Not looking for differing zones etc, just want to be able to control my boiler with my phone remotely. What should I be looking at…?

I’ve had a heatmiser which has been good for 5 years

I’ve nest – only does heating as on a combi boiler.
It seems to update it=self pretty frequently, and then often drops the heat-link connection (the wireless link between the NEST unit and the boiler control).

That gets frustrating, but when it works, it’s simple, clever, and easy to control via phone/net

DrP

got a v2 nest. no combi boiler.

its ok and works 99% of the time for me. would like the hot water option of the v3

an update a year ago killed it and took a long time to fix. Apart from that id recommend.

Hive here with a traditional central heating/water tank system and it’s been fine, no issues.

Honeywell do a version now I believe.

I’ve been running a Nest since the Spring so only really now is it being used more, whichever version it is that does hot water also. It’s very good in my view, the ability to set full schedules is very good, for both heating and water, the auto-away function is brilliant, and whacking the heating on for when you arrive home at unexpected timings is also nice!

The one thing I would say is don’t bother using the self learning function on the thermostat, I can see the point where you’re house is fully air-conned but for heating only not so much. I can recommend.

* your…..
(hangs head in shame….)

Nest here since the day of release. Its brilliant. Does everything I want it too and more. Never had a problem with it apart from a couple of times when my WiFi has had a wobble so not really a problem with the nest. We looked at hive but it was rubbish in comparison to Nest. It may of got better since though.
It really has changed the way we use our heating. The wife and I have no real schedule of when we are in the house so being able to turn it on and off remotely to suit is a real benefit. We also like the fact that you tell it what temperature you want the house by a certain time and it works out when to turn it on. much better than the old way of just guessing how long to put it on for before you get up etc.

We had hive and will install it when we get out new house. Simple easy piece of kit.

combi with hive for a couple of years(? or about), no issues, we really bought as it was on sale, with Sainsbury(?Ithink) vouchers and we needed a new thermostat anyway so it was nearly cheap

gf has just added a new hive plug (and it was that easy) so we now turn kettle on from bed ………….

Hive here, had it about 4 months since we replaced our boiler. Works a treat, also have a few lights on it for security purposes.

Tado – they also now have a system for individual radiators for those wanting zones.

I asked this question on here recently. Ended up with Hive, partly as I get a 20% discount as I’m with British Gas

Very pleased with it so far

Are these systems a self-install job or is a central heating specialist required?

What kind of cost for a system that control both heating and water (non-combi boiler)?

Cheers,

Paul

I did a lot of looking at all the various systems over the past couple of years and went for Tado at the start of October. DIY fit – took just over 1 hr and most of that is making a note of which wires go where and registering the devices on-line. They simply fit on the back plates of my existing thermostat and programmer/timer. No drilling, fixing, wiring required. Take old one off, put new one on. Done.

Remote control, and also when out of the house. Uses weather forecast to put less energy in if it expected to be warm/sunny soon. And it claims to learn the thermal characteristics of your house so will put more or less time in to getting up to temp.

Has been very useful so far, usually when cold we crank the heat up, but then it overshoots and gets too hot even after turning off. With Tado we can set it to ‘boost’ for 30 mins to just take the edge off when we get home.

Comparing on-line usage for October (first full month) we were 12% down on last year, and Oct 2015 was reportedly milder than this Oct. So it should pay for itself fairly soon.

I’m still waiting for my Tado. I looked at the others and Tado made the most sense for us with it’s GPS location so the heating only comes on when we are en route.

Look at Honeywell Evohome for a top system.

If I’ve got a thermostat like this

Is there any extra wiring to do or would a Nest/Hive/Tado fit with the wires already running from that up to the boiler?

Bails – probably not if you want a basic Tado system – you remove the antique, put a Tado back plate on the wall and fit the new controller. My mum’s system was really easy to fit.

I have ordered radiator controllers as I don’t have my own boiler. They will also give room by room control of temps, fitting in place of TRV knobs – they haven’t shipped yet though.

Had my Tado fitted for a couple of years and it’s worked perfectly. There have been a few updates to the app over the time I’ve had it and it just keeps improving.

Works a treat, also have a few lights on it for security purposes.

How does that work then? Is that via a hive plug?

Tado – it’s fantastic… and it works with my crappy old oil fired boiler too!

Nest Ver 3 here, I had the Ver 2 for a year but wanted to control the water as well. I works very well and it’s easy to add to the system.
I’ve got the Nest Cam and smoke detector too.
I’ve just ordered a Google Home to work with it. 😳

I don’t have one yet. Just switched dual fuel to NPOWER and a third generation Nest was “free”

Another hive user here. Had some teething issues on initial install but once sorted it’s been brilliant.

If you like mucking about DIY style and electronics & computers… ideal Raspberry Pi project 😉