wireless heating thermostats - a warning

dada44

I wanted to write a post to anyone considering installing wireless heating thermostats vs wired (if they have the choice)

Having lived with Wirsbo (now called Uponor) wireless thermostats controlling underfloor heating in this property for more than 5 years - I can safely say I would not go near wireless heating again.

They complicate matters greatly - the programming on the main panel is complex (you set a minimum and maximum temperature for each thermostat on the main program - the thermostats don't actually have temperatures on them - just a bare empty dial).

Sure - this is partly Wirsbo / Uponor 's poor designing. However, even if the design for the temperatures was good, there's still the issue of the main control panel losing contact with the thermostats for no apparent reason. They also use lithium ion batteries (AA) which are difficult to find, and just a hassle to replace - nor do you have any clear indication when to replace them, as the main panel loses contact with the thermostats quite often (so not just a battery issue). None of this would happen with wired - and the house was a new build about 12 years ago (no idea why the the builders then chose wireless??????)

I'm sure technology has improved the last few years and that wireless may be more reliable now - however, i would still stay away from it - to anyone considering. Wired systems in my view, are much more reliable, and much more easy to use.

wireless = headache.

Cardew

I have recently had a new Honeywell wireless thermostat fitted. This does have a low battery indication(a flashing battery symbol) and the replacement batteries are 2 x AA.


The advantage of a wireless thermostat is if you use more than one room requiring heat.

sheffield_lad

I think you have just had a bad experience with this particular wireless stat.

I have had wireless stats in the past and have had no issues. The one's I have seen do have a display showing the room temp.

I think the best advice is research before buying.

GL

System

I've had no problems with our wireless thermostat. The battery lasts 18 months +, however, it is included in the annual CH servicing contract that the battery is replaced on a service so never have a problem with the battery dying.

GwylimT

We have never had a problem, we also haven't found AA batteries difficult to find in shops.

System

I have Honeywell's Evohome system with wireless boiler demand relays and TRVs. The TRVs have been faultless. They use standard AA batteries which last in excess of 2 full seasons. Temperatures of each room are shown and controlled on a central controller. I have had some issues with the occasional loss of communication between the controller and the boiler demand relays; however, Honeywell replaced the controller and both relays and there have been no further issues. My guess is these types of controls will be standard on all new builds within the next 5 years.

dada44

Wireless on new builds does not make sense - The maintenance of the batteries and the dropping of communication, in my experience, is simply not worth the trouble.

Most commenters on here are talking about a honeywell system, whilst the one used here is made by Wirsbo. Finding AA batteries it not difficult - however finding Lithium ion AA batteries is. These are not ones commonly found in shops.

I do not know what honeywell uses.

I imagine, that wired systems are probably a bit more environmentally friendly too. Not only do they use less bandwidth in the airspace, already clogged by wireless wifi devices (i'm not sure what frequency the thermostats use and whether they can interfere with wifi routers), they also use batteries.

My advice is, if you can avoid it, do.

victor2

As Hengus says, it is a technology that is getting more sophisticated and it is bound to become more and more popular. Battery life and usage is improving also, as is the amount of power required to run such devices.
A different issue, but a few years ago I had our old 1980's wired alarm system replaced by a wireless one. Installation cost was a fraction of what it had cost, even in the 80's, to install the previous system. Yes there are 7 batteries in the various parts to replace periodically, but they are well into their second year now with no problems yet. The systems can supposedly be disabled with some specialised electronic devices, but any determined intruder can get past wired or wireless systems.

Lower power consumption off the grid is being achieved with such technology. Yes it is perhaps shifting the cost elsewhere as well as reducing it a little and the overall environmental impact may not be reduced by as much as the headline figures suggest, but add to that the increased convenience and it's an inevitable change to our lifestyle...

Coedy

I have a sonus(I cant remember, something like that...? not an expensive one by any means think it cost us £50?).

-It tells you the temp of the room all the times.
-Setting it is easy (you just programme what temp at what time, no min and max).
-Ive never once had it lose connection (despite the fact the boiler is in the extension behind our Victorian stone wall terraced house meaning two thick stone walls to get through).
-It flashes up and buzzes when the batteries are low. (I bought rechargeables and we've only had to changed them once in two years so far.

(They also don't interfere with wifi as they are different frequencies, I did query this as I was concerned because our wifi signal is terrible because of our big stone walls)

I would never go back to wired after swapping to wireless. In fact I keep looking at the evohome kit which is even more wireless and controllable but my wife probably wouldn't like it. "There's nothing wrong with our old one..."

Cardew

The big disadvantage of a wired thermostat is the problem of where it should be sited.


If you have it in a reception room, when that room is up to the required temperature, and you want to use another room, there is no heating to that room.


If you have it in a hall, why should the temperature in the hall determine the temperature of other rooms?

kaya

Last house had a combi boiler and wireless stat, worked faultlessly for the 9 years we were there