I’m replacing the boiler in a property (current one is a Main Heating Eco Elite, around 15 years old).
I use Home Assistant and have a Zigbee network running through a SMLIGHT SLZB-06 POE gateway. Also have a UniFi WiFi setup with a few access points around the house.
Main priorities:
- Local control wherever possible
- Ability to integrate with Home Assistant
- Potential to add smart TRVs later (not tied to a specific brand)
- Ideally still usable via the vendor’s app for others in the house
I’ve been looking into OpenTherm-compatible boilers and controllers. From what I understand, many of these systems can self-regulate with modulation, which leads me to a key question: is it even worth integrating heating control into Home Assistant if the controller is already managing the boiler well on its own?
Also wondering:
- Does the specific boiler brand matter, as long as it supports a modulating bus communication standard like OpenTherm?
- What kind of control do people actually use within Home Assistant when they have an OpenTherm setup?
- Any examples of combinations that work well?
Looked into Tado X as well – seems capable, but the lack of full local control is a concern.
Any recommendations would be appreciated.
TL;DR: Replacing boiler soon. Using Home Assistant with Zigbee. Want local control, planning TRVs later. Is HA integration necessary with OpenTherm, or does the controller handle enough? Does boiler brand matter beyond bus compatibility?