Newbie on centralheating/hot water X10?

[Andy <andysideas@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi,

Appreciate a lot of you guys are home auotmation pros here, but I need some
advice.

I have been a member of this list and watch the home automation with the
dream.. however I am looking at dipping my toes for the first time.

I need to buy a new central heating and hot water controller. It needs to
have regular controls, but I want to be able to control it via my PC, and
remotely when not at home (e.g turn heating on early or off if we are away)

I am also looking for ideas around the control of hot water. We have a
mains
pressure tank, and currently have the hot water on for 2 hours in the
morning and evening. However, the water remains hot all day and I am sure
most nights we do not need it on in the evenings. How could I have a more
intelligent system that can almost tell me how much estimated water is
still
hot?

For example, assume hot water comes on in the morning for 2 hours. By 5pm
there is still hot water, but we have no idea how much is left so the
existing crap timer comes on at 6 for another 2 hours and then again at
5am.
I am sure this is wasteful


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