New Programmable Thermostat,Temperature More Even and Lounge more Comfortable

st999

Couldn't think of anywhere else to post this.
For those thinking of upgrading their non programmable thermostat to a programmable thermostat. DO IT.
I have a Worcester Bosch combi and had a non programmable thermostat in my lounge that was set at 21 deg C.
I also have a Bluetooth min/max thermometer fixed above the thermostat.
It is for my greenhouse but I don't use my greenhouse in the winter and my wife kept complaining that the lounge wasn't warm enough some times so this was to show her that it was her who was feeling cold and the heating was working OK.
When I downloaded the data I saw that when the heating was on and after the house had reached it's set temperature, the temperature varied between a minimum of 19.5 deg C and a maximum of 22.5 deg C. giving an average temperature of 21 deg C which is the desired temperature.
The heating is on from 07:45 to 23:30 every day
Then the thermostat failed.
Since everything was still under guarantee I contacted Worcester Bosch and the engineer who came fitted a programmable thermostat, a Greenstar Comfort 2 rf.
Now the temperature in my lounge with the thermostat set at 21 deg C varies between 20.5 and 21.5 deg C and my wife has stopped complaining about feeling cold so often.
Whether or not this will save on gas I have no idea but the comfort is worth it. I have also notice that the heating fires more times a day but not for as long each time as before.

Talldave

I've been a fan of programmable thermostats for 20+ years and wouldn't be without one. You don't now have to have the heating "off" overnight, just set a lower temperature that means it doesn't get too uncomfortable. And once you have a temperature schedule that suits, just leave it running 365 days a year - if we get a cold week in June it'll quietly pop the heating on and you won't even notice. 
If yours has optimum start (or equivalent) it gets even better - none of the traditional "I'll set the heating to come on an hour early so it's warm enough when I get up", you set the time you want the target temperature reached and the thermostat learns what time to come on to achieve it. 

matelodave

I'm also a fan of Programmable Thermostat. We've got eight - one in each room to control the underfloor heating loops - probably a bit of overkill but it means we can set the temperatures in each room according to their usage. - Bedroom and bathroom to get up & go to bed. Spare room, just idling unless someone is using it., The study gets heated during the day and lounge/diner lowish during the day and a bit higher in the evenings when we are watching the TV.
All the stats maintain a set back overnight and have a holiday function which allows the heating to be switched down whilst we are away but up again 24 hours before we return.

Talldave

matelodave said:

I'm also a fan of Programmable Thermostat. We've got eight - one in each room to control the underfloor heating loops - probably a bit of overkill but it means we can set the temperatures in each room according to their usage. - Bedroom and bathroom to get up & go to bed. Spare room, just idling unless someone is using it., The study gets heated during the day and lounge/diner lowish during the day and a bit higher in the evenings when we are watching the TV.
All the stats maintain a set back overnight and have a holiday function which allows the heating to be switched down whilst we are away but up again 24 hours before we return.

Honeywell thermostats I've used in the past also had a "party" function that delayed the start of the lower overnight temperature and a "day off" button that used the weekend schedule on a weekday.

I'm renting at the moment so have limited the amount of upgrades I've done - but radiators are now controlled from remote temperature sensors linked to a Heatmiser thermostat & hub so that I can set & adjust from phone/tablet.  The natural next step would be to upgrade all the underfloor thermostats to the latest Heatmiser hub compatible ones - then you could configure the entire house from a tablet.

MWT

Also worth looking at the Honeywell DT90E if a fully programmable solution is out of reach or not suitable due to renting etc.

Just using the DT90E to replace an old room thermostat can give you a lot of the benefits at a lower cost, including the ability to set a lower temperature for a set number of hours and better boiler control to maintain more accurate temperatures. 

Fyne

matelodave 

We also have underfloor heating, which thermostats do you use our inherited Deviregs seem to have a mind of their own. TIA

matelodave

The stats are danfoss TP-7000RF which communicate with three 3-channel receivers. The receiver outputs drive the manifold zone controllers which control the flow valves on the heating loops and the heating circulating pump.
We have eight zones but 17 heating loops (four for the lounge, two for each bedroom, the kitchen, hall and dining room and one for the bathroom)
We have two manifolds, one in the hall for the bedrooms, hall and bathroom and the second in the utility room for the kitchen, lounge and dining room.

st999

Programmable thermostat does not save money.
Well, the temperature may be more consistent and the lounge may be  more comfortable but after a week my gas usage is still the same.

badmemory

This sounds like my version of heaven.  I stopped caring too much about my usage a couple of years ago when aching joints became a problem, but trying to figure out what time of day the heating needed to come on to have a decent temp at getting up time has become a problem (it varies day to day).  I know I sleep better if the overnight temp is a little lower than daytime, but the last few months I have the heating on 24/7 just to be certain it is up to temp when I get up.  Hopefully my new boiler etc, within next 18 months, will sort this - provided I remember what has been said here!

Talldave

st999 said:

Programmable thermostat does not save money.
Well, the temperature may be more consistent and the lounge may be  more comfortable but after a week my gas usage is still the same.

Why would it save money? It simply gives you better control over the temperature/time profile. Unless you reduce the temperature, you won't magically use less gas.

st999

Talldave said:

st999 said:

Programmable thermostat does not save money.
Well, the temperature may be more consistent and the lounge may be  more comfortable but after a week my gas usage is still the same.

Why would it save money? It simply gives you better control over the temperature/time profile. Unless you reduce the temperature, you won't magically use less gas.

I did wonder about that as programmable thermostats are usually advertised as being able to reduce heating costs.