Switching over to intelligent heating is quick and easy. Our top-of-the-range solution from Homematic is intuitive to use – just follow these steps.
For a complete intelligent heating system, you need the following Homematic products:
- A thermostat for each radiator
- A wall thermostat for each heated room
- A window and door contact for each open air window
- A Homematic Access Point
- The app “Homematic IP” for Android or iPhone
Getting started
First, download and install the app on your smartphone. This will allow you to activate each individual device.
Next it’s time for the Homematic Access Point. At this central switching point, the information of all other devices come together. Connect the access point to the mains and to the router via a network cable.
To activate the access point and connect to the smartphone app, use the phone camera to scan the QR code on the back of the access point. After a few seconds, the LED of the access point should be solid blue and the device is ready for use. If it does not work the first time – don’t panic! This usually isn’t an error – the access point will probably load a new firmware and is therefore not ready to start yet. In this case, simply follow the app instructions. Incidentally, when setting up the access point, no personal data is requested, so no registration takes place. The communication between the access point and the Homematic cloud is completely anonymous.
Next: the smart thermostat
To activate a radiator thermostat, select “test mode” in the app and follow the instructions. This will allow you to remove the insulation strip in the battery compartment of the thermostat. Then enter the last digits of the thermostat’s serial number, or simply scan the QR code in the instruction manual. Lastly, you must then specify the room in which the thermostat will be located. For a new system, create a new room, such as “living room”. You should also give the thermostat a detailed name, such as “Heating living room”, to keep track on the app.Now the thermostat just needs to be attached. It is not necessary to drain the heating water or to interfere in any other way with the system. First, loosen the screwcap of the old thermostat with a pair of pliers and remove. Make sure that the Homematic Radiator Thermostat points to zero. Put it on and tighten the screwcap. Repeat the process with the other radiator thermostats.
Wall thermostats for convenient temperature setting
Additionally, equip each room with a wall thermostat. It is especially useful to have a wall thermostat in rooms with several radiators, because the desired temperature can be set on a central unit. But even in rooms with only one radiator, a wall thermostat makes sense, as it measures the actual temperature within the room as whole and not on the radiator itself. Activating the wall-mounted thermostat works in the same way as with the radiator thermostat: after selecting “test mode”, remove the insulation strip, scan the QR code and specify the room in which the thermostat will be located. Finally, attach the thermostat to the designated wall in the room. The thermostat can either be screwed on or glued on.Intelligent window control
Finally, for all windows that are opened for ventilation, place on a Homematic window and door contact. The installation works the same as for the thermostats. During the last step, select the option “Room temperature” – the radiator thermostat will now lower the room temperature when the window is open. You can also simply screw on or glue the contact. When you open the door or window, the contact will then make sure that the heaters do not start to heat up, immediately compensating for the falling temperatures.
Controlling rooms individually
Once all devices have been tested and installed, you can create room profiles in the “Homematic IP” app or edit the standard profiles. Select the particular time and temperature to come on in a specific room. In addition to the standard profile, you can create two alternative profiles for each room. For example, if your daily routine changes on days off or if you want to take a trip for a few days so want to adjust the temperature of your home slightly.
And you’re done!
On the app, select the menu symbol and then “heating profiles”. You get an overview of all rooms and their standard profiles. You can now edit these. You can also activate and set up the mentioned alternative profiles via the small arrow in the upper right corner of the view. On a side note, to edit profiles or manually change their heating settings, you do not even have to be at home. Thanks to the access point’s Internet connection, this also works remotely. For example, should you come home unexpectedly earlier than usual, you can “pre-heat” manually.
Images: Adobe Stock
