Smart thermostats offer the highest level of control over your home heating system. Whilst features vary between models, smart thermostats generally allow you to program and control your heating online or using a smartphone. Other features can include: The wide range of Potterton boilers offering varying warranty lengths from 1-7 years. Find out even more about what's covered by their warranties with our guide to Potterton warranties. A programmable thermostat allows you to control when your heating switches on and off as well as set the temperature, all via a digital interface. Many models will let you have programmes created for weekdays and weekends separately to allow for different schedules. This is fairly precise work, and while it's possible to guess the right temperature setting to use by looking at the boiler's control panel, it's best if an engineer sets up the boiler to work it out automatically. How do I get compensation controls? Some of the more advanced options will allow you to enter a different heating schedule for each day of the week.

Out-of-date central heating system components and controls can lead to wasted energy, costing you money. They can also create potential heating problems, which could mean having to fork out for expensive boiler repairs. Built-in boiler controls are useful if your boiler is easy to access, but not if it's in a loft or garage. Boiler on/off switch Boiler thermostats and central heating controls not only make it easier to use your boiler, they can also reduce your energy bills dramatically. Plus, time and temperature controls are also now an essential part of a central heating system under the Boiler Plus legislation.There is however a lot of confusion surrounding how to use central heating controls, likely due to the number of different types and models available. From boiler timers to programmable thermostats, we've outlined the most common heating controls and what they can do for you. Benefits of central heating controls The most common boiler-controller language is known as OpenTherm, and this is already used by smart thermostats such as the Google Nest. it should be set away from electric fires, TVs, wall lights or table lamps, as these might stop the thermostat from working properly. For your heating system to be as efficient as possible, you must also have a boiler that's the right size for your home. Boilers can work at a range of temperatures, but large boilers capable of producing significant amounts of heat will have higher minimum outputs, which means they can only ration so much.

There are two types of heat-only boiler. The first is supplied by cold water from a cylinder that sits high up in your home, usually in your loft. Cold water then flows down from there to a gravity-fed hot water cylinder, where it's heated and then sent around your home. If your existing boiler was installed more than 8 years ago then it’s about time you considered a replacement and having a new boiler installed is the most cost-effective time to have new controls fitted. That way, you’ll benefit from a more efficient heating system and have more control over it to increase the efficiency even further. Why will this cost me money? If a radiator doesn't have one, when the heating is on it will heat the room to a hotter temperature than is needed.It’s never too soon to give yourself more control of your central heating and domestic hot water by upgrading your current controls or purchasing new ones.

See the best heat-only boilers as voted for by owners and heating engineers. Controls to use with combi boilers What are combination boilers?

Boiler controls are just one part of an interdependent heating system. They won't make everything perfect, but they'll help you get the most out of your boiler according to what's feasible in your home. Why will this cost me money? If you don't have a thermostat, it means rooms can be too hot, wasting energy and money, or too cold.