A wireless mobile device for controlling a thermal appliance , the device comprising: a first communications interface configured to communicate over a wireless local area network; a second communications interface configured to communicate over a wide area network; a processor coupled to the communications interfaces and configured to send, via the wireless local area network, commands to control operation of the thermal appliance, and to receive, via the wireless local area network, information relating to operation of the thermal appliance ; and a user interface for obtaining user input to control the thermal appliance and for providing a user with information relating to the operation of the thermal appliance ; wherein the processor is further configured to: monitor connection of the first communication interface with the wireless local area network, determine whether to trigger an alert at the wireless mobile device in response to a loss of connection of the first communication interface to the wireless local area network, wherein the determination is based on the status of a wireless connection of at least one other wireless mobile device to the wireless local area network, and to send a command, based on user input provided in response to the triggered alert, to the thermal appliance via the second communications interface . a first communications interface configured to communicate over a wireless local area network; a second communications interface configured to communicate over a wide area network; a processor coupled to the communications interfaces and configured to send, via the wireless local area network, commands to control operation of the thermal appliance, and to receive, via the wireless local area network, information relating to operation of the thermal appliance ; and a user interface for obtaining user input to control the thermal appliance and for providing a user with information relating to the operation of the thermal appliance ; wherein the processor is further configured to: monitor connection of the first communication interface with the wireless local area network, determine whether to trigger an alert at the wireless mobile device in response to a loss of connection of the first communication interface to the wireless local area network, wherein the determination is based on the status of a wireless connection of at least one other wireless mobile device to the wireless local area network, and to send a command, based on user input provided in response to the triggered alert, to the thermal appliance via the second communications interface . monitor connection of the first communication interface with the wireless local area network, determine whether to trigger an alert at the wireless mobile device in response to a loss of connection of the first communication interface to the wireless local area network, wherein the determination is based on the status of a wireless connection of at least one other wireless mobile device to the wireless local area network, and to send a command, based on user input provided in response to the triggered alert, to the thermal appliance via the second communications interface . <EOS>