Why I Swear by the Time:O:Stat: A Heating Engineer's Honest Review (9/10!)

As a heating engineer covering Horsham, West Sussex, I've seen my fair share of thermostats. From the ancient, dial-based relics to the latest smart home gadgets, I've fitted them all. 

But when it comes to landlord-specific solutions – especially for HMOs, student houses, Airbnbs, and holiday caravans – one product that consistently stands out for me is the Time:O:Stat ONE. And I'm not just saying that; I'd confidently give it a solid 9 out of 10.

Let me tell you why, from someone who's had his hands on these units time and time again.

The Landlord's Dream: Control Without the Confrontation.

The biggest headache for landlords? Heating left on full blast with windows open, or properties sitting empty with the boiler churning away. It's a massive waste of money, and let's be honest, it can lead to some awkward conversations with tenants. 

This is precisely where the Time:O:Stat shines.

The core genius of this thermostat is its simplicity for the user (the guest or tenant) combined with robust control for the landlord. 

My clients, particularly those with multiple properties, are always looking for ways to streamline their operations and cut down on those ever-increasing energy bills. The Time:O:Stat delivers this in spades.

Guest Simplicity, Landlord Serenity.

Imagine your Airbnb guests arriving. They just want warmth, and they want it now. With the Time:O:Stat ONE, it's a simple, single button press. That's it. "Heating On." No complicated menus, no baffling settings. They get their boost, feel comfortable, and are genuinely thrilled by the ease of it.

But here's the crucial part: the landlord sets the boost time and maximum temperature. This is a game-changer. 

I've installed these in countless holiday lets where previously, landlords were tearing their hair out over sky-high bills. Now, they're confident that even if a guest forgets, the heating will automatically switch off after the pre-set boost period. 

This "heating countdown" is thermostatically optimised, meaning it's not just a crude timer; it's designed to ensure comfort while preventing waste.

"Out of the Box" Brilliance – Or Go Smart When Ready.

One of the features I genuinely appreciate as an installer is the "Out of the Box" functionality. You can fit this and forget it if you want. It works perfectly well as a standalone, wired thermostat, requiring no batteries (a huge plus for reliability and less maintenance for landlords). This means even if a property doesn't have Wi-Fi, or the landlord isn't ready to dive into the smart world, they can still benefit from its core energy-saving features.

However, for those who do want to embrace the future, the Landlord App is where the Time:O:Stat truly becomes a powerful management tool. 

I've seen landlords with portfolios of 100+ properties monitoring them all from a single login. 

They can:

 

* View house temperatures at a glance: No more guessing if a property is freezing or roasting.

 

* Remotely change advanced settings: Adjust minimum and maximum temperatures, set auto-programs, or even enable seasonal modes for those student holidays or summer lulls.

 

* Monitor usage: The "Tenant Score" and "House Score" are fantastic for identifying patterns and areas for improvement in efficiency. This level of insight is invaluable for proactive property management.

The fact that the app is an option and not a requirement from day one is brilliant. It offers flexibility that many other smart thermostats simply don't.

Robust and Reliable: Built for the Real World.

From an installation perspective, the Time:O:Stat ONE is straightforward. It's wired for a 3 or 4-wire connection, compatible with combi-boilers and even system boilers (with an additional timer for hot water, if needed). 

I've found them to be incredibly reliable once fitted, and the 1-year warranty provides peace of mind.

I also really like the tamper-proof design. Landlords often worry about tenants fiddling with settings, but the Time:O:Stat's robust build and landlord-controlled settings prevent this. 

Features like "Maximum Temp Restriction" and "Minimum Temp Options" mean landlords can ensure comfort without excessive heat, and prevent pipes from freezing in colder months.

And for those always striving for efficiency, the "Open Window Detection" is a smart touch, automatically cutting heating demand when it senses a window has been left open. 

Plus, it's Boiler Plus Compliant, which is always a tick in the box for modern installations.

Why a 9 out of 10?

So, why not a perfect 10? Honestly, it's hard to find major fault. Perhaps a slightly more premium aesthetic would push it to a 10, but that's a minor quibble and doesn't detract from its core functionality and robust build. For what it's designed to do, and the specific market it serves, the Time:O:Stat ONE is exceptionally good.

As a heating engineer in Horsham, I can wholeheartedly recommend the Time:O:Stat ONE to any landlord looking to regain control over their heating bills, improve tenant satisfaction, and simplify their property management. It's a genuine asset in the battle against wasted energy, and a joy to fit.

Andrew Tyler, a Horsham-based heating engineer.