Which heating thermostat

ThisIsWeird

Cool.

Ok, next Q - wired or wireless?!

twopenny

To be thought about over the weekend TIW.

Possibily longer as I need to find someone to do it, which one and where.

I need to get the huge fence post sorted asap and so far, one guy retired, one has viles disease and in hospital and one hasn't come for a look yet.

But in the meantime, thank you so much for your help.

Why did you need those photos though? I'm curious.

ThisIsWeird

twopenny said:

To be thought about over the weekend TIW.

Possibily longer as I need to find someone to do it, which one and where.

I need to get the huge fence post sorted asap and so far, one guy retired, one has viles disease and in hospital and one hasn't come for a look yet.

But in the meantime, thank you so much for your help.

Why did you need those photos though? I'm curious.

I just wanted to check the type of system you had, to be certain a 'stat could be added with no issue.

It's fine - it's fully-pumped, Y-plan - ie the pump pumps the boiler flow into the motorised valve, and that valve then diverts the hot boiler water to either the hot cylinder or the rads - or both.

Happy new post. :-)

MysteryMe

twopenny said:

Thank you Dive and Mystery

I actually want something I can quickly change before I go out in this weather.

Not having to press buttons and remember the routein and do it again.

But I will have a look at the options.

I asked around before I asked here but so far it's TRVs only with no wall thermostat or wifi ones you carry from room to room and they aren't that impressed.

Harder to chat and meet with neighbours in this weather. Everyone is staying in or making a dash.

What makes you think anyone has to do that? If you want to turn the heating off you hit the off button. When you want the heating back on you press the auto button and the heating goes back to whatever settings you have previously entered. 

I don't wander around the house with it either. 

twopenny

Mystery, I have a timer that will do all that.

I'm told that I should have a thermostat - I'm trying to work out which would suit the best.

ThisIsWeird

Yes, a room thermostat is a good thing to have - I understand it's been a Building Regs requirement for some time with all new boilers. It's called a 'boiler-interlock', and means your boiler will actually shut down when heating demand has been met, instead of just keeping on going like yours tries to, trying to pump out hot water to a radiator system that shouts 'enough already!' as you currently have.

For you, the Qs are twofold; can you 'wire' it, or does it need to be wireless? And, 'basic' 'room stat or 'programmable' type?

You need to tell us about the first - can you see a way to easily take a cable from the airing cupboard, and discretely down a wall in your sitting room? Technically, this is an easy job - the two locations are close, and you have loft space betwixt them. But, in your sitting room, this could mean a bit of mess - wall-chasing or nasty ducting. Anyhoo - your call.

The next Q is, 'basic' or 'prog' 'stat? You've given us two elements to this conundrum - you reckon you don't 'need' (or want) a 'proggie', and you've told us you want the unit to look 'basic', retro, non-digital.

On the first point, the good news is that a ProgStat doesn't need to be used as a Proggie one - it can be set to 'manual', and then you have the basic manual control you want - ie, you turn it up and down just as you want. So, why not fit a prog stat, use it as a basic manual device, and then - perhaps - go a bit 'proggie' as you get used to it, and realise the benefits?

On the second point, a wired basic wall 'stat only costs around £20 - you've already shown us a pic of one. That will need a cable, of course. But, you can also get a 'basic' wall stat that's wireless! The only drawback is that they can cost stupid money, often way more than a full-feature prog stat! Why? Because no-one in their right mind would choose it...

But, you can also get near-basic wireless stats that 'look' basic, but have a wee digital display on them. Weirdly, they cost less than the full-basic, no display, type.

But, let's assume we are going 'proggie', because it's sensible. We also have the choice of wired or wireless - I would suggest the latter as it means no mess in yer sitting room. Remember, you can use it 'manually' if you like.

So, what do we have?!

1) The most basic room stat, like you had in your old home. This will need a cable so potentially messy, but £20 will buy it.

Should you get this? Only if you are nuts.

2) As near to 'basic' as you can get, but actually wireless. So, no wiring between the airing cupboard and yer sitting room. Eg: Honeywell Y6630D1007 Wireless Analogue Room Thermostat

Should you go for this? Well, it's - stupidly - the most expensive option at around £120, tho' you can probably pick one up cheaper with care. Yes, that means it'll be overall cheaper to install than running a cable, channelling a duct, filling and painting, but you'd still needs to be completely bonkers to do this.

3) Cheaper 'basic' room stats that are wired but have a display (needs batteries), like the ESI ESRTD2

Pros? Cheap at around £25, reckoned to be 'accurate', but still needs wiring. Would I? No. 'Cos it ain't 'Prog'.

4) And the Honeywell DT4 - this is also wired, but is a plain white square when not being used - it only lights up when touched. Seems good value to me at around £30-odd if bought carefully.

5) Similar to (3), but wireless. The Drayton RF601 Drayton Digistat and RF Wireless Room Thermostat at around £50 if bought carefully. Saves having to run a cable.

But, it's still a 'basic' room 'stat, so imo daft to go for.

That's the 'basic' stuff. I would always recommend going 'Prog'. Use it as 'manual' is you want, but once you get used to it - once it has been programmed - then all you have to do is let it do it's business, sort out yer heating for you, and you just intervene when you want a 'tweak'. Too chilly? Touch-touch. Too warm? Touch-touch. Otherwise, 'thank you - you're doing a great job'.

What do we have in Prog Stats?

6) If you are happy with wired, then the Avansa 2007 is suspiciously cheap at less than £25. No idea just how good it is, but it has a couple of fab features; the first is that it shows you both the actual room temp, and also the set - desired - temp. I personally couldn't have a 'stat that doesn't do this - I want to know what the actual room temp currently is, and what I've asked it to be; surprisingly few 'stats do this. And the other good thing is, if you have it in 'manual' mode, you cannot get easier than two large up/down buttons to press!

7) And the winner is? Perhaps the ESI ESRTP4RF+ Wireless programmable room thermostat? Can be bought from around £55 if looked for carefully. 

Why is it potentially good for your situation? 'Cos it's;

Wireless - so no cables to run.

Displays both 'actual' and 'selected' temps.

Reputable make.

Looks easy to use, both in manual and prog settings.

Doesn't even need wall-mounting as it comes with a stand - you could place this on your 'nice Georgian bookcase thingy', tucked slightly out of view (but not too much - it needs to get the room air flowing over it), and you just pick it up and touch-touch when you want to change the setting.

The above is only a tiny fraction of what's available out there - there are HUNDREDS!

twopenny

1 & 4 look good to me.

I'll have to find out who'll fit them (that's the hard part) and if it can be done without mess yet still bring them far enough down the wall for me to reach being a shorty.

Thanks for the time you've spent, it's really appreciated.

At least I know what I'm asking for now and don't get in ever increasing circles

ThisIsWeird

A sparky will def do this, and most GasSafes might as well. But a surprising number are a bit scared of leccy. :-)

twopenny

I'll get onto it dreckly TIW

Thanks for all the options, that's why I asked originally. So darn many!

ThisIsWeird

twopenny said:

I'll get onto it dreckly TIW

Thanks for all the options, that's why I asked originally. So darn many!

a) you are welcome, and...
b) you've ignored my strong advice to go 'prog' 😞