Which Is The Best Smart Heating Control in Ireland?

By Cormac Breen

Content Manager

Cormac is Selectra.ie's energy expert along with being the chief content and editorial manager for the website. His aim is to help find the best deal for you and your home energy needs so that you save money on your annual bills. His knowledge and experience of the Irish energy market allows him to offer the best advice and insight into current prices, emerging trends and overall energy saving tips.

The best smart heating control systems are available from Tado, Netatmo, Google Nest and Hive. This is based on the pricing, features, reviews and usability of each smart thermostat. When purchasing a new smart thermostat, it is recommended to compare the products that are available on the market to find one that suits both your budget, and your home heating needs.

Which Is the Best Smart Heating Control System?

The best smart heating control systems for energy saving are available from Tado, Netatmo, Google Nest and Hive.

This is based on the pricing, features, reviews and usability of each smart thermostat.

While there is no one size fits all solution, to determine which is the best smart heating control system, we have compared the different brands in the following four categories:

• Pricing
• Features
• Appearance
• Apps

Hive Thermostat

• Easily compatible with gas and oil boiler heating systems.
• User-friendly app with scheduling and boost functions, geolocation and integration with other home assistant such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
• Multi-zone control available with Hive Radiator Valves.
• Some users mention issues with the app's performance.

Verdict ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Nest Thermostat

• Learns your habits and preferences over time and automatically adjusting the temperature.
• Offers geo-fencing and integrates well with other Nest and Google Home products.
• User-friendly app.
• More expensive than other brands and requires professional installation.
• Some users prefer the manual control of other thermostats compared to the Nest learning algorithms.

Verdict ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Netatmo Thermostat

• Compatible with other home assistant programmes such as Google Assistant.
• Energy consumption reports along with smart features such as auto-adapt, smart scheduling and open window detection.
• No subscription required to access more advanced features.
• No geo-fencing to auto-adjust temperature based on your location.
• Battery powered requiring replacement.

Verdict ⭐⭐⭐

Tado Thermostat

• Multi-zone control with smart radiator valves, geo-fencing and open window detection.
• Detailed energy reports and compatible with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
• Display can be hard to read the display at times and needs to be wall mounted.
• Lacks smart learning and some advanced features require a paid subscription.

Verdict ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

How Much Do Smart Heating Controls Cost?

Smart heating controls range in price from €150 to €300 depending on the size and functions available on each heating control.

Below you will find a table that gives a general overview of the prices:

Where Can I Buy Smart Heating Controls in Ireland?

A variety of both online and in-store retailers in Ireland sell smart heating controls.

Below you'll find a table detailing which where you can purchase a smart heating control:

Before purchasing a smart heating control, remember to consider the following:

• Check Compatibility: Always verify that the chosen smart heating controls are compatible with your specific heating system.
• Features: Consider the features you need (multi-zone, geofencing, smart integrations, etc.) when choosing a brand and model.
• Reviews: Read online reviews for specific products and retailers.
• Installation: Determine if you will DIY or need professional installation.
• SEAI Grants: If applicable, ensure the products and installers meet the grant requirements.

Are There SEAI Grants for Smart Heating Controls?

The SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland) offer grants for upgrading your heating controls under the Better Energy Homes Scheme.

The grant amount is fixed at €700 and to be eligible you must:

• You must be the owner of the home, including landlords.
• Your home must have been built and occupied before 2011.
• You cannot have previously claimed a grant for a Heat Pump System, as heating controls are a mandatory part of that upgrade.

What Do The Upgrades Consist Of?

The upgrade must include:

• Installation of a seven-day timer and temperature control for your existing boiler.
• Zonal control over at least two zones in your home (heating and hot water).
• Time and temperature control of an electric immersion (if applicable).
• A boiler interlock.
• Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs) on at least three radiators, but no less than half of all radiators.

You can apply online through the SEAI website or by post.

It's important to note that the grant is intended for homes that previously had no, or very basic, heating controls and does not cover the cost of commercially available smart heating controls as outlined above.

What Are the Main Smart Heating Control Features?

Here are the more important features of a smart heating control you will want to compare:

1. Text control
   With this feature, you can turn your heating on or off via SMS.
2. Autoadapt
   Your thermostat will use the outside temperature and what it has learned about your insulation to automatically adapt the heat required to get to the set temperature.
3. Smart Schedule
   The heating control tracks your habits, similar to other energy saving gadgets, to know when to turn on and off your heating.
4. Open Window Detection
   This option turns off your heating in a room where a window is open to improve energy efficiency at home.
5. Geofencing
   Geofencing allows your smart heating control to tell if anyone is home by tracking the GPS location of users’ mobiles.
6. Hot Water
   You’ll have some control over your hot water, depending on the thermostat. Some just allow you to turn it on, while others allow you to set the temperature.
7. Multi-Zone Heating
   Allows you to control different heating zones of your home, to avoid heating up rooms you’re not using. Useful when working from home.
8. Compatibility
   If the thermostat is compatible with Google and Alexa home assistants.

The table below compares each thermostat based on which features it does and doesn't have, helping you to make a better comparison:

What Are the Smart Heating Control Apps Like?

Most of the functionality of your shiny new smart thermostat cannot be easily accessed without using an app, so it is quite important.

Let’s see how each of the main brands rank in this department.

Hive Thermostat App

The Hive thermostat app has an average rating of 4.2 across both the Google and Apple app store, with most customer satisfied with its functionality and effectiveness:

Nest Thermostat App

Similarly, the Nest app also receives positive reviews with an average rating of 4.4 across both app stores for its versatility and ease of use:

Netatmo Thermostat App

The Netatmo app has an average of almost 4 stars across both app stores, with customers highlighting its ease of use and dependability:

Tado Thermostat App

The Tado app has the highest average rating across both app stores at 4.5 with customers praising its functionality and features:

By Cormac Breen

Content Manager

Cormac is Selectra.ie's energy expert along with being the chief content and editorial manager for the website. His aim is to help find the best deal for you and your home energy needs so that you save money on your annual bills. His knowledge and experience of the Irish energy market allows him to offer the best advice and insight into current prices, emerging trends and overall energy saving tips.