Any heating engineers / plumbers here?

[KingRichard]

I've just moved into a new rented place and the peasants that had it before have fitted economy 7 heating.

It's the worst contraption ever. If I want a 30 second shower at 6am, then it just about does it's job. I run a 24hr business, so I could want hot water at any time of day (washing up, shower, bath etc).

It's got a boost function, which will happily heat enough hot water for a 30 second shower during the day, but it seems that once it's used that will be your lot. With two of us living there, someone ends up with a cold shower. Lets face it, that means I get a cold shower

What I'd really like is a system that keeps a tank full of hot water, and then heats it back up as it's used, working on some kind of thermostat. Is this possible to convert from economy 7? Surely it's just a case of swapping the control box for something less restrictive?

I can't see this being any less efficient, as you would only be topping up with little bits all day.

So, anyone here a boiler boffin?

[Engineer1]

I have a stty old economy 7 set up that has 2 mains circuits and 2 meters meaning that the Economy 7 side can only be operated when the economy 7 circuit is activated by the clock locked in the meter setup. I mention this as just saying Economy 7 may not be enough for someone to tell you also you mean heating technician, or repair man not Engineer.

[KingRichard]

Engineer1 said:

I have a stty old economy 7 set up that has 2 mains circuits and 2 meters meaning that the Economy 7 side can only be operated when the economy 7 circuit is activated by the clock locked in the meter setup. I mention this as just saying Economy 7 may not be enough for someone to tell you also you mean heating technician, or repair man not Engineer.

Ok so I mean heating technician THEN!

So if you removed the clock, it would just heat all the time? That sounds great.

[escargot]

KingRichard said:

That sounds great.

And expensive. Economy is bloody ironic where these things are concerned.

Edited by escargot on Wednesday 13th May 10:14

[tegwin]

Can you not fit a self heating shower... IE.. it takes cold water and heats it internally before weeing it all over you? Infinate shower time!

[KingRichard]

tegwin said:

Can you not fit a self heating shower... IE.. it takes cold water and heats it internally before weeing it all over you? Infinate shower time!

Do they work?

I've only had gas central heating and water heating before now.

[tegwin]

We have one.... and yes it does! It doesnt give as much water as a "proper" shower, but it gives plenty to give a nice shower... we only have a 9Kw one.... Its fairly green given that it heats on demand and there is no loss through storage and transportation of the heater water!

If you get a 10 or a 12Kw the flow rate of the water can be higher....

You need to make sure your house water supply has sufficient flow rate to feed such a shower though... Most houses do..


The more expensive electric showers have a clever electornic system in them that keeps the output water temp the same regardless of input flow... so if someone flushes the bog downstairs... you dont get burned!

Edited by tegwin on Wednesday 13th May 10:29

[Landlord]

KingRichard said:

I've only had gas central heating and water heating before now.

They do! I was the same as you... but then we moved in to a place with an electric shower and it's great.

You will need an adequate circuit though (30amp??!) which you may not have which will (sensibly) mean getting a sparks in, so it would be a cheap solution.

[KingRichard]

Landlord said:

KingRichard said:

I've only had gas central heating and water heating before now.

They do! I was the same as you... but then we moved in to a place with an electric shower and it's great.

You will need an adequate circuit though (30amp??!) which you may not have which will (sensibly) mean getting a sparks in, so it would be a cheap solution.

House is less than 5 years old. It should have decent electrics

[Landlord]

KingRichard said:

Landlord said:

KingRichard said:

I've only had gas central heating and water heating before now.

They do! I was the same as you... but then we moved in to a place with an electric shower and it's great.

You will need an adequate circuit though (30amp??!) which you may not have which will (sensibly) mean getting a sparks in, so it would be a cheap solution.

House is less than 5 years old. It should have decent electrics

Get it checked as you might not have a spare 30amp MCB - now, IANASparks so I could be completely wrong...

[tegwin]

Yup... you ideally need a correctly rated MCB of 30A plus correct cabling from your consumer unit. We were lucky in that, our shower room replaced an old kitchen upstairs... and the cooker supply was perfect for the job!

[KingRichard]

tegwin said:

Yup... you ideally need a correctly rated MCB of 30A plus correct cabling from your consumer unit. We were lucky in that, our shower room replaced an old kitchen upstairs... and the cooker supply was perfect for the job!

Right... so I go and buy an electric shower from homebase or similar, and then get a sparky to fit it?

[Ganglandboss]

Landlord said:

KingRichard said:

I've only had gas central heating and water heating before now.

They do! I was the same as you... but then we moved in to a place with an electric shower and it's great.

You will need an adequate circuit though (30amp??!) which you may not have which will (sensibly) mean getting a sparks in, so it would be a cheap solution.

Depends on what you call cheap. You are looking at around £150 for a decent electric shower then it needs to be fitted. You will need a cable running from the consumer unit (10 mm2 in most cases) to the shower. Depending on whether you have any spare ways, you may need a new consumer unit. The work will have to be done by an approved installer as it is notifiable work. The plumbing is pretty straitforward though. Also you need to consider decoration; do you want hideous mini trunking or do you want the cable chased in? If so, you have to allow for redecorating.