Benefits Of Zoned Heating System?

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Hi All

I've a typical 4 bedroom Irish House, with a 3 zone heating system going through a programmable timer. One zone for downstairs, one zone for upstairs and a final zone for water all via motorized valves. No thermostats at the moment.

I'm currently toying with the idea of installing a Nest, I travel a lot on very short notice so theres times where my boiler runs on timer while I wouldn't be in the country, let alone the house.

I'd initially only be getting one to see how it worked, so I'm aware I'd have to either parallel all three zones via a nest heatlink if i want all to be linked to the nest (assuming thats possible), meaning they'd all be active once the nest told them to. Splitting out the water to be on timer kind of the defeats the purpose in my head.

My question is how much of the reason for having a zoned system is because its economical and how much is purely for comfort reasons?
I'm conscious that by having the three valves open instead of one or two it would mean more water to heat, but does it get to the point where the boiler would be running anyway and any savings are minuscule?
Savings that would be probably be overtaken by what I'd save by not having the heating run while i was away anyway...

Educate me

Wearb

Leona Rhythmic Heater wrote: »

Hi All

I've a typical 4 bedroom Irish House, with a 3 zone heating system going through a programmable timer. One zone for downstairs, one zone for upstairs and a final zone for water all via motorized valves. No thermostats at the moment.

I'm currently toying with the idea of installing a Nest, I travel a lot on very short notice so theres times where my boiler runs on timer while I wouldn't be in the country, let alone the house.

I'd initially only be getting one to see how it worked, so I'm aware I'd have to either parallel all three zones via a nest heatlink if i want all to be linked to the nest (assuming thats possible), meaning they'd all be active once the nest told them to. Splitting out the water to be on timer kind of the defeats the purpose in my head.

My question is how much of the reason for having a zoned system is because its economical and how much is purely for comfort reasons?
I'm conscious that by having the three valves open instead of one or two it would mean more water to heat, but does it get to the point where the boiler would be running anyway and any savings are minuscule?
Savings that would be probably be overtaken by what I'd save by not having the heating run while i was away anyway...

Educate me

It is mostly for economic reasons. Your system would benefit from having a thermostat controlling each zone and not just a timer.
I use a Belkin Wemo to turn on and off my heating through wifi. It also works great as a timer. Lots more can be done with it using IFTTT.

deandean

beware of making your system too complicated! in my case the oh just wants a switch on the wall. any more and she is lost. I gave up on remote controlling the CH. i have a good powerful boiler and we just put up with a cold house for 15 minutes if we've been away for a while.

freddyuk

Programmable thermostat for each zone with 6 settings per day. If you go away bang the holiday buttons (set for 1, 2, 5 ,10,14 days whatever at a lower temperature).Cheap, efficient and effective control.
If you come home the temperature will be "warm" with a freeze protection override in case you want to switch off and there is bad weather. If you are early then you need to press a button and the heating will boost quickly before you get your coat off as it is not stone cold.
You can buy a WiFi based unit and press the heat control to "on" when you are 50 miles away (the system will be stone cold as you will have switched it off) and then get stuck in traffic so the heating has been on and you are not there for 2 or 3 hours. Oh dear so now you have wasted that advantage. It does not make economic sense. Or you can then turn it off again and only turn it on when you are within 15 minutes of home - if you remember but then that can be achieved with simple zone control automatically??.
A Nest controls one zone so really is a backward step unless I have misunderstood?

ted1

A climote will do 3 zones, not as fancy as a nest but better suited for your purpose