Wi-Fi Central Heating Controllers

[mrgubby]

I bought & fitted a Netatmo system before Christmas, simple to fit and it works well

 

[Tringa]

For the vast majority of the time is there any point to being able to control the heating of your home remotely?

I can understand if you are away from home, the heating is off (or on a very gentle tick over) and suddenly there is a very cold snap. You would not want to risk frozen pipes and being able to switch on the heating remotely is a good idea, but that must be a rare occurence and it seems the advertising for Hive and other systems is not angled towards something unusual.

Our central heating is about 10 years old and if I switch it on when I come in, the house starts to warm up within a few minutes.

Perhaps I'm missing something, but I can see the point.

Dave

 

[mrgubby]

I don't use the Netatmo system to remote control the house.

It analyses the rate the house heats / cools for the first two weeks then adjusts the on off times so the house is always at the temp when you want, when you want it
It checks the outside temp (by the internet weather sites or Netatmo weatherkit if you have it ) and again adjusts the on off times so the house is always at the temp when you want, when you want it

I don't know if it has saved any money but the heating "seems" to be on less but the house "seems" to be just as hot

 

[wyx087]

Not my understanding from reading all the info on their website, if I already have a thermostat I can just replace that with a smart thermostat

About the tado° Extension Kit
If you have an individual boiler (e.g. gas or oil central heating or heat pump) and a wired room thermostat you don't necessarily need the Extension Kit.
If you have an individual boiler with a wireless thermostat, or no thermostat at all, you will need the tado° Extension Kit to function as a wireless receiver.

The adverts are geared towards wired thermostat. When I was setting it up early last year, they had a wizard to ask you questions and then select the appropriate setup for me to order.

For the vast majority of the time is there any point to being able to control the heating of your home remotely?

Smart thermostat should already account for when you have left the house and automatically turned the heating down. I find it useful to turn it completely off remotely when I remember it at the airport, instead of one additional thing to remember as I scramble to get out of the house with all my luggage.

Home automation is the goal. Smart thermostat is a stepping stone to something greater. Why turn on your heating manually when your house can welcome you automatically?

 

[srichards]

I did the setup thing and it tried to force me to have the extension kit. I just said I had a thermostat already so it didn't bother. Wired it in new. I think they've dropped that kit now.

My house takes quite a while to warm up in winter so its good having something that keeps it warm and let's me come and go without heating it loads while I'm out or it being too cold when I get back.

 

[StewartR]

I don't want to turn up the heat while I'm still in bed...

Maybe; but have you asked the Missus?

Ha ha. You missed my point. I'm not saying I don't want to be warm in bed; I'm saying:

I want the system to get it right for me, with me having to intervene as infrequently as possible.

Besides, my wife has a human hour water bottle right next to her, so if I'm warm enough she's warm enough.

 

[Sarg0r]

I agree with some of the above I don't see the point yet, but then I do live in the soft warm south now