Recently, I have been asked by a number of customers in Medway about the benefits of smart controls for their central heating system, so I thought I would put together a short guide.
Central heating and hot water systems have always needed to have time and temperature control. Until the advent of smart controls, this consisted of a timer or programmer, and a room or hot water cylinder thermostat. Although this would switch on your system at the set times, and control your room temperature and hot water temperature, it was quite limited.
Smart controls give you much more flexibility. You can set different temperatures for different times of the day, and each day of the week can be set separately, and every room in the house can be controlled individually. This can allow for significant energy saving.
As with most things in the modern world, there are a multitude of options when it comes to smart controls. Some of the more feature packed models can connect to your home broadband, and allow you to control your system from your computer or smartphone. They have the ability to learn your movements and set up your heating to suit. They can also tell when no one is home, and turn the heating off. Some have open window detection, and will send you a notification. Many will monitor the outside temperature and weather conditions, and can bring your heating on a little earlier on colder days, or switch it on later on milder days. You can even add smart sockets, and cameras.
As you can see, there are lots of options, depending on your requirements and how much you are willing to pay.
If you would like more information or advice, call me on 01634 317817. I am always happy to help, and my advice is always free.
