off when out.

I know Worcester now provide a smart app controlled thermostat that also does the weather compensation - but it uses weather data available over the internet. The nearest weather station to me is out in the country side many miles away - I'm doubtful how useful that would be.

b33r

I've had Hive for about 6 months. Unlike competitors its more hands on, you create schedules etc. Nest and Tado attempt to automate it so you don't ever have to do anything based on outside temperature, how warm you like it, tracks if you are home through your phone etc.

Very easy to use, got it on all phones and tablets in the house.
It probably has saved me money as if we decide to stay out for the whole night I can cancel the HW and heating schedule as it won't be needed.
I would recommend it, if you don't need hot water control (i.e. a combi) then I would look at Nest first. If you do need hot water look at tado and hive, if you have have a lot of money and want zone control look at the Honeywell one.

Hive has just had an update (hive 2) with a new funky looking thermostat, more controls in the app and there's some new home automation stuff coming which will be supported (remote sockets, lights, movement sensors etc.)

System

Fourteen months ago, I installed a Honeywell Evohome Zoning System with a smart controller, hot water kit and wifi TRVs. If people reading this site are only interested in saving money, then read no further. Honeywell claims that its system is capable of saving 'up to 40%' in energy costs; however, these claims are predicated on research undertaken in a controlled environment starting with a property with no heating controls whatsoever. My starting position was a gas-fired CH system with an unvented cylinder, and 21 radiators fitted with conventional TRVs.

Has the system saved me any money? The answer is an emphatic 'Yes'. It has saved me just over 20% on my annual usage figure (note: because of standing charges, this is not the same as a 20% saving on the bill).

So not worth bothering with then from an MSE perspective? Probably not if money saving is the only aim. However, if you have a young baby and want to keep one bedroom warm at night, or if you get delayed at work and don't want a set heating schedule, or if you are in later life, then zoning is the way forward. As well as using 20% less gas, my wife and I, who are home most days, have enjoyed a much more comfortable lifestyle. Evohome, with its 12 separate zones, has allowed us to have heat where we are at any given time. Rooms not in use are not heated as, unlike traditional TRVs, Honeywell TRVs shut off radiators completely. They are also 'intelligent' in that they learn when to come on to achieve the required room temperature at the scheduled time, and also flexible in that they can be controlled manually ( or not if little fingers prove troublesome) - reverting back to the schedule at the next set point. The smart controller can be wall or cradle mounted.

My system has had some issues. The smart controller is connected to boiler demand relays in the airing cupboard. I have 2 but the system will work with a single HW relay. In the case of a single relay, the controller will demand CH heat as each TRV requires it. The disadvantage of putting wifi components in an airing cupboard is interference from the motorised valves, pipes and tank. To overcome the occasional loss of communication between the relays and the controller, Honeywell arranged for all the major components in my system to be replaced and the demand relays were moved to provide maximum separation from other components, metal etc in the airing cupboard. There have been no further issues.

In sum, as someone in later life, who really doesn't want to crawl under desks to get to manual TRVs, and wants heat where it is needed but not where it isn't, then zoning is undoubtedly the way forward. The smart controller GUI is probably the best one on the market, and Honeywell is undoubtedly the market leader in smart heating controls ( and heating controls generally)

orrery

b33r wrote: »

I've had Hive for about 6 months. Unlike competitors its more hands on, you create schedules etc. Nest and Tado attempt to automate it so you don't ever have to do anything based on outside temperature, how warm you like it, tracks if you are home through your phone etc.

Tado allows several different modes - different cycles can be selected, or manual control from the phone.

We left the house for a week's holiday yesterday, and as we drove away Tado backed off the target temperature - about 40 miles away and the target had fallen to 5C (frost protection only) and it will reverse that process as we approach home. At any time I can set an alternative cycle (one without the auto control) or just set a manual target temperature from my phone.

r2015

I wanted a smart thermostat when I got new heating installed.


Even the manufacturer of my boiler said for a 3 bed semi it was overkill.

b33r

Hengus wrote: »

Fourteen months ago, I installed a Honeywell Evohome Zoning System with a smart controller, hot water kit and wifi TRVs

How much did your system cost in total out of interest?

b33r

r2015 wrote: »

I wanted a smart thermostat when I got new heating installed.

Even the manufacturer of my boiler said for a 3 bed semi it was overkill.

I can't see how the size of your house has anything to do with it really.

If you have an unpredictable life schedule or are constantly having to go in to a dusty cupboard to change the timer(s), or out in to the hall to change the stat or would like to come back to a warm house if you don't use a schedule, or you've ever accidentally left the heating on over night, or your current system doesn't have a frost protection mode, or you're just a gadget freak, would be the decision factors IMO. If you answered no to all of them then I wouldn't consider getting one.

r2015

If you have an unpredictable life schedule

We have a totally predictable life schedule for 2 OAP's.

I could give you our schedule for the next 6 months.

Would you spend over £300 to save £20 or less a year?

Manufacture said based on our lifestyle we would be lucky to save 5% on our gas bill of £500 a year plus standing charge ( and that was before we replaced our warm air heating with a combi and radiators) as our heating is on all day from 7:30 - 24:00 and in the very cold of winter 24 hours.

We would also have had to buy a smartphone to make it work and learn how to use it.

How much extra would that cost us just to save 5%?

And no internet no heating.

It's bad enough when the electricity goes off and the heating stops but if the internet goes down?