cheap zoning and wemo linked heating

Clarabel

I'm looking for advise about plans for set up of plumbing in house. I've tried to break it into sections so that you can indicate which parts are crazy and which sound okay.

House 1910 - 3 floors, copper pipes (no idea on age), rads about 15-20 yrs, baxi back boiler. The third floor is a large attic conversion and has no plumbing pipes except for a overflow tank

1. Do not replace pipes - this has been confirmed by a number of plumbers (builder want to replace)
2. remove back boiler and put in combi boiler on 2nd floor in current hot press
3. remove hot cylinder as no need for it
4. Keep water tank to enable pump for shower (variable water pressure area Dublin 3)
5. Retain rads - do system clean
6. leave 3rd floor with no rads and remove overflow tank


The above is normal enough and give some break ground about the next two sections which I'm unclear about. As I'm not replacing pipes putting in a 2nd zone for upstairs is not an option so:

7. 2 large bed rooms are on level 2 (1st flr), I intend putting on a timed TRV in these rooms. So I can put the heating "on", but it won't turn on upstairs unless the TRV timer is "on". Example I can have the heating on from 5pm but the bedroom won't come on til say 9pm to heat the room before bed time.

Questions: - is this worth is doing this from a thermodynamic POV given there is little insulation between floors

8. Using a wemo switch as the programmer e.g boards thread 2057305030, post 13

I installed the Belkin WEMO switch on my heating last year and it works perfectly. I wired it in parallel with the existing timer clock and a separate booster switch I had previously installed. I don't use the old timer clock any more as I programmed the Belkin WEMO to come on and off at required times using the smartphone app. The old timer switch and WEMO are hidden in a cupboard in the kitchen - about 30 feet from my router and works perfectly.

I also use my smartphone to turn the heating/WEMO on remotely before I get home which is very handy. I have the WEMO linked up with the IFTTT.com website to keep track of usage and send me an email whenever the WEMO is switched on or off too.

€300 seems a lot to pay for a nest/hive when all I want to do is turn the heating off when I go to the pub of an evening.

Thoughts and input especially on points 7 and 8 would be appreciated.

Wearb

On your last two points, prv's are well worthwhile and will give you some savings even with poor insulation between floors.

Go for the wemo insight. It has more features. Saw it in DID for €45 I think. Not sure about that as I visited a lot if such stores recently.