Might we worth asking Vaillant owners on the forums. @nigel42 @witchcraft @dchilton @mbcool @webcmg @jaspera @jonathans @london-trader @drew-pa @saz @squonk

Good evening all,

We use the Vaillant SensoAPP with our setup. 

Honest Review.  

It works okay….  It does what I need it to, albeit very slowly, very very slowly at times.  There are numerous things that I would change if it was up to me. I do get logged out every so often, it could be when they update the app though.  I haven’t checked to see if it ties in. If I were to give it a rating out of ten. I would say it’s a 5, not the best, not the worst.

ATB 

Drew

@editor Vaillant software is flaky in my experience. There are times when it doesn't connect and a circular arrow icon just spins on the screen. I'm told this is due to server upgrades/issues but there have been times when this has gone on for months.

We have the Android version of the app, and find that when it is working it doesn't always update when the app is opened. I have found that you can famagusta of force an update by going into settings (cog icon) > General settings > then wait for the time and control time to update. The data on the control and information screens then seems to be current.

I also regularly force the app to close compeletely when the time and date doesn't update, then restart. 

Making changes to the settings via the app is very hit or miss in my experience. You normally need to confirm any changes via a complete button in the top right of the screen, but this is sometimes completely unresponsive. If settings haven't been saved you are presented with a fault error and need to press yes or no. Pressing no will mean the settings aren't saved, but normally this is because the complete button has been unresponsive!

I've been trying to turn my whole system off remotely for and got it so when octopus do their energy saving hours, but it's been tricky to do this reliably via the Vaillant app. 

It is pretty disappointing for such a big company, but probably reflects under investment in their skill base as the smart technology has developed. 

Their reluctance to allow access to all the system data via eBus is further evidence of this (you can do it with a hardware modification, but I've read it invalidates the warranty...) 

I'm still using the Senso App, as others have said it's slow and flaky. Often get the super helpful 'Not Compatible' or 'There is a problem' on launching it, but restarting it connects ok. It's consistently inconsistent LOL.

I've been playing with Home Assistant recently, making dashboards to monitor the solar, Powerwall and so on. Haven't managed to get HA to talk to the Vaillant yet, but when (if) I do I will most likely ditch the app as mostly I just use it see stats on the system.

Posted by: @webcmg

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@editor Vaillant software is flaky in my experience. There are times when it doesn't connect and a circular arrow icon just spins on the screen. I'm told this is due to server upgrades/issues but there have been times when this has gone on for months.

We have the Android version of the app, and find that when it is working it doesn't always update when the app is opened. I have found that you can famagusta of force an update by going into settings (cog icon) > General settings > then wait for the time and control time to update. The data on the control and information screens then seems to be current.

I also regularly force the app to close compeletely when the time and date doesn't update, then restart. 

Making changes to the settings via the app is very hit or miss in my experience. You normally need to confirm any changes via a complete button in the top right of the screen, but this is sometimes completely unresponsive. If settings haven't been saved you are presented with a fault error and need to press yes or no. Pressing no will mean the settings aren't saved, but normally this is because the complete button has been unresponsive!

I've been trying to turn my whole system off remotely for and got it so when octopus do their energy saving hours, but it's been tricky to do this reliably via the Vaillant app. 

It is pretty disappointing for such a big company, but probably reflects under investment in their skill base as the smart technology has developed. 

Their reluctance to allow access to all the system data via eBus is further evidence of this (you can do it with a hardware modification, but I've read it invalidates the warranty...) 

 

I often wonder at the quality of the software engineers who write the code for these apps and the like. Do they not test it fully before release? If the software was correctly written and tested in the first place, it would not be necessary for all these updates, or are they merely justifying their existence?

Posted by: @derek-m

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Posted by: @webcmg

↑

@editor Vaillant software is flaky in my experience. There are times when it doesn't connect and a circular arrow icon just spins on the screen. I'm told this is due to server upgrades/issues but there have been times when this has gone on for months.

We have the Android version of the app, and find that when it is working it doesn't always update when the app is opened. I have found that you can famagusta of force an update by going into settings (cog icon) > General settings > then wait for the time and control time to update. The data on the control and information screens then seems to be current.

I also regularly force the app to close compeletely when the time and date doesn't update, then restart. 

Making changes to the settings via the app is very hit or miss in my experience. You normally need to confirm any changes via a complete button in the top right of the screen, but this is sometimes completely unresponsive. If settings haven't been saved you are presented with a fault error and need to press yes or no. Pressing no will mean the settings aren't saved, but normally this is because the complete button has been unresponsive!

I've been trying to turn my whole system off remotely for and got it so when octopus do their energy saving hours, but it's been tricky to do this reliably via the Vaillant app. 

It is pretty disappointing for such a big company, but probably reflects under investment in their skill base as the smart technology has developed. 

Their reluctance to allow access to all the system data via eBus is further evidence of this (you can do it with a hardware modification, but I've read it invalidates the warranty...) 

 

I often wonder at the quality of the software engineers who write the code for these apps and the like. Do they not test it fully before release? If the software was correctly written and tested in the first place, it would not be necessary for all these updates, or are they merely justifying their existence?

 

Having worked in the software industry, the chances are the engineers are OK. What happens is, the software is developed and tested and the defects are logged. Because the customer has promised his/her boss it will be released by a certain date/budget, it is, complete with defects and against the advice of the developers.  

Apart from the app signing itself out on a regular basis, I think this app is pretty good. You can set up timer, change temperatures, monitor flow temperature and has efficiency data. The only thing that I would say needs upgrading with reference to the 2 pictures, it doesn’t tell you when the pump is heating the DHW. The picture with the orange glow is when the pump is running for the central heating. The only way you find out if the water is heating is if you check the flow and DHW temperatures in the information tab.

Posted by: @kev-m

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Posted by: @derek-m

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Posted by: @webcmg

↑

@editor Vaillant software is flaky in my experience. There are times when it doesn't connect and a circular arrow icon just spins on the screen. I'm told this is due to server upgrades/issues but there have been times when this has gone on for months.

We have the Android version of the app, and find that when it is working it doesn't always update when the app is opened. I have found that you can famagusta of force an update by going into settings (cog icon) > General settings > then wait for the time and control time to update. The data on the control and information screens then seems to be current.

I also regularly force the app to close compeletely when the time and date doesn't update, then restart. 

Making changes to the settings via the app is very hit or miss in my experience. You normally need to confirm any changes via a complete button in the top right of the screen, but this is sometimes completely unresponsive. If settings haven't been saved you are presented with a fault error and need to press yes or no. Pressing no will mean the settings aren't saved, but normally this is because the complete button has been unresponsive!

I've been trying to turn my whole system off remotely for and got it so when octopus do their energy saving hours, but it's been tricky to do this reliably via the Vaillant app. 

It is pretty disappointing for such a big company, but probably reflects under investment in their skill base as the smart technology has developed. 

Their reluctance to allow access to all the system data via eBus is further evidence of this (you can do it with a hardware modification, but I've read it invalidates the warranty...) 

 

I often wonder at the quality of the software engineers who write the code for these apps and the like. Do they not test it fully before release? If the software was correctly written and tested in the first place, it would not be necessary for all these updates, or are they merely justifying their existence?

 

Having worked in the software industry, the chances are the engineers are OK. What happens is, the software is developed and tested and the defects are logged. Because the customer has promised his/her boss it will be released by a certain date/budget, it is, complete with defects and against the advice of the developers.  

 

I don't doubt that you are correct Kev. It is an unfortunate reflection of the World in which we live, it reminds me of that very old TV comedy 'never mind the quality, feel the width'. So they rush the product to market, warts and all, the user's complain bitterly on the forums, sales plummet, and the person responsible gets a promotion. Does that sound about right? 😜 

I am used to writing software for industrial control systems, which have to be correct. I don't think that the client of an emergency shutdown system would be too impressed if it failed to shutdown and the plant blew up, or conversely it kept shutting down when there was no emergency and they kept loosing thousands of pounds worth of production. 🙄 

Just had this reply.  

@murchison2003 quick side question, what model of heat pump and controller(s) do you have? I would love to connect up to an app but I can't see how. AroTherm 5kW, VRC700/6.

Dangermousie 

Sorry for the delayed response, I’ve just seen this. I have an Aro therm 12 kw bel 125/6, vac sensocomfort 720 and the vr921 and the my vaillant app