Oil Heating Advice

[E36GUY]

My house renovation is on another thread but I have a question re heating systems for anyone that can help?

Our new place has an oil fired system and there is no gas so we don't have a lot of choice here. With combi boilers that we've always had we've never run out of hot water. How does an oil system work here? Does it heat water on demand? I know there is an immersion tank for the summer months when the heating is off but with two kids and a wife who all bathe daily and me that enjoys a long shower at the weekends, how to avoid running out of hot water?

[E36GUY]

Thanks all.

Truth is I've always had gas so don't know what all the bits of equipment are in the house yet. The boiler is reasonably new and is WB I think so should be pretty efficient. There is a hot water temp control along with the heating controls so looks like it is separate. Perhaps the cylinder upstairs is one of these unvented tank things rather than an immersion heater.

[E36GUY]

280E said:

If there is any sort of HW cylinder, it is more likely that the 'hot water temp control' you refer to is to set the central heating 'flow' temperature.

Unvented cylinders almost invariably have a white outer 'shell', whereas conventional vented types have a more visible foam insulation (with or without an additional insulation jacket). The presence of a large cold water storage cistern in the loft will also indicate a vented cylinder!

Both types of cylinder will have an electrically-powered immersion heater.

THanks. The hot water temp is separate to the heating controls where you can set different temps for different times of the day.

Labelled Morning, Midday, Evening, Night, Hot Water....