Smart thermostat - any good?

[Deleted User]

Our room thermostat seems to be on its last legs. We've bought a separate thermometers (two in fact) and it differs by about 2degrees! So we're setting it 2C above what we want.

Also, at times its too cold sometimes too hot. Looking at the smart thermostats (hive etc).

Any good? Will they actually save any money? Our bills (gas/elec) is £170 a month (4 bed detached, garage conv, conservatory, 2 adults, 2 kids) so something more efficient would be good!

macman

Unless you really need remote control, a decent digital programmer, wired or wireless, will do the job for around £60. I like the Honeywell range.

teddysmum

A smart thermostat would be of no use to us, as having a combi boiler giving hot water on demand, we don't need that controlled.


The thermostat has (I believe) four time settings for weekdays and four more for weekend days.


We do sometimes feel too hot of two cold, but it's simply a case for raising or lowering the temperature temporarily (It reverts to pattern when a setting time is reached.)


Our house is an early 1970s build, but our son's is post 2010, yet I notice that both properties sometimes feel too hot or too cold, depending on how much one moves about, what clothing is worn, whether doors are opened or even if the wind interacts with external venting.

lstar337

teddysmum wrote: »

Our house is an early 1970s build, but our son's is post 2010, yet I notice that both properties sometimes feel too hot or too cold, depending on how much one moves about, what clothing is worn, whether doors are opened or even if the wind interacts with external venting.

Not to mention the body itself!

Sometimes you can feel too hot or too cold and the temperature hasn't even changed. I don't think any system out there can make you comfortable 100% of the time.

matelodave

Comfort is acheived by a combination of both temperature & humidity, not necessarily by the accuracy of the thermostat.

A smart thermostat is no more accurate than a relatively modern electronic stat but is a hell of a lot more expensive. You'd be better off changing your stat for a wireless programmable stat for around £50 so you can programme in different temperatures for different times of the day depending on your activity level.

So you could have it set to be a bit cooler when you are moving around and warmer when sitting watching the TV. A wireless one would also give you the option of placing where it does most good rather than stuck half up a wall in the wrong part of the room or house.

A programable stat also has the advantage that if you alter the temperature temporarily then it will reset when the next timed function occurs so you can't inadvertantly leave it set wrongly.

CashStrapped

A good digital wired or wireless programmable thermostat will be just as good if not better.

Smart thermostats are just good marketing, apart from the very expensive Honeywell version.

This wireless thermostat from plumb-centre is a good budget model as it is actually a re-branded honeywell.

http://www.plumbcenter.co.uk/product/center-radio-frequency-programmable-room-thermostat/

I would also look at installing thermostatic radiator valves.

These two things will be far more beneficial and cost effective that any "smart thermostat".

Robin9

Agreed - I've got a wired Honeywell DT90E - easy on the eye, easy to use and accurate.

Garf

I like our Hive that was installed last year. I like Gadgets and Home Automation anyway. I like to think its made a difference as my Wife and I always used to leave the Heating and Hot Water over Weekends when we're away.

Sterlingtimes

I opted for MiGenie (Drayton/Schneider) since it was plug compatible with the previous timer. The units control timing and temperature of central heating and the timing of hot water with internet control.

teddysmum

Garf wrote: »

I like our Hive that was installed last year. I like Gadgets and Home Automation anyway. I like to think its made a difference as my Wife and I always used to leave the Heating and Hot Water over Weekends when we're away.

I thought a Hive (or the like) learned your weekly pattern, so wouldn't know when you went on holiday.


It's a simple matter of a few minutes, on a wireless or other programmed 'ordinary' thermostat, to drop your weekend programme temperatures to just protect against extreme cold.