Martin Wilson, sales director at Resideo, looks at how the latest smart thermostats can help simplify adding zoning to heating systems when using underfloor heating or radiators.
The ability to zone rooms at different temperatures can offer valuable energy efficiency and comfort benefits for homeowners. For example, being able to set or alter the temperature of an individual room from the control – or via the app on a smart device – means that the kitchen could be at 18 degrees while the lounge is at a slightly higher 20 or 21 degrees.
Zoning with evohome
The Honeywell Home evohome® can be used as an advanced smart thermostat to navigate temperature fluctuations with its smart weather feature. However, its capabilities extend way beyond this.
Its smart zoning functionality can work with underfloor heating controllers and electronic thermostatic radiator valves to wirelessly measure and control temperatures in up to 12 individual zones. This means that the heating system won’t waste energy on heating a room unnecessarily.
By combining the zoning capability with evohome’s smart weather feature, even greater energy efficiency in a property can be achieved. This is because evohome learns the heat losses in each room – by monitoring both outside temperature and individual room temperature – and then communicates with the heating system to adjust the temperature room by room.
Smart Underfloor
The latest smart control technology means that zoning can be applied to not just radiators but also low temperature systems such as underfloor heating. For example, the smart Honeywell Home evohome® zoning controller can also work with the Honeywell Home HCC100 Bluetooth®-enabled, underfloor multi-zone controller for underfloor heating.
With one single, flexible controller, the Honeywell Home HCC100 can individually manage up to eight zones. It also gives the option to connect to wired and wireless zone controls, or a hybrid of the two. It is designed to optimise the demand control, whether this is from a boiler or heat pump, meaning it can integrate with new and existing installations.
Configuration is fast and simple too. Using the unique Resideo Pro App, it ensures installation time is used effectively, guiding installers through the entire set-up and commissioning process quickly and easily.
Taking Smart Further
By combining both the Honeywell Home evohome and HCC100 controls, control of all zones is enabled through one evohome touchscreen device and via the app. Once end users set up their account and download the app, they have access to all features and functions of the flexible system.