Thermostat or timer (or combination of the two)?
Discussion
It's the age old question of what is the best way to control the heating in your house.
Now, unless you're from the North Pole, we all like it nice and toasty - especially at this time of the year. We currently have trv's, a 7-day timer and a wired room thermostat but looking at replacing them with a smart thermostat system, hive, nest etc. I'm just trying to work out if it's actually worth it.
I currently have it set up so that the heating is controlled solely by the thermostat. Timer is off. The way I see it, this is the best way to have it set - the house is always at roughly the same temperature, I turn it down a bit before bed and wife turns it back up in the morning when she gets up with the little one. If I used the timer, then it'd only let the thermostat work when it's timed to on meaning the house could get cold when not on the timer. Wife works part-time so is out all day some days then can be in and out during the day with the little one.
Or am I wrong? I know I could set some rough times for the times/days I know the house is empty but I'm not sure it's worth the hassle. The house would cool down and then take longer to warm up, meaning the heating has to stay on longer to get back up to temperature.
I know a smart thermostat will do pretty much the same thing but if I'm not really using the timer, is it worth getting? Or should I be using the timer? I like the ability to control the temperature when not at home, especially if we are out longer, coming home late etc. Also, as we have a separate hot water tank, we sometimes require hot water for baths at random.
What's the consensus?
Now, unless you're from the North Pole, we all like it nice and toasty - especially at this time of the year. We currently have trv's, a 7-day timer and a wired room thermostat but looking at replacing them with a smart thermostat system, hive, nest etc. I'm just trying to work out if it's actually worth it.
I currently have it set up so that the heating is controlled solely by the thermostat. Timer is off. The way I see it, this is the best way to have it set - the house is always at roughly the same temperature, I turn it down a bit before bed and wife turns it back up in the morning when she gets up with the little one. If I used the timer, then it'd only let the thermostat work when it's timed to on meaning the house could get cold when not on the timer. Wife works part-time so is out all day some days then can be in and out during the day with the little one.
Or am I wrong? I know I could set some rough times for the times/days I know the house is empty but I'm not sure it's worth the hassle. The house would cool down and then take longer to warm up, meaning the heating has to stay on longer to get back up to temperature.
I know a smart thermostat will do pretty much the same thing but if I'm not really using the timer, is it worth getting? Or should I be using the timer? I like the ability to control the temperature when not at home, especially if we are out longer, coming home late etc. Also, as we have a separate hot water tank, we sometimes require hot water for baths at random.
What's the consensus?
I can't have a Hive or anything as I work below where I live.
I just use a wireless timer/thermostat.
Mon - Fri it is programmed...
7am 19ºc
9am 14ºc (go to work)
12.45 19ºc (come up for lunch)
2pm 14ºc (back to work)
5pm 19.5ºc (home from work)
1am 14ºc (go to bed)
Sat & Sun
8am 18ºc
5pm 19.5ºc
1am 14ºc
That seems to cover most bases and only occasionally have to over ride it and flick it on manually.
I just use a wireless timer/thermostat.
Mon - Fri it is programmed...
7am 19ºc
9am 14ºc (go to work)
12.45 19ºc (come up for lunch)
2pm 14ºc (back to work)
5pm 19.5ºc (home from work)
1am 14ºc (go to bed)
Sat & Sun
8am 18ºc
5pm 19.5ºc
1am 14ºc
That seems to cover most bases and only occasionally have to over ride it and flick it on manually.
"Worth getting?"
Hmmm. Firstly, how much is it going to cost you to install a remote, smart system? (Several hundreds?) How much would that installation likely "save" you pa? (A few tenners. Maybe?) How many years' payback are you happy to accept?
How highly do you value new and shiney over possible measurable efficiency savings?
Have you looked into all other efficiency savings with lower costs/greater returns? ie (possibly free) loft insulation and retro-fit cavity wall insulation? Draught proofing? Just turning down the thermostat and/or using the heating less frequently? Calculating hot water use more carefully? Etc.
I'm not trolling at all. I just want to ensure you've thought through the cost/benefits properly in the same way I'd caution my Dad were he to consider selling his ageing but super cheap motoring runaround for a super duper brand new diesel car on pcp because it might do an additional 10mpg. Over 5000 miles pa.
Edited due to Steve Jobs' tw@tty all-knowing over-riding spelling Nazism. d
head.
Hmmm. Firstly, how much is it going to cost you to install a remote, smart system? (Several hundreds?) How much would that installation likely "save" you pa? (A few tenners. Maybe?) How many years' payback are you happy to accept?
How highly do you value new and shiney over possible measurable efficiency savings?
Have you looked into all other efficiency savings with lower costs/greater returns? ie (possibly free) loft insulation and retro-fit cavity wall insulation? Draught proofing? Just turning down the thermostat and/or using the heating less frequently? Calculating hot water use more carefully? Etc.
I'm not trolling at all. I just want to ensure you've thought through the cost/benefits properly in the same way I'd caution my Dad were he to consider selling his ageing but super cheap motoring runaround for a super duper brand new diesel car on pcp because it might do an additional 10mpg. Over 5000 miles pa.
Edited due to Steve Jobs' tw@tty all-knowing over-riding spelling Nazism. d
head.Edited by scenario8 on Friday 27th November 23:55
scenario8 said:
"Worth getting?"
Hmmm. Firstly, how much is it going to cost you to install a remote, smart system? (Several hundreds?) How much would that installation likely "save" you pa? (A few tenners. Maybe?) How many years' payback are you happy to accept?
How highly do you value new and shiney over possible measurable efficiency savings?
Have you looked into all other efficiency savings with lower costs/greater returns? ie (possibly free) loft insulation and retro-fit cavity wall insulation? Draught proofing? Just turning down the thermostat and/or using the heating less frequently? Calculating hot water use more carefully? Etc.
I'm not trolling at all. I just want to ensure you've thought through the cost/benefits properly in the same way I'd caution my Dad were he to consider selling his ageing but super cheap motoring runaround for a super duper brand new diesel car on pcp because it might do an additional 10mpg. Over 5000 miles pa.
Edited due to Steve Jobs' tw@tty all-knowing over-riding spelling Nazism. dhead.
My digital 'stat/timer cost me about £50 and saved me round £500 in the first year. Hmmm. Firstly, how much is it going to cost you to install a remote, smart system? (Several hundreds?) How much would that installation likely "save" you pa? (A few tenners. Maybe?) How many years' payback are you happy to accept?
How highly do you value new and shiney over possible measurable efficiency savings?
Have you looked into all other efficiency savings with lower costs/greater returns? ie (possibly free) loft insulation and retro-fit cavity wall insulation? Draught proofing? Just turning down the thermostat and/or using the heating less frequently? Calculating hot water use more carefully? Etc.
I'm not trolling at all. I just want to ensure you've thought through the cost/benefits properly in the same way I'd caution my Dad were he to consider selling his ageing but super cheap motoring runaround for a super duper brand new diesel car on pcp because it might do an additional 10mpg. Over 5000 miles pa.
Edited due to Steve Jobs' tw@tty all-knowing over-riding spelling Nazism. d
head.Edited by scenario8 on Friday 27th November 23:55
Just being able to programme it for different days, temperatures can save a fortune.
gizlaroc said:
scenario8 said:
"Worth getting?"
Hmmm. Firstly, how much is it going to cost you to install a remote, smart system? (Several hundreds?) How much would that installation likely "save" you pa? (A few tenners. Maybe?) How many years' payback are you happy to accept?
How highly do you value new and shiney over possible measurable efficiency savings?
Have you looked into all other efficiency savings with lower costs/greater returns? ie (possibly free) loft insulation and retro-fit cavity wall insulation? Draught proofing? Just turning down the thermostat and/or using the heating less frequently? Calculating hot water use more carefully? Etc.
I'm not trolling at all. I just want to ensure you've thought through the cost/benefits properly in the same way I'd caution my Dad were he to consider selling his ageing but super cheap motoring runaround for a super duper brand new diesel car on pcp because it might do an additional 10mpg. Over 5000 miles pa.
Edited due to Steve Jobs' tw@tty all-knowing over-riding spelling Nazism. dhead.
My digital 'stat/timer cost me about £50 and saved me round £500 in the first year. Hmmm. Firstly, how much is it going to cost you to install a remote, smart system? (Several hundreds?) How much would that installation likely "save" you pa? (A few tenners. Maybe?) How many years' payback are you happy to accept?
How highly do you value new and shiney over possible measurable efficiency savings?
Have you looked into all other efficiency savings with lower costs/greater returns? ie (possibly free) loft insulation and retro-fit cavity wall insulation? Draught proofing? Just turning down the thermostat and/or using the heating less frequently? Calculating hot water use more carefully? Etc.
I'm not trolling at all. I just want to ensure you've thought through the cost/benefits properly in the same way I'd caution my Dad were he to consider selling his ageing but super cheap motoring runaround for a super duper brand new diesel car on pcp because it might do an additional 10mpg. Over 5000 miles pa.
Edited due to Steve Jobs' tw@tty all-knowing over-riding spelling Nazism. d
head.Edited by scenario8 on Friday 27th November 23:55
Just being able to programme it for different days, temperatures can save a fortune.
The OP already has a programmer, a timer, a thermostat and trvs.
OP needs a programmable thermostat with different temp settings at different times of day - it would save money without doubt.
£50 or less to get a decent 1 or 7 day programmable wired stat that'll do three or four time and temp settings per day.
Or a couple of hundred on a nest thing that'll be intelligent apparently. Which is nice.
£50 or less to get a decent 1 or 7 day programmable wired stat that'll do three or four time and temp settings per day.
Or a couple of hundred on a nest thing that'll be intelligent apparently. Which is nice.
We don't have predictable patterns of use, so a Tado smart thermostat works well for us as it works out we are not there based in geolocation on our phones and ensures the heating is off, but brings it back in for coming home. It also has a scheduler as well - so you set a schedule with temps, but it'll only execute that if you are actually in the house.
Good replies there. Thanks.
If I'm honest, I didn't think a new system would save me a great deal of money but I'm sure the turning off of the system during the day would help. I just don't want it to get so cold that it takes a while to heat up and the house isn't warm when wife and child get in. It shouldn't be too bad as we have good loft insulation, decent doors/windows and cavity wall insulation but some of the wild weather we get can cool a house pretty quickly if the heating is left off too long.
I like the thought of a programmable timer with set temperatures and judging by the comments, most people use a combination of the two.
If I'm honest, I didn't think a new system would save me a great deal of money but I'm sure the turning off of the system during the day would help. I just don't want it to get so cold that it takes a while to heat up and the house isn't warm when wife and child get in. It shouldn't be too bad as we have good loft insulation, decent doors/windows and cavity wall insulation but some of the wild weather we get can cool a house pretty quickly if the heating is left off too long.
I like the thought of a programmable timer with set temperatures and judging by the comments, most people use a combination of the two.
Firstly use your timer !
The greater the heat difference is between indoor and outdoor the more heat you lose.
A simple change to a Salus wireless T Stat programmer (circa £40) means you can have it say 20 degrees at 10pm down to 10 degrees overnight and back up to 20 at 6am.
Unless you rads are undersized (the norm on modern homes) then it should only take 10-20 mins to get up to a reasonable temp.
The greater the heat difference is between indoor and outdoor the more heat you lose.
A simple change to a Salus wireless T Stat programmer (circa £40) means you can have it say 20 degrees at 10pm down to 10 degrees overnight and back up to 20 at 6am.
Unless you rads are undersized (the norm on modern homes) then it should only take 10-20 mins to get up to a reasonable temp.
Magic919 said:
I replaced a timed thermostat with Tado. Timer works for most of the time and the geofencing deals with the non-standard days.
Just replaced a wireless thermostat with advanced astrophysics level settings with a Tado. Very simple, works well. I think it probably does saves some money, but for me it's the simplicity that is wonderful.Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff