FREE Netatmo with every €79 Gas Boiler Service

bk

fulhamfan wrote: »

There is an older, longer very detailed post about all the various options. I have Tado and am happy out but I'm strictly one zone and as others said, it is expensive to add units to create more zones. They have updated the controller but I think it's too expensive to an early adopter. Sorry I didn't rent rather than buy and recommend that if going for Tado that you consider rent as opposed to buying given rate of progress with these devices. All the best

I think there are lots of good solutions out there for people with relatively simple, single zone setups. But I have to agree that there aren't any good multi-zone solutions available in the Irish market yet (some interesting options have been announced in the US).

I'm extremely happy with my Inspired Home Automation wifi thermostat. It isn't fancy looking like Nest, etc. but works well as a basic wifi controllable thermostat and it only cost me €120 to buy and I installed it myself, so I'm not too worried about it becoming obsolete due to the relatively low price.

But then my setup is a relatively simple single zone setup and that will never need to change as it is an apartment.

okedoke wrote: »

Hi - did anyone here go ahead with the smartzone system. I've a guy coming tomorrow to survey the house for it but I'm concerned about what happens if the wifi goes down or if smartzone go bust.

If they did go bust and the system stopped working - would it be straightforward to fit a new wireless control on the boiler to control the boiler and valves?

Well it would be relatively straight forward, but likely relatively costly as obviously you would need to buy a new system and I think you would need to get a qualified heating engineer to install it.

I installed my own wifi thermostat, but that was a simpler setup, just directly replacing the old thermostat inside the apartment and involved no electrical work. I wouldn't be comfortable DIYing the electrical controls of a boiler. I'd leave that to a qualified person.

Let us know how it goes with Smartzone

okedoke

Well it would be relatively straight forward, but likely relatively costly as obviously you would need to buy a new system and I think you would need to get a qualified heating engineer to install it.

I installed my own wifi thermostat, but that was a simpler setup, just directly replacing the old thermostat inside the apartment and involved no electrical work. I wouldn't be comfortable DIYing the electrical controls of a boiler. I'd leave that to a qualified person.

Let us know how it goes with Smartzone[/QUOTE]

Thanks, I will.

I know nothing about this area, so this may make no sense. It would be more than simply replacing the smartzone base station with something like you have (wifi thermostat)?

bk

okedoke wrote: »

Thanks, I will.

I know nothing about this area, so this may make no sense. It would be more than simply replacing the smartzone base station with something like you have (wifi thermostat)?

I doubt it, I assume most of these use a proprietary protocol * for the base station to talk to the wifi thermostat the boiler control system.

* They maybe using a wireless standard like wifi or zigbee, but they would normally be talking their own proprietary "language" over the wireless interface. I don't think their is any "standard" for these sort of systems unfortunately and I don't think you can mix and match.

okedoke

Thanks BK - very useful info.

bk

Interesting, just came across this. Seems a bit expensive, but a company doing wifi controlled heating with support for multizones using radio controlled TRV's on each rad:

http://www.radeco.ie/

Another possible option for people looking for multizone systems. The advantage over smartzone is that it has physical controls, so youcan still control it if wifi, etc. goes down.

crabbypaddy

bk wrote: »

Interesting, just came across this. Seems a bit expensive, but a company doing wifi controlled heating with support for multizones using radio controlled TRV's on each rad:

http://www.radeco.ie/

Another possible option for people looking for multizone systems. The advantage over smartzone is that it has physical controls, so youcan still control it if wifi, etc. goes down.

TRV actuators have to be wired in! the last thing my house needs is another spaghetti of wires. You can get wireless ones for a less with a nice display and 2AA batteries last 1-2 years.

davidom2513

I'm currently locked into a contract with Airtricity.

Any ideas how much Climote would cost to install?

Or any ideas how I might get it for free, since I am already locked into a contract?

Tinder Surprise

Hi,

Was thinking of switching from Bord Gais and now see Electric Ireland promo for free Climote.

My system is 3 zone system (upstairs, downstairs and hot water) so Climote looks perfect, but like other concerns i too would like a easy physical way to control the heating - say for my Mother-in-law who minds the kids.

Does Climote allow this?

Also Bord Gais does HIVE system..anyone using this for advice?

Zilog

Just to give another option, Lidl have these on offer next week:
Programmable Bluetooth radiator thermostat

If you already have TRVs on your radiators, these should be an easy fit - most TRVs have M30 size connections.
I have several of last year Lidl thermostats (no bluetooth), they seem to work. If there's an app that allows these new versions to be configured without having to lie on the floor looking at a small LCD screen, that would be useful!
For me it was a simple swop out with existing TRVs. Supplied with several adaptors, didn't need them.

bk

crabbypaddy wrote: »

TRV actuators have to be wired in! the last thing my house needs is another spaghetti of wires. You can get wireless ones for a less with a nice display and 2AA batteries last 1-2 years.

Ah... I didn't notice that! You are correct, wireless would be a requirement.

Sigh, so the search for a good multizone system continues!

DavyD_83

Looking like the Netatmo offer is still going from what I can see....
https://www.energia.ie/energy-services/free-netatmo-with-every-gas-boiler-service-%E2%82%AC79

Although, I am getting errors when I try and submit the form to get a callback.
Think I'll try calling them myself tomorrow and see what I can find out.

Has anybody actually gone ahead with the Netatmo?
Any feedback on it?

I have read the other thread before and considered various options; but I have a fairly simple one zone system, so I'm not sure the cost can be justified.
I'm over-due a boiler service too, so seems like this would make sense for me

DavyD_83

Got a call-back today, so can confirm Netatmo offer is still in place.
Just trying to decide now if it's the right option for me.

I don't think we'll have budget for a full zoned system upgrade in the near future to make worth holding onto my grant entitlements.

Capt'n Midnight

Zilog wrote: »

Just to give another option, Lidl have these on offer next week:
Programmable Bluetooth radiator thermostat

If you already have TRVs on your radiators, these should be an easy fit - most TRVs have M30 size connections.
I have several of last year Lidl thermostats (no bluetooth), they seem to work. If there's an app that allows these new versions to be configured without having to lie on the floor looking at a small LCD screen, that would be useful!
For me it was a simple swop out with existing TRVs. Supplied with several adaptors, didn't need them.

There's a QR code on the back.

Reviews of the Android app were poor 2.4
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.eurotronic_technology_gmbh.europrog.app

http://www.eurotronic.org/ - drill down to find English manuals
from Bluetooth Smart 4.0
a Bluetooth low energy chip must be installed in your mobile phone
only applies to Android OS 4.3
applicable only for iOS: iOS 7

J.pilkington

bk wrote: »

I'm extremely happy with my Inspired Home Automation wifi thermostat. It isn't fancy looking like Nest, etc. but works well as a basic wifi controllable thermostat and it only cost me €120 to buy and I installed it myself, so I'm not too worried about it becoming obsolete due to the relatively low price.

Firstly thanks for all the helpful advice on this thread.

How did you get the home automation for €120, the residential model seems to be £134 on their website.

Ocditsme

Sorry anybody help on here.
My heating system seem to have 9 zones plus hot water but ever since I've owned this house any individual zone heats up all the house plus water. Any ideas?

bk

J.pilkington wrote: »

Firstly thanks for all the helpful advice on this thread.

How did you get the home automation for €120, the residential model seems to be £134 on their website.

Ah, I bought it about 3 years ago, was cheaper back then and exchange rate was much better!

DavyD_83

Ocditsme wrote: »

Sorry anybody help on here.
My heating system seem to have 9 zones plus hot water but ever since I've owned this house any individual zone heats up all the house plus water. Any ideas?

I'm completely unqualified to comment, but it sounds like even though you're system is showing 9 zones plus water, your house may only be plumbed as 1 zone. If the valves and individual controls aren't in place to act as multiple zones, then zoned controls would become somewhat meaningless.
Maybe there's a more complex reason...

Ocditsme

DavyD_83 wrote:

I'm completely unqualified to comment, but it sounds like even though you're system is showing 9 zones plus water, your house may only be plumbed as 1 zone. If the valves and individual controls aren't in place to act as multiple zones, then zoned controls would become somewhat meaningless. Maybe there's a more complex reason...

All my Rad valves have control cable at each. Its not really a problem just kinda bugging me.
How much would it be to service a system .
Ballpark figure??

yllw.ldbttr

A boards user reached out to me via PM for some info on my Netatmo and I thought it worth posting my reply here also, for anyone else's benefit.



I'm not sure I'd go down the route of allowing an energy vendor to claim SEA credits on my behalf when they're only providing you with a smart thermostat.. that would be my starting point anyway.
I bought direct from the manufacturer, I think it was 179 euro with free delivery.

My setup is a mess, as I bought a house last year and the previous owner hadn't really thought it out very well.
The house has all living/ dining/ kitchen downstairs and three downstairs bedrooms all on one zone. Upstairs is a separate zone (hardly ever used) and water separate again.
I didn't really care re water and upstairs zones as I have solar for water and the odd time I use upstairs I manually boost it.
So if you have one zone, or only want to automate one zone it really is the perfect solution IMHO. I had to supplement it with programmable TRVs which cut my usage in half (bedrooms on only in evening and mornings, living rooms and kitchen on by day only).

The thermostat itself is simple to install. I replaced a wired one, took maybe 15 minutes. What I really like about it is it allows unlimited on/off periods, none of the others offer more than 3 as far as I know. I control it from the app but it can be boosted from the thermostat itself. It has an e-ink screen instead of LCD display so long battery life. There's really not much to setting up the software.
Program the times you want it on and the temp each time, positioning of the thermostat is obviously important.
After two weeks it learns how long your house takes to heat up/ cool down etc and it offers you the chance to let it automate your heating subject to the timing/ program/ temperatures you've defined.
The difference here is that lets say you program heating for 19 degree at 5.30 PM.
In dumb mode the boiler will switch on at 5.30 and keep firing until it hits 19 degrees within your predefined tolerance (or until your ON period ends). It will keep the house at that temp as long as you've specified.
In smart mode, the thermostat will have figured out how long it takes to heat your house and factoring in outside temp etc it will fire up the boiler at whatever time it has calculated so that your house will hit 19 degrees at 5.30...

Which mode you want depends on your lifestyle I suppose, it offers a balance between economy and comfort.

The thermostat gives detailed stats, time on/ off etc, and a monthly report of hours of heating used, exceptions (boosts/ away mode etc) and a comparison of the performance of your house versus similar profile houses in your region.

It also offers integration with IFTTT, so you can log your usage to Google Drive, or get push notifications when the thermostat is manually boosted or the temperature is manually raised.

I think that covers all the basics.
Any questions give me a shout, will help where I can.

crabbypaddy

Ocditsme wrote: »

All my Rad valves have control cable at each. Its not really a problem just kinda bugging me.
How much would it be to service a system .
Ballpark figure??

Valves are always sticking just google unstick trv.

d15ude

yllw.ldbttr wrote: »

I bought direct from the manufacturer, I think it was 179 euro with free delivery.

sounds like a good system. what manufacturer did you choose?

yllw.ldbttr

d15ude wrote: »

sounds like a good system. what manufacturer did you choose?

Netatmo

DavyD_83

Thanks yllw.ldbttr for all of the advice.
Based on this, the other thread and a little extra research I have decided to go with the Netatmo.

I'm badly overdue a boiler service; we moved in, and got new boiler about 3years ago now, never been serviced (I know, I know, still getting the hang of this homeowner thing ), and have been considering a (remote) thermostat type system for a while. So this seems like an easy option to take care of both.

I understand the concerns about allowing Energia to claim the credits on my behalf, and although this does bother me, I think I'm going to go with it. Unfortunately, convenience is going to win out over conscience on this one.

At the moment I have other things going on in life, which mean if I go the self-install route it won't be in the next 6 months and I honestly don't know when it will be. Hoping I won't regret the choice down the line if a situation arises where I cannot claim for something more important because of this 'claim'.

Still considering the option of Programmable TRV's, which seem to make a lot of sense.
But think I'll do it as a 2 step implementation and hold off on buying these until funds are a little less tight (Jan is not going well on this front so far)

Hopefully getting service and installation next week
Thanks all for flagging the offer and the info so far.

I'll report back once I figure out how to use it and have some feedback to provide

ted1

DavyD_83 wrote: »

.

I'm badly overdue a boiler service; we moved in, and got new boiler about 3years ago now, never been serviced (I know, I know, still getting the hang of this homeowner thing ).

in fairness if you ask the lads on the plumbing thread they'll all say that a service that takes less than an hour isn't really a service and nothing more than visual check.