Hive or Nest heating controls

madlyn

I have a standard remote heating control panel and I am considering switching to a Hive or Nest control.
Anyone done this and what are your experiences?

Sandtree

We went to Nest.

Firstly, check compatibility and probably worth googling the boiler model number. Turns out our boiler (c15 years old) isnt on paper compatible with anything other than a wired thermostat else the pump runs constantly. We got around it with disconnecting the keypad which then enabled Nest to work but means cannot change certain boiler settings without reconnecting the keypad again (eg eco mode).

Other than that we've been very happy with it... particularly in dead of winter when plans change and you come home early but can set the heating whilst in the car.

MaryNB

I went with Hive. I have a gas boiler. 

My boiler had a British Gas WR1 controller. Hive is a BG product and the Hiver receive is very similar to the WR1 receiver. All I had to do was replace the front panel of the WR1 receiver with the Hive receiver (no wiring required) and set up the controller and hub. 

YellowCarBlueCar

I have a Hive, but looked at both.

The main difference is that Nest has a learning capability which tries to learn your routines and tweak the schedules accordingly, whereas Hive follows a more traditional approach where you set the temperatures and times that you want.

It's great to be able to turn it off before going away for a few days and still come home to a warm house.

Being a creature of habit, the Hive approach suited me better.  I also feel that Google gathers enough information about me already without having a Nest spying on me as well!

Oh, and it's also worth thinking about whether you will want other home automation later on, as Hive Hub and Google home hub both have strengths and weaknesses. 

Jeepers_Creepers

Madlyn, what do you want this new controller to do? What are the most important features you are after?

Smart App control?

Ease of use?

Cost?

If all you want is an easy-to-use Prog Stat where you program the times and temps yourself, and with the option to add Smart control afterwards, then Hive certainly does this and is very good to use. You can get the basic unit (controller and receiver) for just £84 direct from Hive at the mo'.

I have no experience of Nest, but it does appear to be a more sophisticated system, and 'learns' when to turn on the heating depending on the existing temp and how long your house takes to warm up - that sort of stuff. Also has numerous add-ons if that's your pigeon.

The basic Hive will turn on your heating at the time you have set it to do so, and to the temp you want - how quickly it gets there will depend on things like how cold it is outside. I don't know if it has the learning option, at least not without the Hub.

Essentially, you tell the basic Hive to turn on the CH at X o'clock, and to get the room to Y oC. For example, you might want your house a cosy 21oC at 7am, so you'd program the Hive to come on at, say, 6.15am for this to happen. Obviously on cold winter nights, it'll likely take longer to get up to 21oC, so you may need to change that start time to 6am for part of the year. With the Nest, on the other hand, you tell it you want the temp to BE 21oC at 7am, and then IT will decide when to get the ball rolling depending on the starting room temp; it'll 'learn' if it's 'guess' was good, and adjust it accordingly.

That's my understanding of it, but not sure it's totally accurate.

ka7e

I had the Hive system installed after a rewire 18 months ago. It is very simple to use and has an intuitive app. My thermostat sits in the kitchen instead of the cooler hall, so the heating doesn't come on so often - you can move the thermostat to whichever room you are currently in.

There are 6 time zones every day for scheduled heating, so days off or weekends can have different timings. The app lets you override the thermostat and you can boost the heating or turn it on/off remotely.

There is a "Ready By" setting which will turn your heating on early - by up to an hour. So the thermostat tries to reach your required temperature by a certain time, instead of just turning on at that time.

The user forums say the individual radiator thermostats are glitchy so I haven't had those fitted. Smart plugs can be added to the app for lighting, fans etc. I have one for my electric blanket in winter! I can turn it on from downstairs, using my phone, while I'm shutting everything down for the night.

ashe

YellowCarBlueCar said:

I have a Hive, but looked at both.

The main difference is that Nest has a learning capability which tries to learn your routines and tweak the schedules accordingly, whereas Hive follows a more traditional approach where you set the temperatures and times that you want.

It's great to be able to turn it off before going away for a few days and still come home to a warm house.

Being a creature of habit, the Hive approach suited me better.  I also feel that Google gathers enough information about me already without having a Nest spying on me as well!

Oh, and it's also worth thinking about whether you will want other home automation later on, as Hive Hub and Google home hub both have strengths and weaknesses. 

Nest allows you to work in that way too, in fact we turn off all the learning stuff.

I had hive in old house, Nest in current house. Definitely prefer the Nest and wouldnt go back to Hive. Feel like the additional products available on Nest are a bit better too. 

Jeepers_Creepers

I do get the impression that Nest is a more upmarket product, and with more features if required.

It depends what you want Madlyn.

I fitted a straightforward Hive (no hub) to our extension so mil would always have a minimum level of heating day and night that she can override easily herself. Very impressed by how easy it was to set up, and subsequently use. The display showing both 'target' and 'actual' temps is a great feature too.

madlyn

My Gas combi boiler is just over 2 years old so I am guessing it would be compatable with either system.
I want to be able to set it for before I get up in the morning and again before I come in from work in the evening, but also have the option to override it if it is not to cold and I dont want the heating to come on and switch the heating on if I am at home at the weekend, I also like the idea of being able to swith the heating on if I am out of the house.

KnownMaynard

I'd vote for Hive, simple, easy to use on the thermostat itself or the app, also looks quite cool on the wall in its shiny chrome case (matches our switches and sockets). Replaced a Salus with this Hive, definitely don't get a Salus, they are complicated (or at least not intuitive) and the app is rubbish.

pinkteapot

ashe said:

YellowCarBlueCar said:

I have a Hive, but looked at both.

The main difference is that Nest has a learning capability which tries to learn your routines and tweak the schedules accordingly, whereas Hive follows a more traditional approach where you set the temperatures and times that you want.

Nest allows you to work in that way too, in fact we turn off all the learning stuff.

Ditto. We moved into a new-build with a Nest and I would never have chosen one. We turned off all the smart features, haven't connected it to the wifi, and use it as the world's most expensive basic boiler programmer.