Smart products are becoming increasingly popular due to their energy saving capabilities. Since heating is a major energy consumption source in many households, homeowners can greatly benefit from installing a smart electric heater.

Smart heaters are a great way to conserve heat energy and save on your energy bills. These heaters warm up your home more efficiently, and they also help you save on costs in the long run. Since there are several smart heaters on the market, purchasing one can seem complicated. Here is everything you need to know about smart heaters.  

What Is A Smart Heater?

A smart heater is a modern way to control your heating from a smartphone or a home assistant hub. These heaters connect to your Wi-Fi to provide better functionality than a standard heater.  You can also connect smart heaters to other network sources and enjoy similar benefits. 

With modern smart electric heaters, you can control all temperature-related aspects of your home. Through the app control, you can access a wide range of functionally and energy-saving features that will allow you to monitor your energy consumption, create custom heating schedules, and set timers for operation. This high level of control and ease of use makes smart electric heaters ideal for many households. 

A connected heating system is more than just a compact thermostat. These systems can be smaller or much bigger, depending on your budget. Most homeowners starting with home automation heating go for more compact systems such as small wall heaters. 

Alternatively, you can opt for larger smart heating systems with radiator mechanisms and smart software to help you adequately warm up your entire home while saving on energy costs. 

Features Of A Smart Heater

Most smart heaters come with a downloadable app that you can access through a smartphone, tablet, and other such devices. This makes it easy to control and navigate all the settings of your smart heating units. 

Some of the most common features of smart heaters include:

• Basic temperature modulation with a slider function
• Power on and off button for operation
• Optimal temperature setting option
• A display screen with the current temperature of a room
• Option to set scenes for specific rooms
• Intelligent machine learning to create schedules according to your needs
• Ability to manage more than one heating device at a time. 

It is important to note that not all of these functions will be available in every single, smart heater. Make sure to check the specifications and purchase a smart heating device according to your household’s needs. 

How Do Smart Heaters Work? 

Now that you understand smart electric heaters, it is important to look at how these systems work to warm up your home efficiently. 

The smart electric heaters connect to your boiler and your network connection simultaneously. This connection allows you to control your heating. You can access this functionality through a handheld remote control, an app, or your home assistant hub. 

Smart thermostats operate by letting your control multi-room heat settings and hot water control. Some smart thermostats also come with geofencing capabilities and motion sensor technology to identify whether a room is occupied or not. This lets the system know when to start heating up the room and conserving excess heat consumption. 

Many smart electric heaters also include safety features that protect your home’s piping from long-term heat damage. For Wi-Fi electric radiators or smart wall heaters, you must follow proper installation guidelines to ensure that your heating system works efficiently. Once the installation is complete, you can send a signal via your network to tell the heating system how to operate. 

Some smart wall heaters also contain advanced capabilities that track and monitor your weather. These heating systems adjust their temperatures accordingly to the weather conditions for accurate and efficient use of heat energy. 

As mentioned before, you can set up multi-zone settings with smart heaters, which allow you to set specific heating instructions according to a room. Check our Tips on Energy Heat blog! 

Why Do You Need Smart Heaters?

It can be difficult to visualise how much energy is consumed by inefficient heaters, and you might be content with a standard heating system. However, smart electric heaters are guaranteed to provide you with long-term efficiency benefits. 

Such a system will help you in four core areas - comfort, efficiency, convenience, and cost-effectiveness. With smart wall heaters, you get precise control over your heating systems. This allows you to optimise your energy consumption in a way that is not possible with conventional heating systems. 

Once you get better control over your heating, you will see the difference in your energy bills. Even if you start off with a small amount of savings, these will add up in the long run. This quality makes smart heaters a very attractive choice for households. 

Despite the smart learning capabilities, most smart products are easy to use and install. For more complex heating systems, you might require additional installation help from electricians. 

If you are starting out with a smart heating system, you will benefit from installing a smart wall heater and then working your way from there. These smart devices can easily replace conventional thermostats in your household. 

What Are The Benefits Of Smart Heaters?

Apart from ease of control, smart heating systems have several benefits. These systems are an essential part of any modern home. Here are all the important benefits of smart electric heaters. 

Higher Level of Comfort

One of the most important benefits of smart heaters is the higher comfort level. Smart heaters make it easy for you to get the perfect level of warmth in your household. 

Each room has its own heating needs, and a smart wall heater can prove very beneficial in this situation. For example, maybe you prefer your bedroom to be much warmer than your living room or kitchen. 

You can create specific heat settings with your smart electric heaters. You might also require different levels of heating depending on the time of the day. You can use the low-intensity background heating while you are away from home, and you can set this level to rise once you are back home. 

With smart wall heaters, you can change the temperature in an entire room with one press of a button based on the time of the day or any activity. For example, if you are cooking in the kitchen, you can turn the heating down in that area without disturbing the temperature level in other areas of the house. 

You can also set the heating to ramp up slowly in the morning so that when you wake up, you will experience an optimal level of warmth. There are several additional devices and settings that can work well with a regular smart wall heater. You can add motion sensors to the smart system to adjust the room’s temperature when you walk into any room. 

Alternatively, the motion sensor can reduce the temperature when a room is unoccupied. You can also add a window/door sensor that will turn the heating off if someone opens a window or a door for more than a few minutes. 

Another great aspect of smart heaters is that they allow you to set up “Scenes.” Scenes allow you to control a group of other smart devices to create the perfect temperature for your room. Once your group all the devices, you assign specific settings to each device according to your temperature preferences. 

For instance, you can keep the temperature lower for the upstairs section of your home while the downstairs can maintain a higher temperature. You can save these settings as a scene on smart heaters and recall to call them whenever need be. You can recall the scenes through the app, according to schedule, or with a click of a button. 

Better Functionality

As mentioned before, smart heaters allow you to control them either via a remote control or an app. Some smart electric heaters also allow tablet and voice command control options. 

As for smart wall heaters, some models come with a large touchscreen display that lets you access your room’s temperature settings. You can also control the heating through schedules, sensors, and activity in a room. 

With smart heaters, you will never have the need to physically control the heating as the intelligent system will provide you with your preferred heat settings. If you tend to forget to turn the heating off, smart electric heaters will take care of this problem for you. 

Smart heaters not only cover your home’s temperature but also concerns your hot water system. Regular heaters heat up large quantities of water, making it easy to meet your daily hot water needs. However, with this heating system, you lose a lot of heated water. 

A lot of the heater water is not used up, and therefore you end up wasting money on energy costs. With smart water heater controls, you can heat up exactly how much water you require with excess amounts of waste. 

Better Energy Saving

One of the most important benefits of installing a smart wall heater is better energy saving. 

An average household in the UK uses 242 kWh of electricity per month. Heating takes up a lot of these costs, and saving energy-efficient boilers can help you save £260 to £580 per year. With these figures, you can see that heating energy takes up a significant portion of household costs.

Smart heaters help you solve this problem by helping you make energy-efficient choices. By simply adding smart control to your heating, you can minimise power usage. 

Many smart systems can be programmed to reduce heating levels during peak hours for better energy savings. During these peak hours, you can rely on latent heat energy to warm up your house. 

In comparison with other energy efficiency changes, switching to a smart heater is not as costly. Once you install a smart heating system, you will start seeing benefits that will provide energy savings in the long run. 

Looking to reduce your energy savings at home? Check out our blog! 

What Network Work With Smart Heating?

Adding home automation products to your households requires a steady network connection. This connection helps you access all the features and benefits of your smart device. 

With Smart heaters, you need to have a good network connection to access its energy-efficient abilities. Most smart heating units are compatible with Wi-Fi; however, there are other ways of connecting your smart product to a network. 

Here are some of the networks that works well with smart heaters. 

WiFi

WiFi is widely used in many households and works well with almost any smart device, including smart heaters. Many household WiFi networks have a decent bandwidth which means you will not need to upgrade your network to accommodate a smart heating system. 

If you ask your smartphone app to turn down the heating, it will send a signal to your home’s wireless connection to carry out the command. There are several benefits of using a Wi-Fi network. Most household Wi-Fis provide strong coverage. Therefore, you will suffer fewer connectivity issues with your heating controls. 

However, it is important to note that WiFi devices use manufacturer-specific communication protocols when that your network’s compatibility with the smart product depends on the manufacturer. Make sure to look at all the specifications to identify if your smart heater is compatible with Wi-Fi. 

Z-Wave

Z-wave is a wireless communication network that uses low-power radio waves to send signals through walls, furniture, and floors. Due to this configuration, you don’t need any extra wiring for Z-wave. 

This network contains features such as two-way communication and mesh networking to provide a reliable network source for your smart heaters. 

One limitation of Z-wave is that it does not provide enough coverage for large homes. Therefore, if you have a large house, you might suffer connectivity issues with Z-wave.

Zigbee

Zigbee is another open standard network protocol that uses low power. With this network, you also get mesh network capabilities for a wide range of wireless devices. 

Even though this network is not commonly used in households, it is often found in larger corporations and office spaces. Despite having similar qualities, Zigbee is much more simple than Z-wave as it only controls a specific function. 

However, this might also become a limitation in some cases, especially if you want one network to control all functions of a smart heating system.

What Are The Different Types of Smart Heaters?

Not all smart heaters are made the same, as there are several different types of smart electric heaters on the market. 

Each heating device comes with a specific set of benefits; however, all smart heating systems can sense environmental conditions and set your heating accordingly. Here are the different types of smart heaters on the market. 

Smart Thermostats

Standard thermostats are generally used to monitor and identify the room’s ambient temperature. These devices allow you to set the optimal temperature for the room manually. 

Many standard thermostats only have a single control that directly connects to the heat control source. Smart thermostats study your home’s heating requirements and habits and maintain the temperature accordingly. 

These smart devices also monitor the outside temperature to help you regulate the heating indoors. Some smart thermostats also let you set schedules for more efficient heating in the household. 

Smart Thermostatic Radiator Valves

In a water-based heating network, the thermostatic radiator valves control the flow of hot water. This component allows the hot water to flow into a radiator based on the valve’s set temperature. 

When the ambient temperature is lower than the set temperature, the smart TRV is open, and water flows through the system to the radiator. Once the water reaches its optimal temperature, the valve is closed, and the water flow stops. 

With the water flow halted, the radiator starts to cool. Most smart TRVs have complex software that regulates how fast the temperature changes. This feature is helpful as it avoids wasting any heat energy. 

Some smart TRVs also provide temperature readings just like a smart wall heater; however, these readings are not very accurate. 

Smart Electric Radiators

Smart Electric Radiators are an all-in-one heating solution that regulates your home’s temperature and heats up your water. At Meteor Electrical, you can browse through our range of efficient smart electric radiators that will provide you with comfort, convenience, and reliability. 

Smart Electric radiators work with a Wi-Fi network, so you don’t need an extra network connection to operate this device. Some smart radiators also come with a separate handheld remote control that adds functionality to your heating system. 

You can also use these radiators via an app on your smartphone or through voice commands. With these features, you can turn your heating on/off even when you are outside your home. Despite the intelligence capabilities, smart radiators are very easy to use, and you can adjust settings through your smartphone instead of a control panel. 

External Components For Smart Heaters

These ancillary devices are not specific devices. Instead, they add more functions to an existing smart heating system. This component depends on your home’s temperature control needs. 

For example, if you want your smart heater to have motion sensor capabilities, you can add such a component to an existing smart heater. Apart from this mechanism, there are several other helpful components on the market that will take your smart heaters to the next level. 

What Are The Best Smart Heaters On The Markets?

There are a wide variety of smart heaters on the market, and it can be difficult to know which one is truly reliable. 

At Meteor Electrical, you can find a range of highly efficient smart heaters that will provide you with convenience and comfort. The ATC electrical range of smart heaters is energy-efficient solutions that do not compromise on quality. Here are some of the best smart heaters you can find at Meteor. 

1. 500W ATC iLifestyle Smart Radiator

The 500W ATC lifestyle smart radiator is an award-winning smart heater that is great if you want to start out with smart heating systems. This heating unit comes with Wi-Fi control capabilities, so you don’t need any external network to use your radiator. 

The ATC heater is manufactured with aluminum fins to guarantee optimal heat transmission. The 500W radiator comes with three modes - eco, comfort, and frost to suit everyone’s temperature control needs. 

2. 1800W ATC iLifestyle Smart Radiator

If you are looking for smart heaters with a larger heat energy transmission, the 1800W ATC iLifestyle smart radiator is the product for you. Just like other ATC heaters, this product also comes with Wi-Fi controllability so that you can operate your heaters from anywhere. 

This radiator is highly intelligent as it provides precision control of 0.2 degrees Celsius. The 1800W radiator is also fitter with a large display panel that makes it easy read any information. You can also connect your smart home assistant to use voice commands with the 1800W radiator. 

Final Takeaway

There are several great smart heaters on the market, each with its own benefits. 

Whether you want a simple, smart wall heater or a heater that focuses on hot water, you can find several options available to you. Make sure that you purchase a smart heater according to your household’s needs and size to ensure optimal heating throughout. 

Smart heaters are a technological evolution in the realm of heating solutions, emphasizing heaters efficient use through innovative features and automation. These intelligent devices leverage advanced technologies to optimize energy consumption and enhance user control.

Efficiency at the Core: Smart heaters prioritize efficiency as a fundamental aspect of their design. These devices incorporate energy-efficient components, enabling users to achieve comfortable warmth without unnecessary power consumption.

Precision Control for Optimal Efficiency: One key element that makes smart heaters efficient is their precision control. Equipped with thermostatic and programmable settings, users can fine-tune the heating process to match their preferences and schedules. This ensures heaters operate only when needed, preventing unnecessary energy expenditure.

Zoning and Individual Room Efficiency: Smart heaters often support zoning and individual room control, allowing users to focus heating efforts where needed. By customizing heating zones based on occupancy, these devices contribute to an overall reduction in energy usage, making them an efficient solution for personalized comfort.

Energy-Saving Features and Modes: Heaters with smart capabilities come equipped with various energy-saving features. Automatic shut-off timers, adaptive temperature control, and eco-friendly modes are among the functionalities that contribute to heaters efficient performance by adapting to real-time conditions.

Remote Control and Automation: The integration of smart technology enables users to control their heaters remotely. Through mobile apps or smart home systems, individuals can monitor and adjust heating settings from anywhere, ensuring optimal efficiency by responding to changing conditions or occupancy.

Smart Heating for a Sustainable Future: In the context of sustainability, smart heaters align with the broader goal of energy conservation. The ability to monitor and manage heating patterns not only contributes to personal comfort but also supports a more environmentally conscious approach to energy usage.

Size and Design Efficiency: Smart heaters are available in various sizes and designs, allowing users to choose models that are appropriately sized for their spaces. This ensures heaters efficiently deliver warmth without unnecessary energy consumption.

In summary, smart heaters redefine the concept of heaters efficient use by integrating cutting-edge technology, precision control, and sustainability features. These devices empower users to have a personalized and energy-conscious approach to heating, contributing to both comfort and environmental responsibility.

Looking for a way to reduce your lighting bills too? Check out our blogs on Energy Efficient Lighting and Smart Lights! 

Another way to reduce your energy savings is smart switches and sockets! Check out our blog!