Many manufacturers are jostling for space in the smart heating market so choosing the right system may seem daunting at first, for those looking to invest.
Although the smart home market is still relatively young, the options for smart heating are already effective and reliable. The selection can be confusing, with many to choose from. But if you look at your own existing hardware in the house, you can soon decide which model is most suitable for you.
Smart heating with the FRITZ! Box
Is your Internet router a FRITZ! Box? If so, you already have the base station for intelligent heating in your home, as the newer software versions of the FRITZ! Box also manage smart home devices. A cost-effective solution in this case could be to replace the existing radiator thermostats with the Comet energy-saving controller for AVM FRITZ! Boxes.
The heating is then controlled by the “MyFRITZ! App”, which is available free of charge for Android and iOS. Buyers must be aware however that the selection of compatible hardware is small, so not an ideal solution for those looking to install more smart home technology beyond heating.
Intelligent heating control with Apple
A solution for Apple fans who use either iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV fourth generation, is the Apple HomeKit smart home system. It uses either Apple TV or the iPad as a central control system for the home. In this case, the iPad would have to remain permanently in the house or in the apartment.
You could then use Elgato Eve Thermo as a thermostat for the heating, Elgato Eve Degree as a room thermostat and the Elgato Eve Door & Window Wireless Contact Sensor. These components, with their simple, elegant design, are designed only for use with HomeKit.
Talk to the heater
If you already have smart home technology in use, such as the Apple HomeKit or Amazon Alexa, the heating control system from Tado might be of interest to you. Thermostats like the Tado SRT can be connected to both systems and then conveniently controlled by voice commands, such as: “Alexa, set the temperature in the living room to 22 degrees”.
The all-rounder
If you and your family have a mix of iPhones and Androids and do not yet use any of the smart heaters already described, heating accessories from Homematic are the simplest solution. The “Homematic IP” app is available for both iOS and Android, so anyone in the family can control the heating.
Installation and operation are easy and intuitive, even for beginners, although we have a handy how-to guide here for you if you’re struggling. Homematic also produces a wide range of other smart home components: from switchable sockets to controls for blinds, plus motion and smoke detectors. If you want to expand your intelligent home in the future, you can then buy corresponding devices from the same manufacturer.
