Any central heating engineers on here?
Discussion
Can you fit a thermostat to any kind of boiler? I have a combi boiler and it works on a timer, but it is ridiculous that it comes on at the same time irrespective of how hot/cold the house is.
If I can get one fitted, roughly what would it cost, and how long would it take to make this money back on savings from gas bills? (Assume an average spend on gas, though currently the heating is on for about 5 hours a day.
If I can get one fitted, roughly what would it cost, and how long would it take to make this money back on savings from gas bills? (Assume an average spend on gas, though currently the heating is on for about 5 hours a day.
Do you mean an adjustable timer?
Surely you don't have your central heating on for 5 hours a day in July?
The thermostat is the thing on the wall in your living room to adjust the house temperature. Just turn it down and the boiler won't fire up as much to maintain the lower temp.
Have I misunderstood you?
Surely you don't have your central heating on for 5 hours a day in July?
The thermostat is the thing on the wall in your living room to adjust the house temperature. Just turn it down and the boiler won't fire up as much to maintain the lower temp.
Have I misunderstood you?
Yes, you have. There is no thermostat in the house. The timer is adjustable, of course, but this week for example, it was near freezing at the beginning of the week, so needed 5 hours to keep warm, whereas we have to turn the boiler off now that is 8 or 9 degrees. I could just change the timer every day, once I'd seen the forecast, but I would prefer to just fit a thermostat, that way it would look after the heat when we were away on holiday too.
Try these then.......
www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?cId=102632&ts=01870&id=20607
www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?cId=102632&ts=01870&id=63760
Sort of thing you are looking for?
www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?cId=102632&ts=01870&id=20607
www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?cId=102632&ts=01870&id=63760
Sort of thing you are looking for?
the first one is a thermostat, the second one a programmer (which the boiler has built in). Think I would still need an engineer to fit it to make sure it was effective at controlling the boiler, but I'm worried that the boiler may not be compatible, otherwise why wouldn't the previous owner have had one fitted?
Do you have the manual for the boiler? In there you should find a wiring diagram which should show a link that takes the place of the thermostat. Take out the link wire up the stat and bobs your uncle. The trick is getting the wires from the stat to the boiler tidily. If you don't have the manual just have a look at the back of the control panel and the link should be obvious.
All of this assumes some electrical compentance. If not get an electrician in and prepare to be spanked.
All of this assumes some electrical compentance. If not get an electrician in and prepare to be spanked.
Do you mean represurise the water circuit or has the diaphrgm gone in your expansion vessel?
If the first then there should be a tee with a valve on the mains water into the boiler and a similar tee on one of the central heating pipes. These pipes are normally joined by a braided bit of flexi that everybody leaves on but are not suposed to. If the hose is there just open the valve on the mains ta da the pressure in your sytem goes up. If you haven't got a hose go to your local DIY store and get one then as above.
Why has the preesure gone down?
If the first then there should be a tee with a valve on the mains water into the boiler and a similar tee on one of the central heating pipes. These pipes are normally joined by a braided bit of flexi that everybody leaves on but are not suposed to. If the hose is there just open the valve on the mains ta da the pressure in your sytem goes up. If you haven't got a hose go to your local DIY store and get one then as above.
Why has the preesure gone down?
zebedee said:
Yes, you have. There is no thermostat in the house. The timer is adjustable, of course, but this week for example, it was near freezing at the beginning of the week, so needed 5 hours to keep warm, whereas we have to turn the boiler off now that is 8 or 9 degrees. I could just change the timer every day, once I'd seen the forecast, but I would prefer to just fit a thermostat, that way it would look after the heat when we were away on holiday too.
Why not fit thermostatic valves to all the radiators bar one or leave a bathroom towel rail on permanently. ( fed from the central heating of course)
Tafia
Because that will still leave the boiler on until the return temp gets to the cut off level. Also because draining down your central heating in Feb is not that clever. Not saying TRV's arn't a bloody good idea but one for the summer.
God I'm bored and I'm reaaly crap at the tennis game
>> Edited by Smart Roadster on Thursday 16th February 15:50
Because that will still leave the boiler on until the return temp gets to the cut off level. Also because draining down your central heating in Feb is not that clever. Not saying TRV's arn't a bloody good idea but one for the summer.
God I'm bored and I'm reaaly crap at the tennis game
>> Edited by Smart Roadster on Thursday 16th February 15:50
Nuggs said:
Sorry for the hijack, but does anyone know how to re-pressurise a combi boiler (Powermax 115)? Is it a user-servicable-type job?
Buy a combi filling loop from your plumbers merchant. There should still be connections on the pipework below the boiler from when the installer did it. Take care not to pressurise it more than makers recomendation though. Pressure gauge on boiler front.
so its a job for an electrician rather than a central heating engineer then, as I don't have the manual. I see from one of the earlier links that you can get a wireless thermostat, which is probably what I would go for, to minimise costs in re-plastering (even if the thing itself is £100). Just need to find the best place in the house to put it (probably hallway, as there are no radiators there, so won't be influenced by any particular radiator, and it can be put somewhere discreet?)
Smart Roadster said:
Do you mean represurise the water circuit or has the diaphrgm gone in your expansion vessel?
If the first then there should be a tee with a valve on the mains water into the boiler and a similar tee on one of the central heating pipes. These pipes are normally joined by a braided bit of flexi that everybody leaves on but are not suposed to. If the hose is there just open the valve on the mains ta da the pressure in your sytem goes up. If you haven't got a hose go to your local DIY store and get one then as above.
Why has the preesure gone down?
Yeah you need to find out why the pressure has gone down. In my case it was:
a) Because the boiler pressure relief valve had stuck open (because the previous tenant had left the topup valve open slightly causing the system to permanently stay at 3 bar)
then
b) Because the expansion vessel had broken (allegedly)
then
c) Because there was a leak in the pipework to one of the radiators (underneath concrete)
All fixed now
I feel sorry for the landlord though 
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