Most people have heard of smart heating controls, but do you know what they are capable of and how they work? The easiest way to explain them is to start with the basics. They are not called smart because they look pretty. Smart stands for ‘Self-Monitoring Analysis & Reporting Technology’, which is a bit of a mouthful and calling them smart heating controls is a much better option for most people. To find out more about this latest heating technology carry on reading below.
What are smart heating controls?
Boilers with thermostats and timers have been around for years and are generally a standard part of any heating system, whether it is domestic or commercial. They let you set your heating to come on early before you get out of bed and to turn it off again when you have left your home. Then you can set the timer to turn the heating again just before you get home, so you walk into a nice warm house. You can usually set the timers to turn your heating on and off as many times as you want each day. The temperature is set by lowering or upping the thermostat, which is traditionally a dial on a wall or somewhere else convenient.
Smart heating controls allow you to turn your heating on and off or adjust the temperature through your smartphone or tablet. If you’re watching TV, you won’t even need to get up to make the adjustments. It works wherever you are, even if you’re on the other side of the world. As long as you have a reasonable internet connection, smart heating controls will work wherever you are.
Thermostats you can program are common in most homes and business premises these days, but that does not mean they are smart heating controls. You would normally just program the schedule of heating you require that fits in with when you expect to be at home and want to be warm. They won’t allow for any variation, such as changing working or opening hours, for instance. If you always work set hours this may not be a problem, but if your hours vary then smart heating controls are a much better option.
How do smart heating controls work?
The simplicity of how smart heating controls work may surprise you.
- The first thing that has to be fitted is a smart boiler connection. This plugs into your boiler and connects to the next piece of equipment.
- The second thing you need is a control unit or thermostat that connects to the internet via your wifi. This will then control what is happening from your instructions.
- Thirdly, you need to download an app to your mobile device. This will ‘talk’ to your control unit, which in turn will ‘talk’ to your boiler telling it what you have instructed.
These three components will give you more control over your heating than you have ever had before, in a simple and effective manner. There are other bits and pieces you can add to the system, but the above is a basic example of how smart heating controls work.
How can smart heating controls benefit you?
Maybe you are perfectly happy setting your heating to come on and go off with the traditional type of timer and thermostat, and if this is the case it’s fine. However, many people feel this way until they get to use smart heating controls and then they realise how much better it is not having to rely on the timer being set properly and being able to control the heating from wherever they are, no matter what time of day or night it is.
Having a smart heating control installed can help to save you money on your heating bills, but only if you use it properly. Research has shown that the people most likely to save the most euros include:
- People with busy lives that always want to be able to control the heating of their home.
- Those who have a regular routine that can be learned by the smart heating controls ensuring their home is always warm when it needs to be.
- Anyone that wants to track exactly how much energy they are using and how much it’s costing them.
- People who are happy to use tech, such as smartphones and computers. Users have to be comfortable with using apps.
The research also showed that if you are forgetful the more traditional timers and thermostats are probably better suited to you, and if you are planning on moving to a new house soon, wait and install the smart heating controls in your new home.
Smart heating controls do not cost a fortune to have installed and you can generally expect to recover the costs in utility bill savings within a year.
Smart heating controls are not just for domestic purposes, they can be used in commercial buildings too. It can be an ideal solution for offices or commercial premises where you might work late or come in at unusual hours.
Contacting experts to install your smart heating controls
Gas Safe Engineering have been offering heating and plumbing services all over Ireland for more than 10 years. Our engineers are fully qualified experts in all aspects of heating systems, including smart heating controls, and they have the experience you need.
If you would like to know more about whether smart heating controls would be suitable for you, why not give us a call on 01 9695219 or email us at info@gassafe.ie.
As well as assisting you with smart heating controls, we also specialise in boiler servicing, boiler upgrades, gas leaks, repairs, fireplaces, plumbing and heating repairs and installations, radiators, valves, cookers, water tanks, and we can issue safety certificates. In fact, if you want anything done in your home, or your business premises, and it is related to heating or plumbing, get in touch with our friendly team today.
