In this post, we’d like to talk you through a job we have completed recently – related to complex heating controls in larger properties. Heating controls are a potentially complicated area to get right; often there is debate as to whether it’s the job of the plumber or the electrician, but with modern advances and app control now available, we like to get stuck in!
We’re big fans of Heatmiser products, and regularly fit a combination of UH8 wiring centres combined with wired and/or wireless Neo thermostats and Heatmiser actuators. Take a look at how this system might work in your home here.
As always, please drop us a line if you need any advice with selecting smart home heating controls.
Issues with Underfloor Heating Controls
We were contacted by a customer based in Mirfield near Wakefield who was having problems with his wet underfloor heating controls. He had previously had a Heatmiser UH8 RF unit fitted to control a manifold, and wireless Heatmiser Neo stats to control each loop. There was a water heater controlled by a programmer, and the upstairs heating was controlled via a generic wireless thermostat.
Half the kitchen was warming up, the other half was not. The kitchen was supplied by 2 separate loops: we were provided with some very helpful diagrams which detailed the positioning of all the ground floor loops. We discovered that the connections were incorrect in a few instances within the Heatmiser wiring centre. This was a relatively easy fix: a case of swapping connections around with the unit.
He was also having trouble with some rooms not heating up as he thought they should be: unfortunately this was due to incorrect floor coverings being used. As electricians there wasn’t much we could do about this one! Suffice it to say, it is important to consider the type of covering you intend to use – make sure you have confirmed it will be compatible with the type of underfloor system you might be having installed, and is not going to prevent heat from being transferred.
The customer also wanted to be able to control his loops and thermostats via the Heatmiser app remotely. The wireless stats and wiring centre were already in place; we simply had to install a Neohub unit. These units require a hard-wired connection to the home’s internet router, then to be paired with the app. Once this is done, all programming and naming of zones can be done quickly and easily via the app. Using a spare way in the UH8 wiring centre, we also installed an extra wireless Neostat to control the upstairs heating loop which had been previously controlled via a “dumb” wireless thermostat. Finally, we exchanged the hot water timer for a Heatmiser equivalent and tidied up the connections between pumps, zone valves and boiler. The entire home’s heating controls were now accessible from the Heatmiser app.
Luckily the customer had a spare Neoplug: these act a mesh network extender between the hub and plug for the wireless stats if they are positioned too far from the hub. Although the stats will still work locally if out of range of the hub, they won’t be accessible from the app. There were a couple of stats that were suffering with this, however with the addition of the plug at a suitable distance from the hub, this problem was solved.
