Last updated: June 2023
The word ‘smart’ gets used a lot these days even through it represents a broad spectrum of features that covers everything from app control to home automation. In fact, it’s used so liberally that it can often leave people wondering just how intelligent these products really are – especially when it comes to heating systems where efficiency really counts. In a nutshell, smart heating is able to communicate with other devices in your home (e.g., your smartphone) to provide an easier way to interact with your system, and usually offers automatic features that do the hard work on your behalf.
So, if you’re wondering ‘is it for me?’ or ‘will it help me to save energy?’ we’re going to show you all the ways smart heating can benefit your household.
How does it actually work?
When people talk about ‘smart heating’, they’re more often than not referring to app control, which essentially lets you use your smartphone or tablet as a remote. All you do is download an app to your mobile device then you can program your heating with a swipe and tap of your screen. It has proven to be such a popular way to manage energy use in the home that many people are actively adopting this system and it’s likely to become more mainstream as time goes on.
With an app, you can make a custom heating schedule that perfectly fits around your routine, minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, so you never waste energy heating an empty space. And, because apps communicate wirelessly, you don’t even need to be in the property for it to update with your changes.
What are the benefits of smart control?
There are lots of reasons why people prefer app control to traditional dials and manual programmers. Here are the main reasons why:
Our phones and tablets are normally to hand throughout the day, so it’s easier to keep in touch with your heating.
Apps are far more intuitive to use versus manual programmers.
If your smart heating is WiFi-compatible, you don’t have to be present at the property to make changes to your heating.
Apps combine the best aspects of centralised and decentralised heating systems by giving you the option of controlling temperatures in individual rooms but from a single point of control.
Over time, apps naturally evolve and improve, so your heating system will only become more sophisticated, all without having to change the actual appliance.
Heating apps often come with extra energy-saving features built in, like open window detection, geofencing and real-time energy usage information to help you maximise your savings.
But ‘smart heating’ isn’t solely limited to apps. It also encompasses a number of other innovative functions like motion detection, self-learning programming and voice control, which are designed to operate automatically or with a minimal amount of effort.
How do smart heating controls save me money?
Intelligent controls can help you trim down your heating bills and two features that have proven to be particularly popular are WiFi programming and energy statistics. Here’s how they can make your heating system operate more efficiently:
Stay in control with WiFi connectivity
Ask anyone why they invested in smart heating, and they’ll likely tell you it’s for the WiFi control it provides. When your heating is connected to the internet it makes it accessible no matter where you are in the world. So, even if you forget to turn the heating down when you leave for work, or suddenly remember you haven’t set it on low when you go on holiday, all it takes is a few taps of your phone screen to sort out the problem.
It’s also useful purely for micro-management. When you’re staying late at the office and you know you’re going to be home at 8pm rather than 6pm, why waste energy heating an empty home? WiFi app control lets you adapt your heating schedule around your lifestyle instantly, so you can save energy here and there through the course of the week. It also provides huge scope for savings by allowing you to adjust your heating room by room. Secondary spaces like home offices and guest bedrooms rarely need the same level of heat as our living rooms, so by creating separate programs for each space, you can trim down running costs even further.
Our bestselling WiFi-controlled electric radiators
Ecostrad iQ Ceramic
Haverland SmartWave
Ecostrad Ascoli iQ
Keep an eye on energy use with real-time statistics
Apps that offer energy-usage information for your heating system can be invaluable when it comes to identifying where you can save money. They show you exactly how much power you’re using to keep your property warm, so if you need to economise, you can turn down your set temperatures or adjust your programming accordingly. To help you save even more, some apps also let you add the price of your energy tariff to provide accurate running cost figures for your heating. A must-have feature for anyone looking to reduce energy waste.
Our bestselling electric radiators offering energy statistics
Technotherm KS DSM Smart Heat Retention
Technotherm KS DSM Smart Heat Retention Vertical
Technotherm KS DSM Low Surface Temperature
What smart heating systems are available?
Intelligent controls can help you trim down your heating bills and two features that have proven to be particularly popular are WiFi programming and energy statistics. Here’s how they can make your heating system operate more efficiently:
Electric radiators
While smart thermostats tend to hog the limelight, there’s a much broader range of intelligent heating systems than you might realise. Electric radiators have benefitted enormously from the smart tech boom and are available in a range of styles and finishes to suit every property. These models are perfect for anyone who finds manual programming a chore because they simplify the process using an app and make it much easier to change your settings.
That’s not all though – the heating control revolution has reached everything from infrared panels, convector heaters, towel rails, and even traditional systems like storage heaters have seen a significant upgrade. If you’re looking for an intelligent way to control your heating, you’ll definitely find yourself well catered for these days.
The Smart Life app is compatible with many of our WiFi-controlled electric heaters.
Check out our video on how to set it up on your smartphone.
Get started with your smart home project here
Interested? We have a range of intelligent appliances that can help you reduce your running costs and make it easier than ever to interact with your heating. Browse our WiFi-controlled electric radiators for convenient programming, voice-control compatible electric panel heaters, or even smart electric radiators with geolocation. Shop with us today for smart heating tomorrow.
Key learnings
- Smart heating communicates with other devices in your home (e.g., your smartphone) to provide an easier way to interact with your system, and usually offers automatic features that do the hard work on your behalf.
- Controlling your heating via an app is intuitive, convenient & guaranteed to help you slim down on bills.
- Many apps allow you to check your energy usage in real time to help you cut down on waste.
- With WiFi control, you can keep an eye on your heating even when you’re on the go.
- Electric heaters are primed for smart control, and due to their modular nature can be controlled individually or in groups to take heat management to the next level.