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Glow-worm Boilers and Smart Thermostats: Nest, Hive, tado and eBUS

Nest, Hive and tado can switch a Glow-worm boiler on and off. Glow-worm's own controls talk to the boiler over eBUS instead. We found no Glow-worm document that mentions OpenTherm. Here is what each maker documents.

Sumcraft Editorial Team6 min read

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Nest, Hive and tado can switch a Glow-worm boiler on and off. Glow-worm's own controls use eBUS to let the boiler adjust its output.

Checked on 1 November 2026. Everything below comes from the boiler and thermostat makers' own documents. They are linked at the end. We have not installed these thermostats ourselves. Have a qualified heating engineer wire any thermostat to your boiler.

ThermostatWhat the maker documentsOn a Glow-worm
Glow-worm MiGo Link with MiGo Select or Climastat SelecteBUS control. Weather compensation with these controlsGlow-worm's own smart option
Google NestOpenTherm or on/off wiring. Google does not mention eBUSOn/off
HiveWorks with most boilers. No Glow-worm model on its incompatible listOn/off
tadoWorks with almost all relay boilers. Not compatible with system boilers that have a digital interface such as eBUSOn/off on combis. Ask tado about system boilers

Why Glow-worm boilers work differently

Glow-worm's controls use a connection called eBUS. Glow-worm says its MiGo Link gateway "is compatible with all Glow-worm eBUS boilers from 2006 onwards". eBUS lets the boiler and its control share temperature data. Glow-worm says MiGo Link gives weather compensation "when installed with a MiGo Select or Climastat Select".

Third-party thermostats do not speak eBUS. Google documents OpenTherm and on/off wiring for Nest. Hive's compatibility page does not mention either. So on a Glow-worm, expect a smart thermostat to switch the boiler on and off.

How a third-party thermostat connects

Glow-worm's Easicom 3 installation manual shows three kinds of control connection:

ConnectionWhat Glow-worm's manual says
eBUSFor an "eBUS control or radio receiver unit"
RT 24 VFor a low-voltage 24V control
230 V"Connect the control to the main plug" and "Remove the bridge from the 24V=RT plug"

The same manual warns: "Do not connect any mains voltage to the eBUS (+/-) and RT 24 V terminals." A Nest Heat Link or Hive receiver switches 230V, so it uses the 230V connection. Terminal names can differ on other models, so your engineer should check your boiler's own manual.

What about OpenTherm?

We found no Glow-worm document that mentions OpenTherm. Glow-worm is part of the Vaillant Group. Vaillant makes a VR33 module that connects OpenTherm thermostats to Vaillant eBUS boilers. Vaillant's manual does not name Glow-worm boilers, so ask Glow-worm before you buy one. Our Vaillant guide covers the VR33.

Nest with a Glow-worm boiler

Google says the Nest Thermostat E and 3rd gen Nest Learning Thermostat support OpenTherm. Google does not mention eBUS. On a Glow-worm, Nest's Heat Link switches the boiler through its 230V connection.

Is Nest being discontinued in the UK? In May 2025, Google said "we'll no longer launch new Nest thermostats in Europe". Which? reported that the 3rd gen and Thermostat E would stay on sale while supplies last and keep getting security updates.

Hive with a Glow-worm boiler

Hive says "In most cases, our Hive thermostats will work just fine with your boiler". Hive names Glow-worm among the brands its controls are designed to work with. Its list of incompatible boilers names solid fuel boilers and ten older Worcester Bosch models. No Glow-worm model is on it.

tado with a Glow-worm boiler

tado says it works with almost all boilers that support relay connections. It also says it "is not compatible" with system boilers that have a digital interface such as eBUS. On a Glow-worm system boiler, ask tado before you buy.

What you give up with on/off control

An on/off thermostat cannot share temperature data with the boiler. The boiler runs at the temperature set on its own controls until the thermostat switches it off. Glow-worm's eBUS controls add weather compensation instead. Neither maker publishes a savings figure we can quote.

Quick answers

Is a Glow-worm boiler compatible with Hive?

  • Yes, as an on/off control. Hive says its thermostats work with most boilers. No Glow-worm model is on Hive's incompatible list.

Can I connect Nest to a Glow-worm boiler?

  • Yes, as an on/off control. Nest's Heat Link wires to the boiler's 230V connection. Google does not document eBUS.

Is Nest compatible with all boilers?

  • No. Google documents OpenTherm and on/off control. Boilers that only accept their maker's digital controls need a different set-up.

Is Nest being discontinued in the UK?

  • Google will not launch new Nest thermostats in Europe. Which? reported that current models stay on sale while supplies last and keep getting security updates.

Do Glow-worm boilers support OpenTherm?

  • We found no Glow-worm document that says so. Glow-worm's own controls use eBUS. Ask Glow-worm about your model.

What is the best thermostat for a Glow-worm boiler?

  • We do not rank products. Glow-worm's own eBUS controls are the ones documented to give weather compensation on its boilers.

Sources, checked 1 November 2026:

  • Smart thermostat
  • Glow-worm
  • eBUS
  • Boilers
  • Home heating

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