Drayton Wiser Smart Thermostat Heating Control Heating Only - Works with Amazon Alexa, Google Home and IFTTT

Product Information

Gravity-fed systems are no longer fitted new and do not comply to current building regulations, therefore homeowners are increasingly opting to replace older gravity-fed systems to either combi or fully-pumped conventional boiler systems. CHARACTERISTICS OF GRAVITY-FED SYSTEMS (non-pumped) Requires a three-channel Wiser kit containing two smart thermostats ( Wiser Thermostat Kit 3), to control the central heating via two of the channels and the hot water via the third. In residential areas with low water pressure a gravity or gravity/pumped system is usually the best option. Some systems incorporate a pump to help provide greater pressure at the taps. A combi boiler requires good water pressure, so may not be suitable in some residential areas where pressure is low. Drayton Wiser may be functional, but its plain all-white plastic design certainly isn’t stylish. If you prefer gadgets that make a design statement, this isn’t the smart thermostat for you.

Now that we’re clear what a combi boiler is, some combi boiler systems have two separate heating zones, controlled by two thermostats. CHARACTERISTICS OF COMBI BOILERS (two heating zones) Away Mode overrides your existing schedules with a lower set temperature of your choosing, ensuring your home doesn’t get too cold while you’re away. You can turn off appliances in Away Mode, too. You can also set up geofencing using IFTTT so your system will automatically switch to Away Mode when you’re out of the house. Powered by two AA batteries, the smart thermostat can be freestanding on a table or shelf, or mounted on a wall. It has three touch controls on the front. The plus and minus button allow you to adjust the desired temperature of the room, while the middle button boosts the heating in said room by two degrees. The screen automatically goes to sleep after 15 seconds to conserve the battery, but pressing any of the three touch controls will wake it up.Wiser thermostat and multi-zone kits 2 and 3 may be compatible with gravity-fed systems that have been retro-fitted or upgraded with pumps and cylinder thermostats - Please speak to our Technical Support Helpline on 0333 6000 622 for further advice on your system’s compatibility. This is set up in the same way as regular conventional systems, but in this case the system has two heating zones being controlled by the boiler, with separate programming for each usually with two thermostats. This may be the case in larger or extended homes. CHARACTERISTICS OF CONVENTIONAL BOILERS (with unvented cylinder and two heating zones)

However, it does have an Away Mode. Rather than switching the heating off completely while you’re out, this feature allows you to set a minimum temperature at which you want your home to remain at while away. If the temperature plunges below this threshold, the heating will spring to life – handy, if you're concerned about frozen pipes when you’re not at home. This type of system is effectively an upgraded gravity-fed system, where the central heating has been upgraded to be fully pumped, while the hot water remains gravity-fed. This type of upgrade allows separate central heating and hot water timer control, unlike standard gravity-fed systems, due to the addition of motorised valves and a cylinder thermostat. CHARACTERISTICS OF CONVENTIONAL BOILERS (with vented hot water and fully pumped) May be more economical to run for smaller households than other boiler system types according to the Energy Saving Trust. An older and more traditional system type, gravity-fed (or vented) installations feature a conventional boiler and utilise gravity and convection to heat water and distribute it to taps and radiators, rather than the water being pumped. Cold water from tank(s) in the loft flows down by gravity to a water cylinder where it is heated, it’s then forced to hot water taps and radiators at low pressure. Wiser allows you to build up your heating system as you go. Add smart plugs and radiator thermostats as required. By creating more independent heating zones, you can optimise your comfort and save energy.

Zonal heating control on a budget

Hot water flow depends on the cold water mains pressure, so if this is supply is lost, you will soon lose the hot water supply. Combi boilers only allow for one hot tap, bath or shower to be running at a time, by running more than one it will significantly reduce the pressure to each, which can be a problem for larger households with high demand for hot water. Hot water is available on demand independently of the central heating, without having to wait for a water cylinder to heat up. Wi-Fi issues? Not a problem. The Wiser Hub allows local app access even when you aren’t connected to the internet. The firmware is updated via the cloud, ensuring your system is always up to date. Can provide good pressure in some residential areas where mains water pressure is low, particularly if the water circuit is also upgraded with pumps.

We also found it was easy to create some basic automations in the app using the Moments feature - such as turning the radiators in the lounge on, while also dimming the map connected to the Wiser smart plug to create a cozy atmosphere of an evening. App HubR: Fixed wiring only, to comply with current IET regulations (BS7671); Room and radiator thermostat: No wiring required Wiser smart thermostats are compatible with most boiler makes and models, but it’s important to consider which boiler system type you have when selecting your Wiser kit. Here we’ll guide you through the most common boiler system types to help you find the ideal Wiser products to suit your home. Also try our online Product Selector to find the right kit in just a few short steps.

Thermostat Kits

A cold water feed or expansion tank is situated higher than the hot water cylinder, usually in the loft or attic. If, however, but turning on the central heating side, the hot water also turns on, this would indicate a gravity system. ADVANTAGES OF CONVENTIONAL BOILERS (with vented hot water and fully pumped) Insights tab provides stats about the number of hours the heating has been switched on and energy saving made through Eco mode