Hive Smart Thermostat: An Epic Review

For a closer look at Hive’s smart thermostat technology, readers of this review will gain insight into its features, benefits and eye-catching design. With Hive Active Heating, you can expect not only an aesthetically pleasant device but also one with a simple user interface.

Let’s walk through the Hive Smart Thermostat, figure out how it works, see if it meshes with other smart home tech and investigate how easy it is to install and use. On top of that, we’ll have an impartial look at its rival products, so make sure our review is thorough.

Are you considering investing in a new smart thermostat?

By the end of this review, you should understand why the Hive Smart Thermostat is one of the best smart thermostats for your central heating system. Let’s take a look and find out if this model is suitable for what you need.

Technical Specifications

• Subscription: Optional Hive Heating Plus at 3.99£ per month or 39.99£ per year
• Warranty: 1-year warranty, continuous with Hive Heating Plus
• Installation: DIY is possible, but professional installation is advised
• Power: AAA batteries x4
• Weight: 132 g
• Dimensions: 10.4 x 10 x 4.8 centimetres
• Self-learning: No
• Smart Voice Assistant: Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit
• Hive Smart Radiator Valves: Yes, 54£ each

Installation and Compatibility

Installing a Hive Active Heating Smart Thermostat is an uncomplicated process. It connects with the Heating system through the HIVE Hub, which means there is no need for wires connecting it to the control unit of your heating system. In short, it’s hassle-free and can be set up wirelessly!

Installing your Hive thermostat is easy. Just follow the instructions given by Hive! Mounting your thermostat on the wall with the plate in its package and finding a spot for the Hive Hub (preferably where it isn’t too hot or cold) will set you all up.

Compatibility

The Hive Active Heating Smart Thermostat is designed to work with various LPG central heating systems as well as other ones such as gas, oil, and electric boilers to underfloor heaters. This makes it a convenient choice for homeowners who want a modern thermostat installed or upgraded without worrying about whether the unit can support their home heating system.

Before starting with Hive set-up, you should have an operational gas-heated central heating system and a broadband connection accessible with an added Ethernet port.

To control the thermostat using the Hive thermostat app or an updated web browser, you must possess either an Android phone or an Apple handset.

Smart Features and Smart Home Integrations

The Hive Active Heating Thermostat can work with various home automation systems, making it an excellent pick for anyone looking to add to their smart home setup.

Supported Platforms

This product works smoothly with other Hive devices for a comprehensive smart home setup. It is also compatible with other popular smart home systems, even though these may not be officially supported by the manufacturer but have community-implemented support. These include:

• Amazon Alexa: With Amazon Alexa, you can now control the Hive thermostat with your voice. An Echo or any other device compatible with Alexa allows you to change the target temperature and set a schedule through verbal commands. No longer will you have to guess what switch controls what – everything is quickly adjusted simply using your words.
• Google Assistant: With a voice command that’s straightforward to use, you can now control your Hive thermostat from Google Home or other devices equipped with the Google Assistant feature.
• IFTTT: Discover the full potential of IFTTT with their customizable applets. For instance, your Hive thermostat can turn on automatically when you arrive home. Make the most of this helpful technology and get things done quicker!
• Apple HomeKit: Take control of your climate with the Hive thermostat. Now, you don’t need to pick up a remote: all it takes is one command from Siri or Apple Home! With this smart solution, you can instantly alter your house’s target temperature quickly and effortlessly.
• Samsung SmartThings: Using the SmartThings app, you have control over your Hive thermostat. You can also connect and use it with other tech devices compatible with SmartThings.

Voice Control

The Hive thermostat now offers seamless integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, making it easy to control temperatures. With voice commands, you can increase or reduce heat and activate desired heating schedules without manual adjustment.

Samsung SmartThings

Are you looking to connect a Hive thermostat with SmartThings? It’s pretty simple! All you need is an existing Hive account and SmartThings Hub. After that, follow the guide in the SmartThings app to synchronize your Hive profile with their platform – it’s as easy as that!

Link the Hive thermostat to your SmartThings system, and get ready to take control of your home! Use the SmartThings app to regulate temperatures, make custom routines/schedules, and monitor energy usage. Make a comprehensive solution for permanent comfort in your dwelling by combining other compatible smart devices with the Hive thermostat – such as lights or plugs.

Smart Energy Saving Features

Hive’s smart thermostat offers energy-saving possibilities, such as Heating Boost, Schedule, and Holiday Mode.

Hive’s smart thermostat provides some great ways to save on energy, from the convenience of Heating Boost, organising your target temperature with the help of Scheduling and ensuring efficient operation when you’re away with its Holiday Mode setting.

Do you ever feel chilly but don’t want to heat your entire house? With Heating Boost, you can tackle this issue. e specially tailored program allows for a set period (such as 30 minutes) in which the heating is activated and turned off automatically – meaning you get just the right amount of warmth. So no more shivering, not needing to switch off appliances or wasting energy unnecessarily manually – Heating Boost has got your back.

The heating schedule is handy for making your target temperature control system work around your routine. With this, you can set it to activate when you wake up and switch off as soon as you leave for work. You’ll be able to pre-program the thermostat so that when you come home, no matter what time it is, the house will already have a comfortable level of warmth waiting for you!

If you’re out of town for an extended period, like vacationing, activating Holiday Mode on your heating system can help conserve energy and reduce costs while you’re gone. When back home again, switch it off so that it returns to its normal settings.

Historical Data and Insights

Gain a complete view of your heating system’s performance over time with Historical Data and Insights. This beneficial tool helps you track how much energy you use, and pinpoints places to save money by refining your heating setup.

Gather data on your heating systems like temperature in the home, amount of energy used and costs to heat the space over some time (say, week or month). This can be seen either live or retroactive.

Gaining insights into your energy consumption can help reduce costs. You might use more electricity at certain times of the day or week, or your heating system is inefficient. Once you have this information, you can make changes to improve efficiency and save money on utility bills.

Scheduling

You can create an automatic heating plan to keep your house at a comfortable temperature without constantly adjusting the thermostat. This feature allows you to set specific times when the heater will turn on and off, keeping your home as warm as needed at any time of day or week.

Hive Active Heating Scheduling makes creating a heating plan that suits your routine easy. Say you have to be in the office at 8 a.m.; with Hive, you can schedule your heating to turn on before you’re awake and switch it off as soon as you leave home. It’ll also adjust the temperature so there’s always perfect comfort waiting for you when you come home, whatever time of day.

If you want to maximize control and flexibility over your home’s heating system, the Hive Smart Radiator Valves, available as optional extras, can be a great choice. This will allow you to customise temperature according to varying zones within the house, so every area is heated precisely how it should be.

Geolocation

The Hive Smart Thermostat offers a handy geolocation feature to manage the temperature in your home, depending on where you are. Thanks to this function, it uses your smartphone’s location to determine when you leave or return and adjusts the heating accordingly.

Hive smart thermostat’s geolocation feature ensures your home always has that perfect temperature. Turning off your heating system when you’re away and starting it back up when you’re back will save energy and reduce heating costs.

Automatic Frost Protection

The Hive Smart Thermostat has a safeguard in place against freezing pipes and the like: frost prevention. When this is turned on, your house’s heating will kick in if it senses that the temperature is too low – even when you don’t have a heating schedule active. It’s there, so you don’t have any nasty surprises.

Leaving your house to go on vacation and worrying about what will happen when temperatures drop?

Don’t fret too much; the automated frost protection can do your hard work. No more re-adjusting the heating manually; this feature automatically keeps your home warm and safely prevents frozen pipes while you’re away. So take a break from regulating levels – let it do its thing!

Mobile Application

The Hive Smart Thermostat mobile app is designed to be straightforward and convenient, enabling clients to manage their heating system through their smartphone or tablet. Available for both iOS and Android users, this free program can be accessed on either platform’s respective store.

The user interface of the Hive app is designed to be easy to use, with intuitive symbols and labels, helping you find what you’re looking for quickly. You can control the temperature in your room, set up schedules, and check energy usage at a glance. Additionally, alerts and messages will keep customers informed about any changes or troubles their heating systems may experience.

Pricing, Subscription and Warranty

The Hive Smart Thermostats can be purchased from various places, including the Currys website and Amazon UK. It costs £179 at the time of writing.

If you’re looking to purchase the Hive Smart Thermostat, it will set you back £179 – that’s how much it goes for as of now. Shopping options include Currys’ website and Amazon UK.

Hive Heating Plus is a subscription service that can help you save on your heating bills. By monitoring your central heating efficiency levels and providing energy-saving options, your home will always be at the perfect temperature – without running up large bills. With Hive Heating, you’ll pay less for the same comfort.

A warranty provides cover for the thermostat you purchased. The general guarantee lasts one year from when you bought it and ensures that any malfunctions can be repaired or substituted free of charge. Hive further offer additional protection in the form of an extended warranty for a fee, which offers coverage for up to 3 years from the date of purchase.

User Experience and Review

The Hive Smart Thermostat offers a great user experience, with many customers raving about its ease of use and energy savings. People seem to appreciate how uncomplicated it is to operate. It appears to be successful in helping households conserve energy every day.

Based on the user feedback of more than two thousand reviews, the Hive smart heating thermostat has an impressive 4.3 out of 5 stars overall rating on Amazon.co.uk. Customers have praised its simple use and energy-saving capabilities, with some noting that it has saved them money on their heating bills. Additionally, compatibility with voice control systems like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa also got appreciation from customers.

Some customers have expressed unhappiness regarding the installation approach and reported issues when setting up their thermostats.

Many users have commended the Hive Smart Heating Thermostat for being dependable and affordable, recommending it as a worthy upgrade to one’s heating system. Although some issues with the installation were raised, customers still recognize the device’s user-friendliness and energy-saving capabilities are worth disregarding any minor drawbacks.

The Hive Ecosystem

Create your hive system with Hive-compatible devices! From thermostats to cameras, you can get creative in assembling a system that provides ultimate convenience and control. The choices are almost endless, so it’s time to make the most of them and have a connected home space you love:

The capability to regulate individual radiator systems is one of the crucial facets of a smart heating system. You can get this feature very shortly through Hive Smart Radiator Valves. Mini-Hive makes it easy to make a multi-room temperature control setup. These elaborate valves allow us to set the cosiness level in each room precisely as we desire and save energy by not warming unoccupied rooms.

Smart plugs are designed to make managing your home appliances more accessible than ever before. Plug the device into any standard electrical outlet and attach the appliance you want to control – then, use your smartphone or another compatible smart device to adjust settings remotely.

Smart lights allow you to control your home’s lighting using your smartphone or another smart device. With the Hive app or voice commands through a smart speaker, you can easily change the lighting colour and brightness to suit your mood or activity.

Hive door and window sensors are small, discreet devices that can be installed on doors, windows or other entryways to your home. They detect when a door is opened or closed and send notifications directly to your phone or another compatible device. With these innovative tools, you’ll have peace of mind knowing exactly when someone enters the house.

Motion sensors for your house are essential to making it truly ‘smart’. Their ability to detect movement and respond with connected devices is invaluable for convenience, security, and energy savings. A hive of motion sensors can revolutionize the way you live on a day-to-day basis.

Competitors Overview

The smart thermostats industry has become increasingly crowded as more companies vie for a bigger slice of the pie.

Recently, competition in the smart thermostats market has intensified as businesses strive to capture a more significant portion.

People know Tado, Nest, and Drayton Wiser Smart Thermostat as worthy competitors to Hive. For instance, many people prefer Tado because of its wide selection of features and compatibility with various heating systems. Meanwhile, others enjoy the sleek design and intuitive controls from Nest. Then there’s the budget-friendly Drayton — offering a more cost-effective solution without compromising functionality.

For more thorough assessments, please see the table below:

Conclusion

To sum it up, homeowners who want to improve their home heating system should seriously consider the Hive Smart Heating Thermostat. Although it may be missing some advanced features that other thermostats offer, its relative affordability and simple operation make this an attractive choice.

The Hive Smart Thermostat is an excellent choice for the homeowner watching out for the environment as it has several features that can help reduce energy use and heating costs. Altogether, this smart system provides a great way to enhance your home heating without exceeding your budget.

For those looking for a thermostat, Hive could be worth exploring. Although it might not have the most practical design when put up against products like Nest and Drayton Wiser, its cost-effectiveness and simple functionality and user controls make this thermostat an attractive option.