Most of what I write about is Apple Home, and that isn’t changing. But I’ve been using Home Assistant for the last 7 or 8 months, and when something is this useful and this easy to set up, I want to share it. This is the exact setup I used last winter and I’ll be running it again as the weather turns.

You’ll only need a small amount of YAML, and I’ve put all of it in the written guide on my GitHub so you can copy and paste as you go.

What this Home Assistant heating setup does

By the end of this guide you’ll have:

• An individual heating schedule for every room, with each TRV and the main thermostat following its own timetable
• Geofencing, so the house isn’t being heated when nobody is home
• Automatic summer and winter switching based on the outdoor temperature, so you never have to remember to turn the heating off in May
• More accurate room temperatures, because your TRVs read from a proper sensor instead of the one sitting next to a hot radiator
• An optional boiler control automation if you use a relay like the Aqara T2 Relay, or your TRVs can’t call for heat on their own

And it costs nothing extra, assuming you already have the hardware.

The smart heating kit I’m using

You don’t need exactly the same devices as me. Here’s what I’ve got so you can see how it fits together.

Boiler

My boiler is a Viessmann with built in WiFi, which means it connects straight to Home Assistant. If yours doesn’t have WiFi, an Aqara T2 Relay can do the same job. I made a separate video on that, Can Aqara run your smart heating?, if you want to see it in action.

Thermostat and radiator valves

My main thermostat is part of the Habi Smart Heating System. It has a receiver box wired to the boiler and a wireless thermostat that sits in the living room. Upstairs I have three Habi Smart TRV valves on the radiators.

These are all set up in the Habi app first, which is what lets the TRVs call for heat from the boiler. They’re then exposed to Home Assistant over Matter. If your TRVs can’t call for heat, don’t worry, I cover a workaround at the end.

Temperature sensors

For room temperatures I use an Aqara temperature sensor, plus the built in sensors in my HomePod mini speakers, which sync across to Home Assistant. If you want to do the same, I’ve got a video on getting HomePod temperature readings into Home Assistant. Outside, I’ve got a SwitchBot Outdoor Meter.

Step 1: Create a heating schedule for each room

Home Assistant has a Schedule helper that’s perfect for this. To create one:

1. Go to Settings
2. Open Devices & Services
3. Click the Helpers tab
4. Click Create Helper and choose Schedule
5. Draw your heating times onto the weekly grid
6. Click each time slot and add additional data in the format temp: 20, using whatever temperature you want for that slot

Do this for every day and every time slot, then create another schedule for each room you want to control. I’ve got five: bathroom, bedroom, spare room, office and downstairs.

It’s a bit fiddly the first time. Once it’s done, though, you rarely touch it again.

Step 2: Use Better Thermostat for accurate TRV readings

Here’s the thing about TRVs. Their temperature sensor sits right next to the radiator, so they almost always think the room is warmer than it really is. The fix is to make them use an external temperature sensor instead.

I’d only bother doing this for your TRVs. A wall thermostat is usually placed somewhere sensible and reads fine on its own.

The integration that does all the clever offsetting for you is called Better Thermostat. It’s installed through HACS (the Home Assistant Community Store), so you’ll need that set up first.

Once Better Thermostat is installed:

1. Go back to Devices & Services
2. Click Add Integration and search for Better Thermostat
3. Give it a name, for example “Bedroom Thermostat”
4. Select the real thermostat, which is your TRV
5. Select the temperature sensor you want it to use, which is your external room sensor
6. If you have an outdoor sensor, select it here too. You can also add a weather entity
7. Set the outdoor temperature at which the thermostat should switch off
8. Set a tolerance. This stops the valve constantly flicking on and off around the target temperature
9. Save, then repeat for each TRV

You now have your room schedules and a set of better, more accurate thermostats. Time to tie it all together.

Two things to set up before the automations

1. A “should we be heating?” check

In my automations I check what mode my boiler is in. That tells Home Assistant whether heating season is on or off. If your boiler isn’t connected, create a Toggle (input boolean) helper instead, under Devices & Services, Helpers, Create Helper. Call it something like “Heating Season”. This is the thing we’ll automate later, so you never have to switch the heating off in summer and back on in winter yourself.

2. A “is anyone home?” check

The automations also check whether someone is in. If everyone in your house has the Home Assistant app, you can use their presence directly. In my house not everyone does, so I use a virtual switch that turns off when the last person leaves and on when the first person gets back. That way family members can stick with Apple Home and it all still works.

Step 3: Create an automation for each room schedule

Head to Settings, then Automations & Scenes, and click Create Automation. You’ll make one of these for each schedule. I name mine “Set [room] temperature”, so “Set bedroom temperature” and so on.

When

Use a State trigger and pick your room’s schedule. This means the automation runs whenever a new time slot starts.

And if

Add two conditions:

• We should be heating. For me that’s checking the boiler mode. For you it might be checking that your Heating Season helper is on
• Someone is home

Then do

Add a Climate: Set temperature action, target the room’s thermostat (the Better Thermostat version for TRVs), and toggle on Target temperature. Switch the field to YAML or template mode and use this, swapping in your own schedule name:

{{ state_attr('schedule.bedroom_climate_schedule', 'temp') | float(0) }}

That pulls the temperature from the current schedule slot and makes sure it’s formatted as a number. Also set the HVAC mode to Heat.

Because my TRVs can call for heat, that’s all I need. Changing the target temperature is enough to fire up the boiler. If yours can’t, keep reading, it’s covered further down.

Repeat this for each of your room schedules.

Step 4: Geofencing automations

Everyone has left

Create a new automation. The trigger is the last person leaving home (or, in my case, my virtual switch turning off). For the action, set each thermostat’s target temperature to your frost protection temperature. I use somewhere around 10 to 12°C, but pick what suits your home.

Because the room schedule automations already check that someone is home, they won’t override this while the house is empty. Nothing to worry about there.

Someone arrives home

Create another automation that triggers when the first person gets home (or when my virtual switch turns on). Under the actions, add a Climate: Set temperature action for each thermostat. For each one, set the HVAC mode to Heat and use the same template as before, pointing at that room’s schedule.

Now, when you walk through the door, every room jumps straight to whatever temperature it should be at for that time of day.

If you want to be extra careful, add a condition under And if to check that you should be heating at all. Otherwise you could come home on a warm June afternoon and have the radiators kick in.

Step 5: Automatic summer and winter switching

This is my favourite bit. No more remembering to turn the heating off when it gets warm, or scrambling to turn it back on during the first cold snap.

Cold outside: heating on

Create an automation called “Cold Outside”. Use a Numeric state trigger on your outdoor sensor, set to below 10°C for 12 hours. If it’s been under 10 degrees for half a day, it’s probably time for the heating.

For the action I change my boiler mode to auto. If you went down the helper route, turn on your Heating Season helper instead. (I also change one other thermostat here, but that’s my electric underfloor heating in the bathroom, so you can ignore it.)

Warm outside: heating off

Create the summer version and call it “Warm Outside – Boiler Off”. The trigger is your outdoor sensor being above 18°C for 8 hours. The action switches the boiler mode to off, or turns your Heating Season helper off.

Feel free to tweak those numbers. They’re what work for my house in the UK, but a draughty old terrace might want the heating on a bit sooner.

And that’s the full setup. Room by room schedules, geofencing, accurate TRV readings and automatic seasonal switching, all running in Home Assistant for free.

Optional: Boiler control for relays and TRVs that can’t call for heat

If your boiler is switched by an Aqara T2 Relay or similar, or your TRVs can’t tell the boiler to fire up on their own, you need one more automation. I call mine “Boiler Control”.

This is also the approach to use if you’d rather go all in on Aqara. Pair the T2 Relay with Aqara Radiator Valves and this automation turns the boiler on whenever any of the valves want heat.

When

Trigger it when the current action (the hvac_action attribute) changes on any of your thermostats. Remember, our other automations are changing the thermostats’ modes and targets, so this will catch every change.

And if

Leave this empty.

Then do

Add a Choose action with one option and a default.

Option 1 uses a Template condition. Paste in the code below and replace the entity names with your own thermostats:

{{ expand('climate.bedroom_thermostat',
          'climate.office_thermostat',
          'climate.spare_room_thermostat',
          'climate.downstairs_thermostat')
   | selectattr('attributes.hvac_action', 'eq', 'heating')
   | list | count > 0 }}

In plain English, it checks whether anything in the house is currently calling for heat. If it is, the action for Option 1 turns your relay switch on.

For the Default action (nothing is calling for heat), turn your relay switch off.

Save it, and you’re done.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a WiFi boiler for this Home Assistant heating setup?

No. If your boiler isn’t connected, use an Aqara T2 Relay to switch it and a toggle helper in place of the boiler mode checks. The boiler control automation above handles the rest.

Why use external temperature sensors with TRVs?

TRVs measure the temperature right next to the radiator, which is the warmest spot in the room. An external sensor on the other side of the room gives a much more realistic reading, and Better Thermostat adjusts the TRV to match.

Does everyone in the house need Home Assistant for geofencing?

Not necessarily. I use a virtual switch that follows presence in Apple Home, so family members don’t need Home Assistant installed at all.

Can I use a different outdoor sensor?

Yes. Any outdoor temperature sensor that shows up in Home Assistant will do. You could even use a weather integration, although a physical sensor like the SwitchBot Outdoor Meter tends to be more accurate for your actual garden.

Links and downloads

All the YAML from this guide is in the smart heating setup guide on GitHub. Here’s everything else I mentioned in one place.

Products

• Habi Smart Heating System
• Habi Smart TRV
• Aqara T2 Relay
• Aqara Radiator Valves

Related videos

• HomePod temperature to Home Assistant
• Can Aqara run your smart heating?

Some of the product links above are affiliate links. If you buy through them I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Got a question, or found a tweak that works better for your house? Leave a comment below, I read them all. And if this saved you a few quid on your heating bill, you can always buy me a beer.

The post Home Assistant Heating Setup: Room Schedules, Geofencing and Smart TRVs appeared first on Mark's Tech Blogs.

In this clip, I discuss my positive experience with Habi’s geofencing feature. I configured a full heating schedule in Home Assistant and let it run complete with geofencing without any issues. This is a matter over thread compatible system that creates its own thread network. The base pack comes with physical buttons for easy control. Full video on my YouTube Channel @MarksTechVlogs

#smarthome #tech #habi #homeautomation #geofencing #smartdevice #review #tutorial #gadgets #automation #iot #smarthometech #techreview #markstechwlogs #hometech #wifi #app #setup #unboxing #firstlook #techyoutube #matteroverthread #threadnetwork

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The post New Video – Habi Smart Thermostat Geofencing Success Stories appeared first on Mark's Tech Blogs.

After returning the Habi Smart Home heating system last winter because of major connectivity problems… I’ve now been using it reliably for 3 months after firmware updates and support from the Habi team. So, has my opinion changed?

Original Review: https://youtu.be/TGY0Jva51aI

Purchase Links (Now on Amazon):
Wireless Receiver and Thermostat: https://geni.us/UGyB1D
Smart TRV: https://geni.us/UGyB1D

In this updated long-term review, I cover:
– What went wrong in my original review
– The fixes Habi made behind the scenes
– My experience using it day-to-day 7 months later
– Matter over Thread performance
– Smart TRV accuracy issues
– Apple Home geofencing setup
– Home Assistant + Better Thermostat integration
– Whether Habi is actually worth buying in 2026

If you’re considering a budget-friendly Matter smart heating setup for Apple Home, Home Assistant, Alexa, Google Home or SmartThings, this video should help.

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The post New Video – Habi Heating Connectivity Issues: Are They Finally Solved? appeared first on Mark's Tech Blogs.

In December, my review of the Habi Smart Home Heating solution identified significant connectivity issues that necessitated a return within the 30-day window after experiencing unreliable heating performance during November. After returning it due to these problems and subsequently switching to alternative Aqara devices for reliable operation over several weeks, I have been using an updated configuration with the original Habi system solid now since March to provide this comprehensive update on its current status.

The Initial Experience and Connectivity Struggles

I picked up the Habi Smart Home solution myself back towards the end of October and immediately proceeded into setting it up. I wired in the boiler control, paired the wireless thermostat, added three radiator valves, and set up a series of complicated Apple Home Automations with Siri Shortcuts for geofencing as part of my heating schedule.

I then switched to using Aqara devices because that setup worked pretty reliably and well at that time. However, within a couple of weeks after the initial Habi deployment, devices started losing connection to the boiler, which was frustrating in November when you want reliable heating for cold nights. I contacted Habi customer support directly, and we tried various troubleshooting steps together, but ultimately returned it because I needed heating that worked consistently without manual intervention.

Habi’s Response and Follow-up Testing

In the meantime, while waiting on other options or during my testing phase, Habi got one of their engineers to email me personally. He actually works for their parent company Salus, who are really well established in the heating space.

I explained that I had returned the equipment and offered to come and set up everything as it was configured before so they could monitor and debug remotely.

As a developer myself, I know how frustrating it is when you can’t replicate an issue consistently. I also knew from other reviews online at that point that others had reported signal issues too.

I agreed to let them come over under the condition that they didn’t wire everything back into my boiler initially because I needed my heating system operational immediately for daily use. Rob came along, hooked up a plug to the wireless receiver and attached some valves to the radiator thermostats so we could put everything back in exactly the same places as before.

The team told me they had updated the firmware between visits or during that period of testing. Over the next few weeks following this intervention, I continued to monitor it all carefully via both the Habi app and Apple Home applications directly on my phone screen. The updates held up well enough through winter conditions, so nothing disconnected again.

By the start of March, after validating reliability with firmware stability verified by their support team, I wired everything back up permanently to my boiler. Then we set up some schedules using Home Assistant for geofencing integration, letting it run heating without issues since that date and onwards through warmer weather periods following initial validation.

About Habi Hardware Specifications

This is a Matter over Thread compatible smart heating solution currently available on the market. The base pack containing the boiler control has physical controls for operation in addition to the network features, creating the thread backbone itself so it does not require Wi-Fi dependency.

The device can work with condensing boilers and those which utilize separate hot water controls as standard units usually found in UK homes or European installations. Those physical buttons provide you easy ways to turn heating on or off if smart control functions fail completely due to network outages, ensuring safety during power issues. The base pack also comes with the wireless thermostat included within it.

I do like that design aspect especially considering the white finish and large twist knob for adjustments directly on device rather than tapping a touchscreen screen all day long which can get frustrating in cold rooms when wearing gloves or handling dirty hands after cooking dinner.

This pack will cost you around £70, making it pretty affordable compared to many other brands that charge extra monthly fees later on without warning users first before billing them. That physical hardware approach also ensures no hidden subscriptions ever kick back your bill unexpectedly even if app service ends temporarily for any reason outside my control.

Compatibility and Features

Matter compatibility means it works with SmartThings, Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, and the open standard ecosystem of Home Assistant seamlessly together without needing proprietary bridge hardware usually sold separately elsewhere in stores online globally today. The radiator valves are also Matter over Thread compatible.

I have paired them well first to Habi Hub then secondary matter controllers like Apple Home so they can call for heat accurately from those thermostats instead of just relying on room thermocouples which might lag behind reality.

This allows those TRVs (Thermostatic Radiator Valves) to request specific heating loads based on schedule needs, not ambient temperature drift alone. The Habi app as a whole is something I dive into more during my original review documentation before returning item for fixes but if you don’t mind about having geofencing constraints initially then schedules and boost functions are set up easily within the application settings menu without advanced coding knowledge required to operate basic features effectively enough.

If deep diving specifically into specs or looking at compatibility charts with legacy devices, I have put my original review notes elsewhere in detail regarding specific protocol handshakes used by older valves that do not support standard Matter standards yet but still connect via bridge functionality within supported firmware releases prior to the latest 2024 iteration updates provided directly from manufacturer website downloads.

Temperature Accuracy Issues

Whilst those TRVs definitely let you adjust temperature offset settings in advanced configurations, I find that their raw reported temperature is not very accurate when radiator heat cycles are running on continuously without breaks during colder spells like early mornings or late nights which affects perceived comfort significantly.

This issue is pretty common for TRV technology across brands but these units seem worse than others tested by independent reviewers previously. This accuracy variance suggests I probably wouldn’t recommend just using them alone with the Habi app if accurate floor temperatures are your primary goal metric rather than general heating control availability which works fine most days.

My setup is bit more complicated though, so if you’re willing to have a similar set up like mine then it does work well and accurately over extended periods of time. Basically, I’m using Home Assistant integration specifically called Better Thermostat that allows me selecting different temperature source from the TRV readout itself.

This bypasses poor sensors by integrating room-level data elsewhere while doing all complicated temperature offsetting required to ensure valve still acts correctly even if internal readings drift slightly over time. Should you want a simpler out-of-box solution without advanced configuration requirements or integration knowledge, I’d go with the Tado X range instead of starting fresh on this platform.

Should You Buy Habi?

As it stands currently in market conditions and testing results gathered so far during late 2023 into early 2024 period following firmware updates, is one most affordable Matter over Thread heating solutions out there available now without requiring subscriptions that drain monthly budget unnecessarily.

Not everyone should buy this though if they have specific needs different from my setup which relies heavily on Home Assistant ecosystem integration rather than just simple app buttons. If you just need the wireless thermostat and main boiler control for home basic usage, then it’s great – a bit of fiddling in Apple Home can achieve geofencing so your heating turns off when away.

If you don’t care about that specific feature where system knows if I’m at house or not outside local IP address changes from ISP router configuration logic, the Habi app is great for basic scheduling without third party integrations. However, smart TRVs might be limited unless utilizing advanced setup methods because on-board temperature sensors are too sensitive to minor drafts affecting readings during high ambient pressure drops typical in UK winter conditions.

Pairing can also take some time and does timeout occasionally with the initial connection sequence if network load is heavy from other devices like video calls happening simultaneously. Out of three units I’ve got, two were fine initially upon installation without needing reset multiple times by user intervention manually restarting hardware unit itself to fix communication loss.

If you want a simpler solution ready immediately after unboxing then Tado X range might be better choice as it’s also robust with Matter support but requires specific integration considerations for existing infrastructure upgrades currently planned or executed within renovation timelines typically undertaken during summer months before heating season starts again next year usually around late September depending on region specifics regarding weather forecasts.

I will continue to monitor my setup over the long term and provide updates as necessary when firmware receives new revisions that may address pairing timeouts further down line after launch date. I’ll link products available at current store prices in standard online listings below for comparison before purchase decision made by any consumer considering options currently listed on retailer websites within their preferred region.

Conclusion

Overall, Habi is an affordable Matter over Thread heating solution that works well for basic setups if you prioritize low cost and app simplicity without deep Home Assistant integration requirements. However, if your goal involves a more advanced setup or accuracy from TRV readouts during operation cycles where sensor drift becomes problematic regardless of offset correction applied in configuration screen, then it might not be best choice over higher tiered competitors offering tighter thermal isolation.

I plan to continue testing my system and provide updates on firmware stability if any future issues arise after winter cycle ends. Let me know your thoughts regarding this product line based on your own experience with smart heating systems currently deployed in similar residential properties across UK housing associations or private rentals alike so we can help each other choose right tools for home.

The post Habi Smart Home – Updated Review appeared first on Mark's Tech Blogs.

I have been tracking my issues in December after Habi sent an engineer out to set up the system and monitor from afar, but does it now work?

Contact & Resources

You can Shop Tech I Recommend via https://linktr.ee/markstechvlogs. 🔔 Subscribe for more smart home & tech reviews! 👍 Like & Share if you found this helpful at https://www.youtube.com/marktechsblogs Connect with me: Found this helpful? Buy me a Coffee, Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marktiddy Email: hello@marktiddy.co.uk

The post New Video – Habi sent an engineer out – Does it work now? appeared first on Mark's Tech Blogs.

In just 60 seconds, learn how to set up smart heating schedules for your Aqara Temperature Control Valves (TRVs) using the Aqara app. This guide covers creating daily schedules, utilizing modes like Home & Away, and tips for smooth automation with your heating system.

What You’ll Need

To get started, make sure you have the following Aqara devices:

• Aqara TRVs (e.g., W600): https://geni.us/3Kndq
• Aqara M3 Hub or Budget Hub: https://geni.us/dY4D7 or https://geni.us/Mi36
• Aqara Temperature & Humidity Sensor (optional): https://geni.us/jCAJE
• Aqara T2 Relay Module (for connected boilers): https://geni.us/VYZV3Eq

Creating Daily Schedules

Follow these steps to create daily schedules for your TRVs:

1. Open the Aqara app and tap on ‘Devices’ at the bottom.
2. Tap on the TRV you want to schedule.
3. Tap on ‘Schedule’ in the top right corner, then ‘Create Schedule.’
4. Choose your desired schedule type (e.g., Daily or Weekday).
5. Set your preferred temperatures for different times of day.
6. Tap ‘Save’ to apply your new schedule.

Using Home & Away Modes

Effortlessly manage your heating system using Home and Away modes:

1. Open the Aqara app and go to the ‘Modes’ tab at the bottom.
2. Tap on ‘Create Mode.’
3. Name your mode (e.g., Home or Away) and set your desired temperatures.
4. Tap ‘Save’, then assign your new mode to specific triggers like ‘Everyone leaves home’ or ‘Someone arrives home’.

Tips for Smooth Automation

For optimal performance:

1. Place the Temperature & Humidity Sensor in a central location.
2. Ensure your TRVs and other Aqara devices are properly connected to the hub.
3. Regularly update firmware for all your Aqara devices.

The post New Video – Set Smart Heating Schedules in the Aqara App (Quick Guide) appeared first on Mark's Tech Blogs.

All content below is based on real-world use in my own home and is not sponsored. Regular readers of Mark’s Tech Blogs will know that I have been on a bit of a smart heating journey. After a key feature was paywalled elsewhere, I started looking for alternatives that did not rely on subscriptions.

I previously tried a Matter-compatible system that suffered from Wi-Fi reliability issues, and I also explored building something custom using Home Assistant. While both approaches worked to an extent, neither felt like the right balance of simplicity and control for most people. That changed when Aqara released the Aqara W600 Radiator Thermostat. Combined with the Aqara T2 Relay Module, it finally felt possible to build a full smart heating system that was affordable, flexible, and did not require cloud dependence.

The Heating Setup I Wanted

Before buying anything, I had a clear idea of what I wanted my heating system to do. Independent temperature control for each room was the primary goal. Radiators that could call the boiler for heat were essential alongside automatic geofencing when the first person arrived or last left.

I also needed The Ability To Resume Heating Schedules Correctly, along with centralised control in a single app. I wanted Local Control And Remote Monitoring When Away From Home as well. I was not concerned about OpenTherm support specifically since my boiler does not support it anyway, but this is worth noting if that feature remains important to you.

The Hardware I Used

To make this work, I needed three core components.

Aqara W600 Radiator Thermostat: I use six Aqara W600 Radiator Thermostats in total, three upstairs and three downstairs. These are Matter and Zigbee compatible smart TRVs that can be used across Apple Home, Home Assistant, Google Home, Alexa, and SmartThings.

The Aqara W600 Radiator Thermostat costs around £40 per unit and comes with multiple valve adapters, a clean white design, and a subtle LCD display. They are powered by two AA batteries, with Aqara estimating up to two years of battery life. If you want to check current pricing, search for BUY_AQARA_W600.

Aqara T2 Relay Module: To allow the radiators to call for heat from the boiler, I use the Aqara T2 Relay Module. This sits alongside my existing boiler wiring and acts as the on/off switch for heating demand.

The Aqara T2 Relay Module supports dry and wet contact modes, has overload and overheat protection, and works with both Zigbee and Matter over Bridge. It exposes two switches in smart home platforms, even if you only use one, which is slightly annoying but manageable. It’s compatible with Apple Home, Home Assistant, Alexa, Google Home, and SmartThings when paired with an Aqara hub.

You can find it by searching for BUY_AQARA_T2_RELAY.

Aqara Hub: To get the most out of the Aqara W600 Radiator Thermostat, I strongly recommend using Zigbee mode, which requires an Aqara hub. Aqara’s budget hubs start at around £20, while higher-end hubs like the M3 offer Ethernet connectivity and better local reliability.

I already owned an Aqara hub, which kept the overall cost down. If you’re starting from scratch, you will want to factor this in. Look for BUY_AQARA_HUB if you are pricing things up.

Total Cost Comparison

With six Aqara W600 Radiator Thermostats, an Aqara hub, and the Aqara T2 Relay Module, the total cost comes in at around £290. Comparable systems come in noticeably higher.

Habi Equivalent

Around £300.

Tado Equivalent

Around £485.

The price difference becomes even more significant when you factor in subscriptions. Installing the Aqara T2 Relay Module was straightforward thanks to existing boiler wiring.

I mounted it inside a black enclosure and ran the Zigbee antenna externally. This is the only part of the setup where you may want to use a qualified electrician or heating engineer, especially if you are not comfortable working with mains wiring.

Once installed, pairing in the Aqara app was simple, and switching the relay into dry contact mode only took a few taps in the settings. Installing the Aqara W600 Radiator Thermostat is very easy to install.

If you already have TRVs fitted, they simply screw on using the appropriate adapter. Pairing is done through the Aqara app, where you choose between Matter and Zigbee mode. I initially tested Matter mode but later switched to Zigbee to unlock additional features like advanced scheduling, external temperature sensors, and better automation control.

One standout feature is how quiet these TRVs are. Even standing next to them, they’re almost silent in operation.

Scheduling And Automation

I tested several ways of managing schedules and boiler control, including Apple Home and Home Assistant, but ultimately found the Aqara app to be the most practical option. Each Aqara W600 Radiator Thermostat has its own smart schedule made up of named modes like Home, Away, Sleep, and Vacation.

Each mode has a defined temperature, which simplifies scheduling once everything is set up. I recommend setting manual overrides to resume “Until the next” scheduled event as this ensures your heating returns to the correct temperature automatically.

Geofencing

While the Aqara app supports geofencing, I wanted to avoid requiring another app on everyone’s phone. Instead, I use a smart plug that turns on when the first person arrives home and off when the last person leaves. This single device

The post Can Aqara Run Your Smart Heating? – Auto-geofencing, TRVs calling for heat and NO SUBSCRIPTIONS appeared first on Mark's Tech Blogs.

Can Aqara run your entire smart heating system?
Over the last couple of months, I’ve been using Aqara to control my heating with room-by-room temperature control, boiler automation, and automatic geofencing — all without a subscription.

Products:
Aqara W600 TRVs: https://geni.us/3Kndq
Aqara T2 Relay Module: https://geni.us/VYZV3Eq
Aqara M3 Hub: https://geni.us/dY4D7
Aqara Temperature and Humidity Sensor: https://geni.us/jCAJE
Aqara Budget Hub: https://geni.us/Mi36
Tado X Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3lnplkHBdI

In this video, I show how I’m using the Aqara W600 Radiator Thermostats alongside the Aqara T2 Relay Module to build a fully functional smart heating system. The setup allows individual radiators to call the boiler for heat, supports local control, works offline, and integrates with platforms like Apple Home, Home Assistant, Google Home, Alexa, and SmartThings.

I walk through the hardware, installation, scheduling, automations, and real-world performance after months of use during winter in the UK. This includes geofencing without requiring extra apps, frost protection when away from home, and a custom boost mode similar to what you’d find in subscription-based systems.

If you’re looking for an affordable alternative to systems like Tado, or you want a Matter-compatible smart heating setup that works locally and gives you full control, this video covers everything you need to know.

This is a real-world setup based on my own home!

Chapters
0:00 – Introduction
1:24 – Products used
02:03 – Setup and My Aims
03:44 – What devices you need
05:36 – Costs and Comparisons to Tado and Habi Setups
06:36 – T2 Dual Relay Module Specification
07:40 – W600 Radiator Thermostat Design and Specification
09:52 – Installation, Boiler Wiring and Setup
11:22 – Schedules and Controls – Why I chose the Aqara app
12:15 – Automations, Schedules and Scenes in the Aqara App – Guide
18:16 – My Experience with this setup
19:22 – Other things to note
19:50 – So, can Aqara run your smart heating?

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#Aqara
#SmartHeating
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#Matter
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The post New Video – Can Aqara Run Your Entire Smart Heating System? (No Subscription, Full Setup) appeared first on Mark's Tech Blogs.

The Meross MTS215 Smart Thermostat allows you to schedule and control heating using Apple Home app automations.

Purchasing Info

This setup helps save energy while keeping your home comfortable, even without geofencing support in the main application. You can buy this unit here: http://bit.ly/3VvS2Ry – Save 10% with code marktech10.

The post New Video – Controlling a Heating Schedule with Apple Home #smarthome appeared first on Mark's Tech Blogs.

In this video, I review the Meross MTS215 Smart Thermostat, the latest Matter-compatible thermostat for electric underfloor heating.

The MTS215 adds Matter support, a modern touchscreen display, and optional external sensor compatibility, making it perfect for bathrooms or separate rooms while meeting UK regulations.

I cover design, installation, pairing with Apple Home, advanced features in the Meross app, and how I use automations to save energy with electric underfloor heating. At around £50, this thermostat is one of the best-value smart heating solutions on the market.

Check out the Meross MTS215 and compatible accessories via affiliate links.

Purchase Links:
Amazon: https://geni.us/x0H2D
Meross: http://bit.ly/3VvS2Ry (Save 10% with code marktech10)

Shop Tech I Recommend: https://linktr.ee/markstechvlogs

🔔 Subscribe for more smart home & tech reviews!
👍 Like & Share if you found this helpful!
https://www.youtube.com/markstechvlogs

Connect with me:

Shop Tech I Recommend: https://linktr.ee/markstechvlogs
Found this helpful? Buy me a Beer: http://buymeacoffee.com/marktiddy
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/marktiddy.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marktiddy
Email: hello@marktiddy.co.uk

#Meross #SmartHome #MTS215 #Matter #ElectricUnderfloorHeating #TechReview #Markstechvlogs

The post New Video – Meross MTS215 Smart Thermostat Review – Matter Compatible Electric Underfloor Heating appeared first on Mark's Tech Blogs.