CH/HW question
Discussion
My CH system is very basic. One timer (analogue, not digital) controls the heating and HW together. So to have enough hot water for a shave in the morning, the heating has to come on an hour before I get up, resulting in the house being like an oven for the 3 hours between then and when the OH gets up. Not that she minds, obviously 
Until last year when I moved in, there was no thermostat at all. I've had thermo valves fitted on all the rads so at least I have some measure of control over the house temperature now. Still don't have one for the HW tank.
The house I used to live in was a new build, and had a posh timer with separate controls for the CH and HW, which meant in summer I could just turn off the CH altogether.
So... Is it possible (or feasible, I suppose) to change what I've got now for a timer which will control the CH and HW independently? Or would it mean a major rewire?
Until last year when I moved in, there was no thermostat at all. I've had thermo valves fitted on all the rads so at least I have some measure of control over the house temperature now. Still don't have one for the HW tank.
The house I used to live in was a new build, and had a posh timer with separate controls for the CH and HW, which meant in summer I could just turn off the CH altogether.
So... Is it possible (or feasible, I suppose) to change what I've got now for a timer which will control the CH and HW independently? Or would it mean a major rewire?
I suspect that a cylinder stat or a motorised valve is not working on your system, but with the advent of wireless controls your system should be upgradable without too much wiring.
eta I cant see many trades coming in to homes garden diy, as most of us have had a gutful by the time we get home. I only clicked by accident.
eta I cant see many trades coming in to homes garden diy, as most of us have had a gutful by the time we get home. I only clicked by accident.
Edited by dirkgently on Wednesday 8th April 08:08
parapaul said:
My CH system is very basic. One timer (analogue, not digital) controls the heating and HW together. So to have enough hot water for a shave in the morning, the heating has to come on an hour before I get up, resulting in the house being like an oven for the 3 hours between then and when the OH gets up. Not that she minds, obviously
Until last year when I moved in, there was no thermostat at all. I've had thermo valves fitted on all the rads so at least I have some measure of control over the house temperature now. Still don't have one for the HW tank.
The house I used to live in was a new build, and had a posh timer with separate controls for the CH and HW, which meant in summer I could just turn off the CH altogether.
So... Is it possible (or feasible, I suppose) to change what I've got now for a timer which will control the CH and HW independently? Or would it mean a major rewire?
There are some diagrams here http://www.miketheboilerman.com/pipeworklayouts.ht... and you probably got something like the first diagram and what you need is something like the second diagram. Until last year when I moved in, there was no thermostat at all. I've had thermo valves fitted on all the rads so at least I have some measure of control over the house temperature now. Still don't have one for the HW tank.
The house I used to live in was a new build, and had a posh timer with separate controls for the CH and HW, which meant in summer I could just turn off the CH altogether.
So... Is it possible (or feasible, I suppose) to change what I've got now for a timer which will control the CH and HW independently? Or would it mean a major rewire?
If you have got gravity hot water then it's not just rewiring, you would need a fair bit of replumbing too.
mfmman said:
Fit a switch to the pump circuit so you can turn it off in the summer. The water will go round the cylinder loop by convection only. This is why the pipes to and from the cylinder will (should) be bigger, 22mm as opposed to 15mm to the rads.
With ALL due respect this post is real nonsense.......Heat will only circulate through a cylinder 'loop' by convection under carefully designed conditions and unless the system has been designed like this from the outset it's VERY unlikely to work. If it WAS designed for gravity circulation it wouldn't have a pump on the hot water circuit anyway.
Also 15mm pipe will run roughly 13-14,000btu/Hr, so you won't run many radiators off that. Most boilers these days would simply kettle without 22mm into the heating circuit.
Ferg said:
mfmman said:
Fit a switch to the pump circuit so you can turn it off in the summer. The water will go round the cylinder loop by convection only. This is why the pipes to and from the cylinder will (should) be bigger, 22mm as opposed to 15mm to the rads.
With ALL due respect this post is real nonsense.......Heat will only circulate through a cylinder 'loop' by convection under carefully designed conditions and unless the system has been designed like this from the outset it's VERY unlikely to work. If it WAS designed for gravity circulation it wouldn't have a pump on the hot water circuit anyway.
Also 15mm pipe will run roughly 13-14,000btu/Hr, so you won't run many radiators off that. Most boilers these days would simply kettle without 22mm into the heating circuit.
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