Smart Home Heating Systems

You’ve probably heard of smart cars, and use your smartphone all the time, but have you ever thought about smart heating?

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Utilising a smart device to control your home’s heating can save you money on energy bills as well as revolutionise how you keep your home warm. A standard boiler offers the basic functions like turning the heating on and off, timer settings and some fundamental temperature controls. With smart home heating, you can control your home’s heating schedule with one tap on your tablet or smartphone, whenever and wherever you are.

Therefore, such a system offers an extensive range of different and unique features. So, deciding which are the most valuable to you is key when it comes to choosing the right one for your property. Keep reading for our expert buying advice to help you pick the best smart home heating for your needs.

What is Smart Heating?

Smart heating helps you control your heating on the go. In a typical household, most energy is consumed by heating, and for the average UK home, heating is responsible for over half of each month’s energy bills. Smart home heating systems are a modern innovation which adjust your home’s temperature as and when you want. Having this type of control is valuable, as you can be more energy-efficient, and potentially save some money too.

It’s important to remember that smart heating systems differ from smart meters. Where smart meters help you to monitor your energy use, smart heating gives you back control so that you can manage your energy use. Plus, unlike smart meters, with a smart heating system, you can install or arrange the installation of it yourself – convenience at its best!

How Do Smart Home Heating Systems Work?

This type of system connects your heating system to the internet. By doing this, it allows you to alter the temperature or turn your heating off with your smartphone or tablet. Of course – your boiler will need to be compatible so check with the manufacturer when you’re picking out your smart heating.

Your smart heating system’s programmer will allow you set up a plan for when your heating comes on and turns off – and it also sets the temperature. Unlike a traditional boiler, you can make your heating schedule much more varied and comprehensive. So, whether you run into chilly nights or hot days, you can have peace of mind that your smart heating won’t let you down. And if you’re out often at certain times of the day, it can even help you to schedule your heating to turn off entirely for a period of time. This is great news for your energy bills and your carbon footprint - minimising your effect on the planet.

Best of all – you don’t need to be at home to carry out these functions as you can go ahead and do it when you’re out and about. All you need is an internet connection and you’re good to go.

Do Smart Heating Systems Still Work if the Internet Goes Down?

Luckily – these handy systems still work even if your internet connection is weak or goes down. If this happens, generally your existing settings and schedules will still be up and running. However, your smart heating system’s functionality will be restricted to standard heating and cooling controls until your internet connection returns.

Control Your Smart Heating with Our App

If you want to always be connected and in control – welcome the Somfy TaHoma into your life. It’s a home automation system which connects you to your home wherever you are via the TaHoma app on your smartphone or other smart device. All you need to do is connect your smart home devices to your heating. Do you want full management of your home? You can even connect roller shutters, indoor blinds, lighting, security and your garage door to this app. So, whether you want your home to be warm for when you get in from work or you want your blinds to open at a certain in the morning to get you started for the day – the TaHoma app can do this wherever and whenever.

The TaHoma app is your control centre essentially. It’s easy to install and extremely user-friendly – what more could you want? Don’t worry about hackers either. The app has been made with the highest safety requirements in mind to keep out unwanted intruders.

With you in mind it delivers the following:

Full control

Manage your home yourself or as a group, wherever you are and whenever you want.

Real-time information

So you are up to speed with your equipment’s status there and then.

Create your scenes easily and customise them

So that your schedules are all in place at a time that suits you best.

Schedule your scenes

Thanks to the app’s programming sensors you can optimise your energy efficiency so that your devices react to the outdoor weather.

Can I Save Money with Smart Heating Control Systems?

Whilst we can’t guarantee you’ll save money with smart heating – it does all depend on your habits.

Useful for those who come home at different times of the day. If you’re going to be home a little later or earlier one day then that’s no problem. Just delay the heating from coming on with one tap from your phone or another device connected to your smart heating.
Less useful for those who have a set routine (leave the house at the same time every day and return at the same time too). Most traditional boilers can be set to come on at certain times so the practicality of smart heating is reduced. Similarly, if you work from home, you can turn the heating up/down or completely off manually, whenever you want.

Those who will benefit most from smart heating and can potentially save some money include people who are:

Interested in seeing how much heating they’re using and how much it’s costing them as this could encourage lifestyle changes.
Tech-savvy individuals who are also comfortable or willing to learn how to use apps.
People with busy lives who want to be able to control their heating on the go.
Those planning on staying in the same property for a number of years, as they can make back installation fees through savings on their heating bill.

If you want to save money, we advise you ensure your home is properly insulated first. You should also look at whether you’re getting the best deal on your energy bills too. Here you can find out how much money you could save by using a price comparison site.

Which is The Best Smart Heating System on The Market?

Keeping your home perfectly cooled or heated no matter what the outside temperature is essential. Therefore, picking the right smart home heating system requires research. Our best recommendations of tried and tested smart home heating products include:

Somfy Connected Smart Thermostat

The best smart heating systems aren't just for keeping your home's temperature perfectly balanced, or for managing your heating from your phone. They're also there to automatically adapt and learn from your habits and behaviours, so that over time manual adjustments decrease. The Somfy Connected Smart Thermostat personalises your comfort according to your home and your habits.

Setting up a thermostat like this means your smart heating control systems aren't just on a box on the wall – they're also in an app too. If you want to get the most out of your intelligent heating, the Somfy Connected Smart Thermostat analyses the energy performance of your home, weather conditions and your usage habits. All this information can be viewed from your smartphone or smart device to get your estimated energy bill. To add onto the good news – this handy device will also give you tailored advice on how to improve consumption so that you can save money on your energy bill.

To sum up this system provides the following:

Control your heating from home or on the go with its easy, simple and educational app.
Manage your energy consumption and potentially save some money in the process all thanks to its customised coaching program.
Enhance your comfort with the device’s self-learning system which takes into account the temperature and humidity of your home.
More freedom with geolocation so that the further away you get from your home, the heating decreases and when you’re approaching closer, it increases.
Suitable for most heating systems including gas, fuel oil, wood, heat pumps and floor heating.

Thermostatic Radiator Valve

Need heating tailored to each room in the house? The Thermostatic Radiator Valve is the ideal product for carrying out this function. It gives you intelligent control to alter the temperature in different rooms within your home, so say goodbye to tweaking your radiator valves manually! Of course – this is all again done through your smartphone or another smart device for your convenience. You can decrease your energy consumption and potentially save some money by only heating certain rooms when needed. More comfort whilst doing your bit for the planet – a winning situation.

To sum up this system provides the following:

Saves energy by allowing you to only heat up the rooms you’re using for comfort and be energy-efficient at the same time.
Optimal reaction as the OpenWindow feature will adjust according to temperature.
Learns you and your home’s habits to determine if and when it needs to turn up or lower the heat.
Timer function allows you to make your own schedule tailored to each room’s radiator.
Quiet but strong as the motor is designed for optimum sound levels so that you can use it without being disturbed.

Thermis io

To go hand in hand with the Somfy TaHoma, the Thermis io is a battery powered sensor which can be fitted inside or outside your home to monitor temperature levels. Once it measures certain temperatures, the Thermis io will wirelessly alert your TaHoma system, which can then adapt your connected products according to your set preferences. So, whether you want your window to automatically open during hot summer days or your curtains to close when you pop out to safeguard your home – the Thermis io can help.

To sum up this system provides the following:

Wireless sensor which measures the temperature whether it’s placed inside or outside so that blinds can be opened or closed depending on temperature increases and falls.
Multifunctional as it can be connected to several Somfy products via the TaHoma system and pre-programmed scenes.
Battery powered so that it can be easily installed anywhere in your home.
Cooperates with TaHoma to notify of temperature measurements to the interface which then sets temperature thresholds.

If you’re sporting an old thermostat model, live day by day with a different schedule or you’re forgetful and leave the heater running whilst you’re out – a smart heating system could save you some serious money as well as lower your energy consumption. Smart heating is a long-term investment which guarantees comfortable living from wherever you are. Why not go further with Somfy? Get all your home automation solutions in one and take back control of how you manage your home.