Wireless heating controls - recommendation

G_M

Elderly relative (90s) cannot reach his central heating controls as they in back of a cupboard. We are considering various options to help him, one being to install a wireless system so he can easily alter things from eg the kitchen.

Ideally enable him to

* alter the timing of on/off for heating
* alter the timing of on/off for hot water (less impotant as rarely changed)
* over-ride the timer (eg turn on heating when timer says it should be off)
* change between 'timed' and 'constant' and 'off'.

Thermostat is not an issue as he has a room stat in the dining room.

I have a wireless digistat myself at home which does all the above (plus acts as room stat), but it's much too complicated to operate for him.

He'd need one that looked more like a traditional set of controls, easy to read and operate, rather than a more complicated digital thing.

Does anyone have or know of something suitable?

vivatifosi

I understand that Hive can be used via the Echo smart hub. I haven't any experience of this, but before my dad died he was bedridden, and found having a home hub helped him retain a degree of independence, so could be worth looking at. He used it for all sorts, playing music, listening to the news, etc, so as a system it could be quite liberating in a more rounded way.

Alternatively, would the old school alternative of an electrician moving the thermostat somewhere more accessible work?

G_M

Thanks. Good idea, but.... no mobile phone (well, he's got one but no idea how to use it), no tablet. He manages (just) email on a desktop.

The the oldschool alternative is one of the other options we're considering.

I just wondered if there was a wireless system that is more user-friendly and intuitive than mine is.

DaftyDuck

I would move the old one. Elderly hate change, in my experience and, if knows how to use it....

Otherwise, get tablet phone controlled one, and control it for him. He'll love you for it...... But that might be useful when he later gets forgetful.

getmore4less

I don't know of any wireless controllers I think they all went to programmable stats so you can do temp/time rather than fixed temp on/off

Fairly sure there are some with the overide/boost buttons it will be the temp/time setting interface that may be the issue.

C.C.L.

We have this one but without the right hand square one next to it.....
https://www.screwfix.com/p/worcester-bosch-mt10rf-mechanical-rf-thermostat/96405
It does everything you asked in your post, and you don't have to have it fixed to the wall if you don't want. It's very simple to use, batteries last about 6 months. I'm sure the same type are available cheaper without the other part.

Debbie_Savard

>but it's much too complicated to operate for him.<

I fitted a Digistat +3RF in my parents flat, programmed it and told them never to touch it again. My elderly father contended himself with always checking the room 'was up to temp' on an LCD thermometer by his chair. Bless.

Gloomendoom

getmore4less wrote: »

I don't know of any wireless controllers I think they all went to programmable stats so you can do temp/time rather than fixed temp on/off.

A Hive, and presumably others, can be set with a fixed temperature and manual or programmed on/off for both heating and water.

cattie

I have a Salus & it's so easy to operate, even for me! In my previous property I had a Digistat & in the 5yrs I lived there I never managed to work out how to properly use it, I would have to phone the Digistat engineer to give me step by step instructions over the phone. The Salus is a dream by comparison & my sister decided to go for the same one seeing as it's so easy to operate.

G_M

C.C.L. wrote: »

We have this one but without the right hand square one next to it.....
https://www.screwfix.com/p/worcester-bosch-mt10rf-mechanical-rf-thermostat/96405
It does everything you asked in your post, and you don't have to have it fixed to the wall if you don't want. It's very simple to use, batteries last about 6 months. I'm sure the same type are available cheaper without the other part.

Thanks but

Compatible with Greenstar gas combi boilers only.

Won't work with a conventional boiler, only combi.

Instead get a simple wireless thermostat like Salus - http://amzn.to/2jM47TZ .

Had a look at the user manual. It's too complicated, not intuitive enough. If I wanted to change a setting I'd have to get the user manual out.

Looks increasingly like moving the existing controls is the way to go.

Ah!

or the Honeywell model - http://amzn.to/2B2bREx if you want to go premium

Looks better. Nice simple single push 'override' button marked for 'heating', and another for 'hot water', and a simple single push 'extra hour' button marked for 'heating', and another for 'hot water',

G_M

Thwarted! The Honeywell does not seem to be wireless.

Think it's time to visit a plumbers merchant.