Problems with Hive "Smart" Thermostatic Radiator Valves

Quick actions are not working on my Hive radiator vavles.
Recorded 28/02/2021

[@DavePoo2]

Update: Dec/2022 - The quick actions do appear now to be working again. I don't know at what point they actually fixed it, but It's possible it was in Apr/22 with the 227 version firmware update to the radiator vales (which is what mine are on now). The release notes seem to imply that they had some special firmware in the values that was gradually going to turn on the valves over a 15 minute period so stop the room from overheating, but I can confirm that I sat in that room freezing on many an a occasion and they would never turn on, no matter how long the wait. So I suspect they tried to do something fancy with the software and it just didin't work at all. As for the web interface not supporting the radiator valves, well it still doesn't, and it kind of makes the web interface a bit useless if it's just not going to support some of the features of the system.

[@pete3816]

I believe these operate on the Zigbee protocol. If that’s correct, it’s quite probably that the behaviour you’re seeing is an intrinsic limitation in battery power nodes on these networks. The nodes will poll (checkin) intermittently with the ‘parent’ (in this case the thermostat). To receive the altered temperature, you have to wait for the node to poll. It’s well documented that these TRVs can take up to 15 minutes to receive their instruction. Try sending the quick action once, and waiting for 20 minutes to see if the instruction is received or not. What’s confusing matters slightly is that your are intervening by ‘waking’ up the node (TRV). Once ‘woken’ it then communicates freely for a short time, allowing more immediate updates - until it goes to its resting state of polling intermittently again. I could be completely wrong - but this was very much a limitation on TRVs connected to Z-wave networks. The updates sent from ‘parent’ to ‘nodes’ was dependent on the ‘wake interval’ as set in the control units. Hives implementation of Zigbee doesn’t allow such user interventions as far as I know. And increasing the frequency of polling simply kills the batteries too quickly to be convenient/economical. I’d suggest that if a 15 minute lead time on any particular change is agreeable, then these are probably an ok solution. If you want immediate responses every single time, you could hard wire z-wave TRVs and have them poll every 5 seconds if ya wanted. But say goodbye to the convenience of Hive, and say hello to learning how to program and delve deep into a-wave implementation.

[@DavePoo2]

I only noticed this problem because I had waited for over 30 minutes and wondered why the room was still cold. In this video i just demonstrate what I think the problem is, waiting longer did not fix it. I need to do an update for this video. It's possible they problem is now fixed. As winter is on it's way here and I'm starting to use the heating more, i haven't noticed this problem yet (but I might just have got lucky)

[@Rudolf_9876]

I liked your explanation of the Zigbe protocol and checked with the Zigbee Alliance spec 2015, and dont see a polling rate of 15 minutes, albeit I didn't read all its 542 pages I searched on polling and 15 minutes and 900 seconds and it looks like the standard can be implemented in a number of different ways. I have the same/similar problem as Dave Pro 2, I switch the radiator on with "Heat on Demand" setting and the radiator doesn't switch the boiler on, even after 30 minutes. I have talked to support for over 2 hours and at various times during the call(s) was asked to contact a plumber to which I said, if the Hive system doesn't switch the boiler on then its the problem with the Hive system and not the boiler or pipes as he was suggesting. I bought the valves so they could be set to switch the boiler on themselves but the Heat On Demand function does not work and any amount of resetting the system by removing the batteries and turning on and off the system doesn't work. I think I reached Z in the support dialogue and they clutch onto straws for diagnosis. I think there are some sniffing tools out there but I was hoping to get the machine to work without lots of work. Currently, I need to schedule the boiler to be "on" when the valves are on and thats the only way it works for me.

[@Viewer765]

⁠@@DavePoo2 did you ever get this to work

[@DavePoo2]

@Viewer765 See pinned comment

[@Avits]

I've just had these installed last week and I cannot make heads or tails of them. They seem to have a mind of their own. Any joy finding a solution?

[@PrinceBarin77]

Echo many others that Hive is simply awful. Our whole house is Hive and I am so bored of overshooting valves, uncalibrated TRVs, failing HOD. Buyer’s remorse.

[@gordondickson5405]

Just to say for anyone looking into hive mine works fine, this video just shows someone expecting instant update at the valve, and it doesn't work like that. If a change is requested it can take a minute or two to happen. Also I live in an ironstone house this is a challenge for WiFi, I needed two hive repeaters to get sufficient coverage. I would recommend Hive if you are mildly competent and patient

[@GeoffUdall-b2r]

From what I know you need to set up an action for your thermostat to call for heat and then add which ever rads stats you need to come on in the app

[@ffinybryn]

OCD in me screams at 21.0 and 21 Why aren't they both the same!?

[@paulwilkinson8985]

We have just had TRVs fitted and due to the size of the house had to install a Hive Signal Booster. I try using the app to boost heat having selected manual. (I have not yet set up any quick actions). The valve responds but the system doesn't appear to call the boiler. I don't want to wait 15 minutes, should start to warm up in 5mins. I tried HOD as I thought it was operator error. But HOD didn't work. When the system comes on at its scheduled time it does not take 15minutes to heat up the system.

[@garethsnaim8174]

Well here I am trying to find solutions lol. I have installed 7, 2 new rest second hand so not a lot of come back to be fair. Two of them are constantly recalibrating, whilst calibrating I cannot appear to do a lot with them. The only way to get them to do anything is to tick 'heat on demand', so whats the point of that choice, do you want them to work or not, lol.

[@colinlondon-latter6237]

why do my valves say calibrate but they don't

[@anuragphakkey1349]

does the TRV display the actual temperature or the set temperature?

[@lg_believe333]

Unlike traditional thermostatic radiator valves you have numbers from 0-5 and Max. But hive smart thermostatic valves do not have numbers when increasing or decreasing heat, it is exactly the same as your heating you read on your thermostat? Also, you do need to bleed your radiators from time to time, so when the heating is on, your radiators are hot. So, it might not always be a software issue but can be, but perhaps your app needs its firmware updating? Other technical issues which can affect how your hive smart devices work and don’t work, I’ve noticed, is the schedule within the app, sometimes, it resets itself, and it comes on when you don’t want it to, and goes off when you need it most.

[@SuperAntz85]

Isn’t it just continuing to show the temperature it is? Did it change after a while of being on? Agree the software isn’t good though

[@mikestead9967]

Mine simply did not work despite lots of calls to Hive. They are not fit for purpose. I returned mine and got a full refund. If you are having problems with yours I suggest you do the same as 2 years on, Hive have not fixed these fundamentally flawed devices

[@joehurst1453]

I'm disappointed that at 5 mins your didn't have him saying software shit again.

[@munafumerji7008]

I’m having the same problem so decided to return it

[@jonathanreilly5778]

Hey, I use HOD I have 6 of these upstairs. I used the calibration tool and it took approximately 5 hours. I set all the valves to 16 degrees and boosted the heating to 20 degrees for 5 hours and presses calibrate on every valve and they are all working great. I have not used quick action because I feel it will be same issue as trying to use boost on an individual TRV. As your hearing actually has to be on for the valve to heat it means the boost function on the TRV is absolutely useless. To bypass this i had to set a schedule for every single TRV valve and have them all selected on HOD to my upstairs Thermostat. As I say pressing boost on the individual valve won’t work but my work around method if I need to have a room warmer is to manually turn the temperature up on the valve and HOD will kick in to command temperature. Then it will reset in next time schedule or I need to remember to turn it down via app or TRV after. Sorry long winded explanation. Totally agree software needs to be better **EDIT** I had decided to try to boost my TRV valve as there had been a recent Hive update abs I’m actually shocked to say it’s worked. So with HOD on I pressed boost on the individual valve and it’s kicked in. I’m actually please by this as I found it a pain in Ti**

[@mr.s3389]

It does make sense. It worked at the end. As Pete pointed out, the initial transition may require 15mins. Also, you need to get your head round the current temp of the room and the temp you're trying to get to, seems you're confused on these two things and that will likely confuse more people if they watch this video. Would be keen to know how you're getting on now, a year later?

[@DavePoo2]

I understand what the temperatures are. This video was made because the valves didn't respond at all sometimes, it didn't matter how long the wait was. Even if they did take 15 minutes to respond, that would be awful. As for now (2022), they seem to be working again but I would need to verify that some more. The firmware currently says 227 on both valves (it was 221 in the video). Last I checked, you still couldn't see the valves on the web interface so I stopped using it all together, not sure if that has changed.

[@bovineox1111]

Just moved to a new house with these installed, the setup cannot find the valves reliably. Pile of crap.

[@DavePoo2]

Check the batteries, I just had one of two stop reporting to the hub as the batteries couldn't seem to be able to do it. Also to be fair to these valves, they probably broadcast on the ISM band (2.4ghz) which nowadays is so polluted with noise from just about every home device (and neighbors devices) that use it. Turning on a microwave oven will interfere with them as well.

[@bovineox1111]

@@DavePoo2 the batteries are a bit wasted but resetting with the display flashing for 4 counts AND being patient seems to have worked. App still does odd things like refusing to rename the valve and insisting some are still in setup so probably replace the batteries as well

[@BelfastBiker]

Quick actions seems like a shit route to go when we have Alexa.... Also, it's not random, you're just impatient.

[@DavePoo2]

I don't have "Alexa". I'm not impatient, I waited an hour one day for it to respond, it didn't.

[@arahant69]

is it heat on demand? set main thermostat to 7.5 degrees which lets keeps the boiler on in nanual where as 7 turns boiler off in manual. then hear on demand can be set to max temp. problem i have got with my hive trv is the m30 adaptor has retained inside the trv after i have removed it from the radiator. not tried the quick actiobs myself.

[@DavePoo2]

No, it's not heat on demand. From what i've been able to tell, the valves turn to boost mode, but they turn on in whatever temperature they were set to last when they were in boost mode. The temperature provided by the quick action just get's ignored.

[@arahant69]

Managed to get a new hive trv sent free the customer support is shit all with foregn accentscand hang up on you or can't be bothered. Had to be finaly put through to boss team to get anywhere.they promise to ring back and don't or line just goes dead 10 mins whilst your on hold. carefull with the m30 adaptors folks once there screwed into the body there is no way to get them out.The plastic work really needs to be metal like any other trv the thread is shit. H.O.D has always worked for me I just set my main thermostat to 7.5 so it will boost rads via Heat On Demand. I even took off 1 of the lockshields of the hallway radiator bt the main thermostat,the one they leave on for safety reasons because who wants a radiatot constantly on right when you boost a radiator thats set to off. Sorry know this is nothing to do with original subject of commanding the radiator action list.

[@SuperNova2747]

Not only that they require constant calibration that will leave your room freezing cold middle of the night making you reach for your mobile to set it to calibration .. once in calibration they will boost your heating leave your room as hot as a sauna.... i liked hive but lately its just SHIT.

[@DavePoo2]

I've actually never calibrated the raditor valves. It's a bit stupid, you have to turn your heating on for hours just to calibrate 1 valve.

[@TheArchitect101]

Hive valves are a waste of money - over priced crap. All mine keep going through calibration again and again.

[@DavePoo2]

I have never done the calibration process, as it takes such a long time. The only reason I went with Hive is because their main thermostat is wireless and I was replacing another wireless thermostat (a Honeywell)

[@winstonlindsay8486]

Send in the Avengers to fixs software shit 👀🤣😂😅

[@DavePoo2]

But don't send Captain America as he is still trying to get to grips with how computers work.