Hive or Nest - app assisted heating programmer

roytom

I’ve got a Valliant Eco Tec Plus boiler and a British Gas branded RC thermostat programmer (10 years old) - it’s wireless to the boiler. It’s actually a rebranded Drayton I think.

Programming it is tedious - I’d like something I can program from an iPad app - Hive or Nest? Or are there other options?

Will these be expensive and difficult to replace the current standalone thermostat/programmer? Could I do it myself or would I need a hearing/boiler engineer?

Thanks

mobileron

I use one called Cosy works great from laptop/iphone etc.
https://www.geotogether.com/consumer/product-category/meet-cosy-our-smart-thermostat/

giraffe69

Hive works fine for me and I set the heating and turn off the lights from my tablet and can also set when out.
The heating part was a bit unreliable in the early days but is much better/more stable now.

ianto11

Hi,
I have the Tado system, smart thermostat with extension kit, the extension kit would replace your current stat/programmer and the smart stat can be sited wherever you wish.
As to installation the extension kit fits onto a standard wired backplate so you can just unhook the current one and fit the extension kit onto it
Functionality is similar to all the rest, multiple user location control, apps for IOS, Android and even Windows Only slight drawback is that you can only setup schedules through the apps as the schedules are stored on Tado servers...not locally

RumRat

Vaillant have their own system. I have one and control it from Google on phone or tablet......I don't have any problem with it and find it simple to use.
https://www.vaillant.co.uk/homeowners/products/vaillant-vsmart-app-based-heating-control-25856.html

bertiewhite

giraffe69 wrote: »

The heating part was a bit unreliable in the early days but is much better/more stable now.

Apologies if I'm hijacking this, but how do people generally find reliability with smart thermostats?

I ask because whilst I generally a fan of smart technology, I've found my Alexa controlled light bulbs & smart plugs can be a bit hit & miss which is hardly a matter of life or death but one thing I do want my heating to be is reliable.

What happens in the event of no internet?

RumRat

Extremely reliable.....Not had a hiccup with the heating control in the 2 years I've had it.
As for light bulbs/plugs etc. I find them all very reliable.....However, I use Google not Alexa, so, can't say if that makes a difference.

bertiewhite

RumRat wrote: »

Extremely reliable.....Not had a hiccup with the heating control in the 2 years I've had it.
As for light bulbs/plugs etc. I find them all very reliable.....However, I use Google not Alexa, so, can't say if that makes a difference.

What does happen in the event that internet/LAN (as opposed to Alexa/Google) isn't available though?

Nebulous2

bertiewhite wrote: »

What does happen in the event that internet/LAN (as opposed to Alexa/Google) isn't available though?

I've two hive systems, no Alexa or google and they've both been extremely reliable. My original one is the older style and if the router is rebooted you need to restart the hive controller as well or the app doesn't work. The heating continues to follow its schedule as normal. It's happened about 3 times in 4 years.

The newer style one with the coloured thermostat has the controller powered by the USB socket from the router, which means if the router is restarted the hive controller restarts as well, so it carries on as though nothing had happened.

ianto11

bertiewhite wrote: »

What does happen in the event that internet/LAN (as opposed to Alexa/Google) isn't available though?

With my Tado if the internet dies, smart stat maintains it's state when the disconnection occurred, so your unable to change anything via the app. You can obviously switch it on/off manually on the stat itself.
When internet connection is re-established system automatically reconnects and schedules are resumed

RumRat

bertiewhite wrote: »

What does happen in the event that internet/LAN (as opposed to Alexa/Google) isn't available though?

Back to manual.....However, WiFi hasn't gone down in years so not something that enters the equation any more than worrying about a power cut or gas disruption in the 21st century.
Of course that doesn't help those living beyond civilization with dodgy BB....;):D