Smart Thermostats Supplied & Fitted, Birmingham

Which one, and why

• Google Nest — the easiest to live with. Learns your routine, good display, works well for households with a fairly regular pattern.
• Tado — the strongest option if you want per-room control with smart radiator valves. Better for large or awkwardly heated houses where one thermostat has never been enough.
• Hive — straightforward, well priced, no learning curve. Fine if you just want to control the heating from your phone.
• Honeywell evohome — the serious multi-zone option for larger properties.

Where the savings actually come from

Not from the gadget. The savings come from heating rooms you use at the times you use them, and from geofencing that turns the heating down when the house empties. In a poorly zoned house, smart radiator valves save considerably more than the thermostat itself. If you are home all day in one room, be realistic — the payback is slower than the marketing suggests.

Compatibility and wiring

Most combi boilers take a smart thermostat without trouble. Older systems with a separate cylinder, mid-position valve and programmer need more thought, and some very old boilers have no suitable switched live. We check the wiring centre and boiler terminals before you buy anything, and where possible we wire the receiver in properly at the boiler rather than leaving a plug-in box sitting on a shelf.

Prices

Prices are estimates and may change after a site inspection. We cover Birmingham and 10 miles from B20 2JS as standard, extending to 50 miles for boiler installations. A travel charge may apply beyond 10 miles.