Hive Hub

Strider590

It's a gimmick and more to the point this stuff doesn't save money unless your one of those morons who doesn't know how a thermostat works.

baza52

Strider590 wrote: »

It's a gimmick and more to the point this stuff doesn't save money unless your one of those morons who doesn't know how a thermostat works.

Bet you said that when remote controls for tvs came out.

giraffe69

Well, a moron I may be but I find it easier and simpler to have the heating off when we are both away for reduced bills and also, on the other side of the coin, not arrive home to a cold house. Overall our bills are a little cheaper since we have had Hive. Its main advantage however is convenience.

Strider590

^^ I know what time im going to be at home, I set the heating timer accordingly (4pm to 11pm every day), for the odd day when my schedule changes, it's no real loss.

Thermostat stays at 20C all year round (except for when i'm on holiday, when it's set for 10C) and this is the main saving, it seems more people than I care to admit, are the types who ramp the thermostat up to maximum (thinking it'll heat faster) and then open a window when it gets too hot, rinse/repeat until sky high heating bills.

spud17

Mine set at 18°C all year round, similar to Strider590, a programmable thermostat takes care of everything.
It's possible to set up 6 different periods with differing temperatures, different times and length of time for 24 hrs, which then runs for 5 days, and also set up a different pattern for the weekend (2 days).
It has 2 threads, one for 5 days and one for 2 days.

http://products.danfoss.co.uk/productrange/list/heatingsolutions/electric-and-electronic-room-thermostats/programmable-room-thermostats-with-digital-display-br-for-heating-applications/tp4000/#/

Jivesinger

spud17 wrote: »

Mine set at 18°C all year round, similar to Strider590, a programmable thermostat takes care of everything.
It's possible to set up 6 different periods with differing temperatures, different times and length of time for 24 hrs, which then runs for 5 days, and also set up a different pattern for the weekend (2 days).
It has 2 threads, one for 5 days and one for 2 days.

I'm definitely a fan of programmable thermostats with different periods at different temperatures. I'm sure I have a much more comfortable house and don't use seem to be using more energy compared to my old mechanical thermostat with a single temperature.

Given a decent programmable thermostat, the advantages of being able to control it remotely look very slim.

That said, the OP said they're being sent it in any case, so whether or not a Hive is a good idea seems a moot point.

spud17

Jivesinger wrote: »

I'm sure I have a much more comfortable house and don't use seem to be using more energy compared to my old mechanical thermostat with a single temperature.

Going of topic now, ,
I'd say that mine is possibly saving me money.
The old mechanical thermostat operated at around +/- 2 degrees, the battery operated digital one keeps the temperature at +/- 0.5 degrees. So a more even temperature.

Gloomendoom

Strider590 wrote: »

It's a gimmick and more to the point this stuff doesn't save money unless your one of those morons who doesn't know how a thermostat works.

I take it that you don't work irregular hours?

For my wife and I, setting the old "dumb" programmer was always hit and miss because we finish work at different times every day. We would get home early to a stone cold house or late to a house that had been heated for the last four hours with nobody in it.

The hive means that we can turn the heating up just before we leave work and the house is warm when we get home. It also means that, not only can we can monitor the temperature of the house while we are away in Australia during the winter but we can also crank the heat up three days we leave to come home.

A gimmick it is not.

spud17

Gloomendoom wrote: »

I take it that you don't work irregular hours?

For my wife and I, setting the old "dumb" programmer was always hit and miss because we finish work at different times every day. We would get home early to a stone cold house or late to a house that had been heated for the last four hours with nobody in it.

The hive means that we can turn the heating up just before we leave work and the house is warm when we get home. It also means that, not only can we can monitor the temperature of the house while we are away in Australia during the winter but we can also crank the heat up three days we leave to come home.

A gimmick it is not.

I never know what time I'll get home, but I work outside, no heating on mornings or through day, decent insulation means coming home to a house that is 14°C is no hardship in the middle of winter.

It takes 3 days to heat your house?
Must be a massive house or no insulation.

Gloomendoom

spud17 wrote: »

I never know what time I'll get home, but I work outside, no heating on mornings or through day, decent insulation means coming home to a house that is 14°C is no hardship in the middle of winter.

Good for you. If you were married to my wife, you would find coming home to 14°C a definite hardship whatever the time of year.

spud17 wrote: »

It takes 3 days to heat your house?
Must be a massive house or no insulation.

It's 300 years old and rambling.

When the heating has been off for a month in midwinter, yes, it does take three days to warm it through. At least.