Old OFCH system [Firebird Popular 90] with no zoning - like to use Hive or similar

Cuttlefish · 19-11-2025 04:14PM #1

Afternoon all,

So my 1970s house does not have zoned heating and is OFCH running a Firebird Popular 90 boiler

Am thinking of replacing the old analog clock time with something similar to a "Hive" setup and would like to know from others with similar setup what they went for, how it is now and who you would recommend to purchase from and install

Much appreciated

Tree · 23-11-2025 12:06PM

A) Check out the home heating automation thread, start from the back. (I'm a Wiser fan but there are options)

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2057758281/home-heating-automation

B) Consider putting TRVs on your rads at the same time so you can have pseudozones for better control.

Cuttlefish · 23-01-2026 12:53PM

OK so an update to this, managed to get around to installing a Hive Thermostat setup in recent weeks and using the application is dead handy for monitoring etc controlling the heating.

What I noticed at the start is my heating struggles to achieve the target temperature that we set on the Hive Thermostat so for example

Set the Hive to 18 degrees C and monitoring the application it could rarely gets to the target value.

Now with no heating on in the house the temperature sits around 13-14c

Bear in mind my house is a 1970's three bedroom semi built by McInerney, double glazed windows and cavity walls so no external or internal wall insulation. A poorly insulated house you'd say.

So what I have come to realise is the two Thermostats in your OFHC measure 1) water temperature in your boiler itself and 2) the Hive measuring the air temperature in the room and so

Boiler Thermostat set to 60c and Hive set to 18c - in all probability the Boiler thermostat will cut out before the Hive thermostat

Wearb · 23-01-2026 02:06PM

Put your boiler stat to mid way. Your rads were probably sized with a higher flow temperature in mind.

Cuttlefish · 23-01-2026 05:39PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124173060#Comment_124173060

You suggesting 75-85c?

My radiators are a mixed of original radiators from when the previous owner had the house and some that I changed about 15 years ago

Wearb · 23-01-2026 10:01PM

Like I said, give midway a try. Your rads might not have the correct output at the lowest setting

Old OFCH system [Firebird Popular 90] with no zoning - like to use Hive or similar

Comments