What is a smart boiler?

Everywhere you look, everything is now “smart”. Smartphones, smart TVs, smart fridges – these are just a few examples of everyday technology that has now gone “smart”.

Smart technology offers numerous benefits for homeowners, particularly in how you manage your heating. Our very own boilers are being built with smart innovative technology, such as the NCB ON range.

In this guide, we will explore what a smart boiler is, how it works and how it can benefit you.

What is a smart boiler?

Smart boilers are boilers that connect to a smart thermostat. The purpose of the smart thermostat is to help you manage and monitor your energy usage.

Once connected to a boiler, you can use your thermostat, or a linked mobile app, to optimise your central heating and hot water usage to suit you and the rest of your household.

This means you can preheat the water for your bath from your sofa or use excellent geofencing capabilities to turn the heating on and set what room temperature you require before you arrive home.

A smart boiler provides maximum convenience, but it can also be useful in helping you to keep on top of your energy consumption and save money on your bills.

How does a smart heating system work?

Smart heating allows you to heat your home using a mobile device.

This is made possible by connecting digital technology with conventional heating systems, blending the old with the new.

Simply put, smart heating systems digitise the central heating of the home. The system learns from a homeowner’s routine and gives you complete control of your heating and hot water with the touch of a button or even through voice commands.

If you’re planning to have a new boiler installed, it’s worth considering having a smart thermostat fitted along with it.

What is a smart thermostat?

Smart thermostats play a crucial role in a smart heating system. They offer the same benefits as a mobile device paired with your smart boiler – the ability to control the temperature and produce hot water remotely.

Some thermostats are even classed as learning thermostats because they pick up on your routine and control the boiler in a manner to help reduce energy consumption.

This is a convenient way to cut back on your energy bills and lower your carbon footprint.

How does a smart thermostat connect to a boiler?

Connecting your smart thermostat to a boiler depends on three key elements: the hub, receiver and smart control systems.

The hub connects directly to your broadband router, either via a wired connection or wirelessly. This is the element that enables your heating system to be Wi-Fi enabled, which means you can control the heating and hot water from an app either in the house or away from home if you have an internet connection via your phone or device.

Next, there’s the smart control system. This is the most complex element of a smart installation, as it requires some electrical wiring skills. An installer should be contracted to wire it into a boiler as the boiler case may need to be removed and 230VAC could be involved.

Your electrician will need to isolate the electrics before installation to safely connect your smart control system to your new smart boiler network.

Once your electrician has installed your smart thermostat, you will then need to set up the associated app.

Where to set up a smart thermostat?

Selecting the right place for your smart thermostat is important for establishing your smart heating system.

Firstly, it should be set up away from radiators and you should ensure it isn’t exposed to direct sunlight. This is because radiators and direct sunlight can affect temperature readings.

The receiver should be fitted near the boiler but away from large metal objects, as these may interfere with its signals.

A bedroom is not an ideal choice for a smart thermostat as bedrooms tend to be a few degrees cooler than the average temperature of your property.

Typically, the best place for a smart thermostat is in a hallway. This is because hallways generally don’t have windows that could let in cool air or expose your thermostat to direct sunlight.

Should I buy a smart heating system?

Installing a smart heating system will depend on your preferences and requirements.

You should consider a smart boiler if:

• You have a consistent heating schedule.
• You want a heating system that adjusts the temperature for you.
• You want to improve your home’s energy efficiency.
• You want to zone your heating.
• You want to control your heating system remotely.

Benefits of smart boilers

There are several benefits of smart boilers, including:

• The ability to set your heating based on your routine.
• Monitor usage to improve fuel efficiency and plan for the months ahead.
• Zoning your heating system.
• Being part of a smart, modern home.
• Ease of installation.

Navien Smart Boilers and Smart Controls

Our range of smart boilers includes:

• NCB700 ON Gas Condensing Combi Boiler
• NCB500 ON Gas Condensing Combi Boiler
• NCB300 Gas Condensing Combi Boiler
• LCB700 Blue Flame Combi Boiler

Smart technology offers numerous benefits for homeowners, particularly in how you manage your heating. Our very own NCB500 and NCB700 ON range boilers are built with smart innovative technology, such as a mixing valve, a flow adjustment valve and our Navi Fill Link which offers customers a comfortable hot water experience.

Each Navien combi boiler can be connected to the Navien Smart Plus Controller which allows you to:

• Turn your heating on and off remotely through a mobile app and adjust your temperature.
• Access your temperature settings through the same app.
• Optimise your heating settings to save energy and money on your bills.
• View information about how much energy your household is using.
• Access Smart Forecast, where Navien boilers check the weather forecast to ensure your home maintains a comfortable temperature come rain or shine.
• Use Geofencing options that will turn your heating on and off depending on your proximity to your home.

Additionally, for our NCB ON range (NCB700 ON and NCB500 ON), the Smart Plus ON AI Controller comes with additional features, including:

• Smart Diagnosis which regularly checks the operational health of the boiler through the mobile app.
• Monthly Home Energy Management System (HEMS) reports that help you keep a closer eye on your monthly heating usage, giving you vital insights into your spending.
• Firmware over-the-air (FOTA) updates to keep your smart boiler up to date remotely.

With more and more homes becoming “smart”, smart heating systems are becoming more popular.

As we become more aware of the costs of inefficient energy usage, smart boilers allow you to take control of your heating to help cut your bills and your carbon footprint.

If you’re looking for a smart boiler to heat your home, use our Find a Boiler tool and we’ll help you select the right boiler! For any further enquiries about Navien boilers, get in touch with our team or find an installer today.