Heating and remote control: How smart technology makes maintenance easier
Defects in the heating system usually occur when it is particularly inconvenient: late in the evening, on weekends or on holidays. The result is cold rooms and icy water. A circumstance that drives tenants and homeowners alike to despair.
The next problem is reaching the emergency heating service. The latter must first come by, check the defect, get the spare parts and then install them. It is better if remote maintenance of the heating system is possible — this saves time and money.
Remote control of a heating system via the Internet
With the Internet of Things (IoT) and remote monitoring management, many things have changed: It is no longer necessary to be directly on site. Instead, problems can be identified remotely and, in the best case, even solved.
- In order for the specialist personnel to be able to read out the defect, they connect to the heating system via remote access software. All the experts have to do is log on to the relevant server. The database stored there contains all the information required for care, maintenance or repair.
- Depending on the heating system, different data can be found here that is of interest to the specialist company. This includes, for example, the temperature curves as well as the burner operating hours. Even switching times, the heating curve and the room temperature can be checked by the experts for heating with remote maintenance. Likewise, they can regulate all of this as needed.
- What makes it special is that controlling the heating via remote maintenance means that the settings can be transferred to the building security. This makes it interesting as a communication interface for numerous other devices in the building.
- Good to know: Authentication is required so that qualified personnel can connect to the heating system via remote access. The correct entry of user name and password ensures that only authorized persons can use remote access.
Heating and remote maintenance: The automatic fault message
A permanent connection to the heating system is not necessary so that qualified personnel can help in an emergency. Instead, it can be done on a rotational basis. Messages sent out by the server, on the other hand, can be conveniently forwarded to the cell phone or by e-mail. Of course, this also means that the system supervisor is informed immediately if problems occur.
Based on the error message, service personnel can analyze the defect in advance and initiate emergency operation. At the same time, important information on required spare parts or repair work can be obtained from the transmitted information. This automatic fault message thus ensures the proper functioning of the heating system almost all year round.
The advantages for operators and HVAC tradesmen
If remote monitoring is possible for the heating system, this results in numerous advantages. And these are both for the service personnel themselves and for the residents.
- Remote monitoring enables a high level of operational reliability and ensures normal operation.
- Remote maintenance is significantly less expensive than regular on-site testing. Thanks to automatic messages in the event of malfunctions, service personnel can respond immediately in an emergency.
- For the SHK company, personnel deployment can be organized and carried out as needed. This makes work not only cheaper, but also more efficient.
- Remote maintenance via the Internet enables an attractive expansion of the services offered. The added efficiency means SHK companies can take on larger heating systems without any problems.
- If failures occur, the specialist personnel can respond much more quickly. Ideally, service personnel are equipped with augmented reality-capable smart glasses that support modules such as XInspect. This means that any repairs that need to be carried out can be done even more reliably and quickly.
Retrofitting existing heating systems for remote maintenance
In principle, it is no problem to prepare the heating system for remote maintenance. The result is improved comfort, aimed at saving time and money. In modern systems, smart networking is usually thought of directly. But retrofitting is also possible with many older models.