The days of manually adjusting the thermostat or worrying about leaving the heating on are gone. Smart heating has brought about a new era of convenience and efficiency.
What is Smart Heating?
The key component of this system is the smart thermostat. Unlike a conventional thermostat, a smart thermostat connects to the internet and allows you to control your home’s temperature remotely, using an app on your smartphone. It learns your daily routine, adjusts the temperature according to your preferences, and even switches off the heating when no one is home, saving energy and money.
Why Choose Smart Heating?
Choosing smart heating is a smart decision, not just for your comfort but also for your wallet and the environment. Here’s why:
Save Energy
Smart heating systems are designed to use energy more efficiently. They only heat the rooms you’re using and lower the temperature when you’re away, preventing energy wastage. This not only helps in conserving energy but also reduces your carbon footprint.
Save Money
By using energy more efficiently, smart heating systems can help you save money on your energy bills. What’s more, some systems provide energy usage reports, allowing you to monitor your consumption and identify areas where you can save.
Room-to-Room Control
With smart heating, you can control the temperature of each room individually. This room-to-room control ensures that every room in your house is at the ideal temperature, enhancing your comfort.
Covenience
Smart heating systems are easy to use. You can control them using a smartphone app, and some are even compatible with voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. This makes adjusting your home’s temperature as easy as saying a command.
The Key Components
Understanding how a smart heating system works can help you make the most of its features. Here’s a brief overview of the key components:
The Smart Thermostat
The smart thermostat is the heart of the system. It connects to your home’s heating system and your Wi-Fi network, allowing you to control it remotely. It also learns your schedule and preferences over time, adjusting the temperature accordingly.
The Radiator Valves
Smart radiator valves replace your existing ones and play a crucial role in room-to-room control. They regulate the flow of hot water to each radiator, allowing you to set different temperatures for different rooms.
The App
The app is your control panel. It allows you to adjust the temperature, set schedules, and monitor your energy usage from anywhere. Some apps even provide tips on how to save energy.
The Nest Learning Thermostat can automatically create a heating schedule based on your heating patterns. This means no more programming thermostats, and we all know how fiddly they can be, and less wasted energy.
With the Drayton Wiser Multi-room Kit, you can finally have control over your home’s temperature, all from the convenience of your smartphone.
The Hive Thermostat gives you control over your home’s heating system. Whether you’re in bed or on the other side of the world, you can adjust your home’s temperature settings with just a few taps on your smartphone.
The tado° Wired Smart Thermostat Starter Kit V3+ includes everything you need so you can start optimising your energy usage with the tado° app.
How Can a Smart Heating System Save Me Money?
Simple steps, such as turning off the heating when you’re out or on holiday and only heating rooms that are in use can make a difference to your energy bills. A smart heating system can help you do this and more. To maximise the benefits, here are some tips:
Create Schedules
The scheduling feature allows you to program when your heating should turn on and off, saving you energy when you’re not home.
Keep an Eye on Your Energy Usage
Regularly check your energy usage reports. These can help you identify trends and areas where you can save more energy.
Enable Geolocation
A smart heating system can detect if you’re out by using your smartphone’s geolocation capabilities. As a result, it will automatically turn down the heating or send you a notification that you have left the heating on.
Use the Eco Mode
Many smart heating systems come with an eco mode. This mode optimises the system’s operation to save energy without sacrificing comfort.
Popular Brands
The table below lists the most popular smart thermostat brands in the UK and Europe, the accessories they offer, and which virtual assistants they work with. We have included a link to their websites, where you can check if they are compatible with your heating system.
Hive offers a range of smart products and services for making your home smarter. Their products include a smart thermostat, lightbulbs, motion sensors, and a smart plug. Works with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit
- Thermostats
- Radiator Valves
Google Nest offers smart heating solutions through their Nest Thermostats. These thermostats are designed to save energy and provide convenience to users. Nest Thermostats can save an average of 10% on heating bills based on independant research. Works with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
- Thermostats
- Smoke & CO Alarm
tado° offers a range of products for smart heating, including the tado° Smart Thermostat. The thermostat is compatible with most common heating systems. Works with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit
- Thermostats
- Radiator Valves
- AC Control
Drayton Wiser offers a range of smart heating products that allow complete control of your home heating system, helping you save energy and money. Works with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
- Thermostats
- Radiator Valves
- Underfloor Heating Controller
Summary
In the era of technology, smart home devices are no longer a novelty. Among these, smart heating stand out as a game-changer and its future looks promising. With advancements in technology, we can expect even more intelligent systems that can adapt to our habits and preferences, further optimising energy usage and comfort.
FAQs
Will a smart thermostat work with my boiler?
Always check what type of boiler you have before you invest in a smart thermostat, as there may be different models for combi and conventional boilers (a boiler with a separate hot water tank).
Can I install a smart thermostat myself?
Some smart thermostats such as the Nest Thermostat E are simple enough to install yourself, but others should to be installed by an expert. We recommend you follow the manufacturer’s guidelines and seek expert help if you’re unsure.
