Thermostat

Starcity83

I recently moved into a property that has a combi boiler. Which is a pro combi exclusive 24. At the moment the only way to get hearing is to turn the dial from just hot water to hot water and heating. Then switch it off again. I’m looking into getting a thermostat but don’t know whether to get the smart ones. I rent the house so don’t want to spend too much money. I have seen the hive model and hub for £122 is this a good deal?. The man who my landlady uses to sort out gas issues said he could fit the thermostat etc but I have no idea how much this would cost. Or should I just get the basic model?.

matelodave

You dont need a Hive or any other magic remotely controllable stat (unless you are a gadget freak) Get a wireless programmable stat fitted which has the advantage that you dont need wiring, it's got a built in timer and you can programme up to six different times/temperatures per day if you so wish
Something like this is more than sufficient - https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/3031195866?iid=193647891455 and shouldn't take more than half an hour to install.

Starcity83

That’s great thanks. Would it be a simple installation?. The previous place I had, it was a wireless panel that could be taken around the house to turn the heating on/off or select time slots. 

matelodave

Yes - the receiver unit get connected to the boiler - just four wires, two for the mains supply and two to control the boiler.and possibly a couple of screw (or double side sticky tape) to secure it to the wall.
TBH a moderately competent DIYer can do it providing they are comfortable with electricity and can use the boiler installation instructs to find the correct terminals
The actual thermostat is portable and can be anywhere within about 20 metres or so of the receiver. 

macman

Why are you paying to install a programmer in a rented property: it's the job of your LL to do this. Every CH system should at least have a basic room 'stat. 

Starcity83

macman said:

Why are you paying to install a programmer in a rented property: it's the job of your LL to do this. Every CH system should at least have a basic room 'stat. 

I’ve read that if the radiators have certain valves on then they don’t have to provide a thermostat?. I’ve only been in the flat two weeks and the landlady doesn’t want to do anything. I asked for a plug installing as there was no where for me to plug the washer in. The electrician came and said he would do they but had to consult the landlady, she told him to cut off the plug and make a small hole in the counter top. So my new washer had the moulded plug taken off and replaced with a generic one.

macman

Heating in a rental property is not an optional extra, and should have some way of controlling it properly.
What else has your LL skimped on? Do you have a GSC, EPC, EICR, How to Rent booklet, deposit protected? Absence of any of these means that the tenancy is unregularised.

Petriix

I'm pretty happy with my Netatmo thermostat. I initially bought it 5 years ago in a rented property but took it with me when I moved. The app and web based control and statistics are really useful.

You can set an away mode and specify your return time and the house will be up to temperature for that time. My favourite feature is being able to limit the length of any manual boost period: if someone cranks up the thermostat, by default it reverts to the programmed temperature after 1 hour (or whatever you specify.

It was a simple DIY installation.

Nearlyold

Starcity83 said:

macman said:

Why are you paying to install a programmer in a rented property: it's the job of your LL to do this. Every CH system should at least have a basic room 'stat. 

I’ve read that if the radiators have certain valves on then they don’t have to provide a thermostat?. I’ve only been in the flat two weeks and the landlady doesn’t want to do anything. I asked for a plug installing as there was no where for me to plug the washer in. The electrician came and said he would do they but had to consult the landlady, she told him to cut off the plug and make a small hole in the counter top. So my new washer had the moulded plug taken off and replaced with a generic one.

It is sort of possible to have no room stat and just rely on Thermostatic Valves on the radiators to shut off them off when the target temperature controlled by the valve is reached - combined with the boiler stat cutting the heat when the water goes above a certain set temperature. Its usual to leave one radiator with no Thermostatic valve fitted (to act as a bypass) and/or have a pressure adjustable bypass valve fitted. 
Do your radiators have any Thermostatic valves?

jefaz07

matelodave said:

Yes - the receiver unit get connected to the boiler - just four wires, two for the mains supply and two to control the boiler.and possibly a couple of screw (or double side sticky tape) to secure it to the wall.
TBH a moderately competent DIYer can do it providing they are comfortable with electricity and can use the boiler installation instructs to find the correct terminals
The actual thermostat is portable and can be anywhere within about 20 metres or so of the receiver. 

Will you be using a flue gas analyser to check the integrity and combustion performance after you have removed the case? 

matelodave

What are you talking about - Taking the external case off does not affect the integrity of the combustion area. You don't need to touch any of the gas or combustion or flue components to wire in a thermostat.. Most boilers have a reasonably accessible terminal strip or connector for external wiring.

Are you touting for business

TBH the last person I'd want sorting out the electrics was a gas fitter. Going on a Gas Safe course does not make you an electrician