How to set up heating system?
Discussion
Have a new heating system with radiators upstairs and underfloor heating downstairs – dual circuits.
Read the manuals which tell you how to change things BUT not what the recommended settings are/should be.
System is: Vaillant Eco Compact with Calormatic VRC 430 controller and water mixer.
The upstairs radiator side of things seems to be working ok, in that the rad system is set to provide 24C and the bedrooms are are 19C which is fine for us. Temperature gauges for this circuit say flow and return temps are 28C and 24C.
Underfloor heating part I do not understand. The boiler control for the circuit is set to 30C, the flow and return temperatures are 40C and 24C. System was turned on 2 days ago and the floor temperature is 18C which is warmer than the 13C at switch on.
Hot water is set to 56C.
A couple of questions. Is this set up, done by the installer, standard? How much warmer than the “standard” living room temperature of 21C should the floor be to maintain the room temperature? How high a temperature can the flow to the underfloor heating be before it damages something?
Would appreciate any feedback.
Read the manuals which tell you how to change things BUT not what the recommended settings are/should be.
System is: Vaillant Eco Compact with Calormatic VRC 430 controller and water mixer.
The upstairs radiator side of things seems to be working ok, in that the rad system is set to provide 24C and the bedrooms are are 19C which is fine for us. Temperature gauges for this circuit say flow and return temps are 28C and 24C.
Underfloor heating part I do not understand. The boiler control for the circuit is set to 30C, the flow and return temperatures are 40C and 24C. System was turned on 2 days ago and the floor temperature is 18C which is warmer than the 13C at switch on.
Hot water is set to 56C.
A couple of questions. Is this set up, done by the installer, standard? How much warmer than the “standard” living room temperature of 21C should the floor be to maintain the room temperature? How high a temperature can the flow to the underfloor heating be before it damages something?
Would appreciate any feedback.
My heating/hot water is very simple, but essentially I simply turn it up or down until it seems about right 
Wall thermostat starts at an indicated 16 in the mornings, rising throughout the day to about 20. HW is set to an indicated 52. It's probably more than 52 but it gives plenty of hot water without taking my skin off.
Wall thermostat starts at an indicated 16 in the mornings, rising throughout the day to about 20. HW is set to an indicated 52. It's probably more than 52 but it gives plenty of hot water without taking my skin off.
Radiators and underfloor are rather different.
By and large, especially if you have thermostatic valves fitted, the radiators will sort themselves out.
The underfloor on the other hand should have a tempering valve fitted to ensure the circulating water is no higher than 45c as this can damage concrete.
While testing a house the other day the floor temp varied between 23 and 25 to give a room temp of about 21.
So it doesn't matter what temp the water is at the boiler - as long as the underfloor is protected.
The tempering valve only allows a small amount of hot water into the floor to stop it overheating.
By and large, especially if you have thermostatic valves fitted, the radiators will sort themselves out.
The underfloor on the other hand should have a tempering valve fitted to ensure the circulating water is no higher than 45c as this can damage concrete.
While testing a house the other day the floor temp varied between 23 and 25 to give a room temp of about 21.
So it doesn't matter what temp the water is at the boiler - as long as the underfloor is protected.
The tempering valve only allows a small amount of hot water into the floor to stop it overheating.
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff