As a homeowner with a growing interest in smart home technology, I’ve been exploring how to integrate my existing heating system with modern smart thermostats. My journey began with Tado, which worked seamlessly with my previous house’s Valiant Combo and Viessman 111W boiler. Adding Tado TRVs allowed me to turn off heating in unused rooms, significantly cutting energy costs. Now, in my new home with an Ideal Logic+ System s24 boiler, I’m eager to replicate that success but face some challenges.
The house has three heating zones controlled by zone valves: upstairs, downstairs, and a garage conversion. Currently, I’m using Honeywell T3R wireless thermostats, but they’re not performing well—constantly disturbing the battery and blanking the screen. In the garage, an ESI thermostat and a Drayton LP522 programmer handle the hot water valve. I’ve been researching alternatives and came across the Ideal Halo system, which supports OpenTherm and can modulate two heating zones. However, it lacks smart TRVs, which is a downside.
I’m also considering Tado again. If I connect a Tado Wired Smart Thermostat to the boiler’s OpenTherm interface and use a wireless starter kit for hot water control, could I manage all zones effectively? I’d need to wire two thermostats for the remaining zones and add wireless temperature sensors for monitoring. The goal is to have everything work together smoothly without sacrificing the functionality I’ve grown accustomed to.
Long-term, I might upgrade to a Viessman 100W boiler, which offers separate cylinder flow and heating flow, ideal for our hard water area and larger property. For now, I’m focused on optimizing the current setup to ensure remote control and energy efficiency. Any insights or experiences others have had with similar setups would be invaluable!
This exploration has been both exciting and challenging, highlighting the potential of smart home technology to enhance comfort and efficiency. I’m hopeful that with some trial and error, I can create a heating system that’s as intelligent as it is reliable.