Multi Zone Smart Thermostats

jellybeard999 · 30 Jul 2017 at 02:18

I'm having a new heating system installed. The boiler and pipework is already in and the system has 2 zones; one upstairs, one downstairs.

I see that hive and nest both offer multi zone functions. I've had a Worcester boiler installed, but for whatever reason, the Worcester Wave doesn't appear to work with multiple zones :s

It looks like I'd need a Hive Active Heating and a Multi Zone. With Nest, do I need 2 thermostats?

Has anyone had smart thermostats installed with zones?

Any pointers appreciated and any other suggestions gratefully received

robj20 · 30 Jul 2017 at 06:31

Nest will require two thermostats.
I'm installing evohome with 7 zones for ultimate control.

thezappa · 30 Jul 2017 at 10:34

robj20 said:
I'm installing evohome with 7 zones for ultimate control.

Am keen to do that myself, I've read a few reports of it not being totally reliable but that was from a couple of years ago so updates may have sorted it.

Dynix · 30 Jul 2017 at 10:40

I installed Tado for our two-zone system a few months ago. Downstairs we have the extension kit and thermostat, then upstairs we have a single thermostat.

This post shows the kit we had installed (new build) before I changed it all for the Tado system: https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/posts/30587898

novaenough · 30 Jul 2017 at 18:00

thezappa said:
Am keen to do that myself, I've read a few reports of it not being totally reliable but that was from a couple of years ago

I was looking at the evohome system too, spoke to my plumber about and he put me off with the feedback he got from his wholesaler.
I'm going for a heatmiser based system where all my rads are fed from manifolds that will be controlled by room stats.
It should give me the same control as the evo system but everything is hard wired so won't have batteries to change or wireless connection issues.

sparkymark75 · 31 Jul 2017 at 10:24

I've just installed Nest in a two zone setup. I'm not convinced it's woking correctly but that's another story!

M1k3H · 31 Jul 2017 at 10:35

I have 2 Nest Thermostats in a 2 Zone System. It works just fine.

sparkymark75 · 31 Jul 2017 at 10:42

M1k3H said:
I have 2 Nest Thermostats in a 2 Zone System. It works just fine.

I'm certain it works fine, I meant I wasn't convinced my particular install was okay.

robj20 · 31 Jul 2017 at 11:08

thezappa said:
Am keen to do that myself, I've read a few reports of it not being totally reliable but that was from a couple of years ago so updates may have sorted it.

It's usually people fitting it wrong that's the issue or binding things incorrectly.
I looked at 2 Nests but it's only a little more for a fully zoned house. The ability to say just heat the bathroom or just the living room really appeals to me.

M1k3H · 31 Jul 2017 at 11:33

sparkymark75 said:
I'm certain it works fine, I meant I wasn't convinced my particular install was okay.

Sorry I didn't say what I said to respond to your comments! I had an issue with my install also, where the plumbers had installed them the other way round, so using the downstairs would operate the upstairs and vice versa!

I was just saying to the OP that it can work and he will need 2 thermostats (and their heatlinks).

robj20 · 6 Sep 2017 at 07:04

Mines all done now. Works brilliantly, everything binded first time so easy to set up. Got it running with opentherm as well, which works really well.

psd99 · 6 Sep 2017 at 14:51

sorry to hijack your thread as it were

how does the 2 zone system work? I'm regretting I didn't get this done last year when the whole system got changed

I have a google nest that works wireless downstairs but sometimes I find that the temperature gets hot downstairs like for instance reaches 22C then heating turns off as per normal.

Problem is that upstairs sometimes is just not warm enough, I know I could re balance radiators (that's another story)

but presume I wanted to have a 2nd zone upstairs, is there some type of plumbing that would be required or is it just a case of buying another google thermostat and linking it up to my boiler somehow?

sparkymark75 · 6 Sep 2017 at 14:56

psd99 said:
sorry to hijack your thread as it were

how does the 2 zone system work? I'm regretting I didn't get this done last year when the whole system got changed

I have a google nest that works wireless downstairs but sometimes I find that the temperature gets hot downstairs like for instance reaches 22C then heating turns off as per normal.

Problem is that upstairs sometimes is just not warm enough, I know I could re balance radiators (that's another story)

but presume I wanted to have a 2nd zone upstairs, is there some type of plumbing that would be required or is it just a case of buying another google thermostat and linking it up to my boiler somehow?

A 2 zone system typically has two valves on the flow side of the boiler. In my system, if the upstairs zone calls for heat, the boiler fires. The zone valve for upstairs opens but the zone valve for downstairs remains closed so only the upstairs radiators is supplied with heated water from the boiler and vice-versa for the other zone. Both zones can also be on at the same time.

I guess without the plumbing, the only way you could achieve a similar result would be to have electronic radiator valves which can be controlled by a thermostat (or thermostats). These radiator valves can then be opened/closed based upon the heat requirements of the area. This approach has the potential to heat individual rooms differently but at a cost.

Kemik · 6 Sep 2017 at 15:28

Honestly, I would question if whatever smart systems you are implementing are worth the money. £400+ for two Nest thermostats - how quickly will they make that money back vs a simple timer+dumb thermostat equivalent?

sparkymark75 · 6 Sep 2017 at 15:39

Kemik said:
Honestly, I would question if whatever smart systems you are implementing are worth the money. £400+ for two Nest thermostats - how quickly will they make that money back vs a simple timer+dumb thermostat equivalent?

I guess that depends on if you're doing it for the convenience or as a money saving exercise. I did it for the former rather than the latter.

Kemik · 6 Sep 2017 at 16:49

sparkymark75 said:
I guess that depends on if you're doing it for the convenience or as a money saving exercise. I did it for the former rather than the latter.

I suppose, but I thought the benefit of them is meant to be set and forget - because it will know when the temperature is dropping and you're on your way home.

I rented the Tado, but with two-zones in my home, a timer and dumb thermostats on each zone, I'm not bothering next year. There were also times it said we were at home when we weren't (Android issues).

Dwaindibbly · 6 Sep 2017 at 23:15

Kemik said:
I suppose, but I thought the benefit of them is meant to be set and forget - because it will know when the temperature is dropping and you're on your way home.

I rented the Tado, but with two-zones in my home, a timer and dumb thermostats on each zone, I'm not bothering next year. There were also times it said we were at home when we weren't (Android issues).

Im looking at the tado kit but have been toing an frowing on whether to buy it or not, your post has just inspired me to just rent them and see how i get on with a look to purchase, cheers

robj20 · 7 Sep 2017 at 05:58

This morning I had the master bedroom warm up to 19 at 4am, followed by the living room at 4:30. I don't see how it can not save money in the long run, I used to have the whole house warming up at 4am.

Kemik · 7 Sep 2017 at 08:51

Dwaindibbly said:
Im looking at the tado kit but have been toing an frowing on whether to buy it or not, your post has just inspired me to just rent them and see how i get on with a look to purchase, cheers

If you go on their chat, they usually do some kind of discount (unless a sale is on at the minute).

The kit is great for iOS users or those with only one zone, but seems to me to be a bit pointless for multiple zones or where location services aren't reliable.

novaenough · 7 Sep 2017 at 13:59

robj20 said:
This morning I had the master bedroom warm up to 19 at 4am, followed by the living room at 4:30. I don't see how it can not save money in the long run, I used to have the whole house warming up at 4am.

Sounds like its working as you'd hoped Rob. If all goes to plan my system should give me the same control and flexibility when its eventually finished as yours.

Multi Zone Smart Thermostats

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