Central Heating - on yet?

[Dan Lotus]

I'm still no closer to understanding why people are looking to over ride a thermostat on a seemingly randomly chosen date, I suspect I never will.



I had a quick check on my heating for last September, and it must have been colder that this one, as the heating kicked in for a few hours only, over a few days in September, where as so far this month, nothing at all, and the forecast would suggest it will likely be October before it gets lower than the 19.6c I have the thermostat set at.

If it's to save money, turn the thermostat down, otherwise you'll be uncomfortably cold for a period of time, until on an arbitrary date the heating gets switched on.
As I see it - if you are switching on the heating late it will be:
April > September (Comfortable - no heating on, but no need)
October > November (Heating rigidly off, house cold, multiple layers required)
December > March (Heating on, comfortable again)

I'm surprised people have the capacity/desire to think about heating, I've got so much going on (As I suspect have most working people with a family) with work, children, taxi duties, and still trying to keep remotely fit, that I won't willingly give over some thinking time to the heating - let the thermostat take the load and do what it is there for

Is it some kind of societal compulsion?

 

[wafter]

Try starting here: https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/

Now there's no guarantee of course that whoever you choose is still not an idiot, bit thats probably the safest place to start.

It might not be the cheapest but I decided to get a British Gas service plan in place, costs around £20 p/month.

Thanks - really appreciate that and will take a look!

As it happens the old dear has some sort of universal-type cover for the house from British Gas - not just the boiler and it's a lot more money. Tbh I've not been hugely impressed as they've wrecked a few things and are constantly trying to upsell her a new boiler because parts "aren't available any more" (from their suppliers)... while the odd rogue employee has told her to crack on with it for as long as possible..

Probably less to go wrong with straight service contract mind

 

[SpokeyDokey]

S E Lakes - ours has been on all day today maintaining a resolutely steady 21°C.

Bliss.

 

[wiggydiggy]

Thanks - really appreciate that and will take a look!

As it happens the old dear has some sort of universal-type cover for the house from British Gas - not just the boiler and it's a lot more money. Tbh I've not been hugely impressed as they've wrecked a few things and are constantly trying to upsell her a new boiler because parts "aren't available any more" (from their suppliers)... while the odd rogue employee has told her to crack on with it for as long as possible..

Probably less to go wrong with straight service contract mind

I was with 'YourRepair' for a year but have moved to BG. Same price but better cover. My mums boiler is 17 years old, always BG serviced apart from 1 year with Yourrepair', and still going. I think BG can be regionally different in terms of cover/quality. I'm happy so far but time will tell.

Also we've both had quotes to fit a 'magnetic filter' to the boiler, mine was £190 and hers is 'in the post' (doesn't like email) so will be interesting to compare them. And actually I don't know yet if a filter is a beneficial thing to fit.

 

[Gunk]

Thanks and no - it absolutely needs looking at for the leak but as usual I'm paralised by indecision and mistrust of tradesmen.... did seek a recommendation off a mate but it turned out the guy he was initially happy with ended up screwing him so that's done nowt for my confidence..



Cheers - didn't know that. There are no obvious issues that suggest it requires bleeding (other than the spurious suggestion that it would help with the leak) so perhaps I'll leave it alone

DM me if you want me to recommend a decent heating engineer

 

[presta]

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

I'm still no closer to understanding why people are looking to over ride a thermostat on a seemingly randomly chosen date, I suspect I never will.

Heating is sadly far more complex than a thermostat in our rented flat...

We have three storage heaters of differing max Watt inputs/outputs in lounge, back room and bedroom.

Storage heaters are supposed to be wired up to only be on the night rate circuit, when you have separate electric circuits like Economy7, so you set the input level you want to use the electric to "charge" the bricks from 2330/0030.

However, after living here several years, we discovered that all our storage heaters used electric as soon as the input knob was above minimum... That would explain the silly excess bills we got in early spring above our direct debit!

So since that shocking discovery, I've had to remember to move the inputs typically to 66-100% when night rate kicks in at 2330 GMT and turn them off before 0630 GMT.

 

[Dan Lotus]

Heating is sadly far more complex than a thermostat in our rented flat...

We have three storage heaters of differing max Watt inputs/outputs in lounge, back room and bedroom.

Storage heaters are supposed to be wired up to only be on the night rate circuit, when you have separate electric circuits like Economy7, so you set the input level you want to use the electric to "charge" the bricks from 2330/0030.

However, after living here several years, we discovered that all our storage heaters used electric as soon as the input knob was above minimum... That would explain the silly excess bills we got in early spring above our direct debit!

So since that shocking discovery, I've had to remember to move the inputs typically to 66-100% when night rate kicks in at 2330 GMT and turn them off before 0630 GMT.

I can see how you are in a totally different boat, so can see why you have to manage things much more closely.
I've never lived somewhere with storage heaters - I guess I am lucky in having only lived in 3 different houses with my parents, and then as an adult only two properties.
My parents first house didn't have central heating as such, it was a new build in the 60s with a flat roof, a terrace, and the heating was I believe a single vent in the floor - one per floor, that blew out warm air, but it was terrible iirc, or perhaps it was just too expensive, as I do recall ice on the inside of the windows in the depths of winter.

I was more referring to those with a standard boiler, and radiators throughout their property.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I had my GCH on Sunday afternoon for a few hours, yesterday just for a couple of hours, off today, it is warm today.
Why work like a baboon then freeze in your own home?
I don't have my boiler on a timer because my work shifts vary, I just use the thermostat/controller to switch it on or off. Usually I set it at 18/19C when I'm home, off during the night.
Windows open for about an hour every day in winter, all day in summer - if it's hot, which is not a given in Scotland!
I live in a ground floor flat without carpets, because of my fur babies hairballs 😻

My unit does have a good solar sensor however. It's linked to the "I want to go out" app, but only if the temperature levels are acceptable

I've got one of those units, only goes out if she can sun herself
My other unit likes to get wet, but doesn't like to be dried before jumping on my bed.

Failed spectacularly to sort the leaking boiler over the summer

Get the professionals in, before you freeze to death in January, when the inevitable break down will happen but the heating engineers have a long waiting list.
I get my boiler serviced every end of August.

I'd like to bleed the rads (a source I found suggested this was relevant to the leaking boiler issue although I can't see how) however only the heated towel rail in the bathroom actually has an obvious bleed valve; the rest appear blanked or perhaps need to have the whole plug turned to open the system up to atmospheric.

Any thoughts on this would be welcome

Get the professionals to do the bleed and install new valves.

It's only really 'open'* systems that need bleeding, modern 'pressurised' systems don't need it apart from initial commisioning of a new boiler or radiator.

* the old type with an expansion tank in the attic/airing cupboard

Imo this is not correct. I had a new boiler installed 4 years ago, this year I said there were some clunking noises from the radiator, the man bled them.
My boiler is in the kitchen, the tank water only supplies the bathroom.

Also we've both had quotes to fit a 'magnetic filter' to the boiler, mine was £190 and hers is 'in the post' (doesn't like email) so will be interesting to compare them. And actually I don't know yet if a filter is a beneficial thing to fit.

Mine was £100 extra with the new boiler 4 years ago.

 

[raleighnut]

What pressure does your boiler run at, ours runs at 1.7 bar on the gauge, (roughly 20psi) green zone is 1.2 bar to 2.5 bar and won't go any higher due to us being on top of a hill/ridge so the water pressure is very low.

 

[raleighnut]

Imo this is not correct. I had a new boiler installed 4 years ago, this year I said there were some clunking noises from the radiator, the man bled them.
My boiler is in the kitchen, the tank water only supplies the bathroom.

What pressure does your boiler run at, ours runs at 1.7 bar on the gauge, (roughly 20psi) green zone is 1.2 bar to 2.5 bar and won't go any higher due to us being on top of a hill/ridge so the water pressure is very low.

Please note with a condensing/pressurised system you must top up from the 'fill loop' if you bleed radiators.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Please note with a condensing/pressurised system you must top up from the 'fill loop' if you bleed radiators.

Noted, but I'm sure the heating engineer knows.
Certain jobs I'm happy to delegate

What pressure does your boiler run at, ours runs at 1.7 bar on the gauge, (roughly 20psi) green zone is 1.2 bar to 2.5 bar and won't go any higher due to us being on top of a hill/ridge so the water pressure is very low.

Bang in the middle of the fat green bar numbered 1, just checked it now, but the boiler is off at the moment.
I'll monitor when I do the dishes or have the heating on.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Still wearing shorts

 

[mjr]

Still wearing shorts

Lederhosen, as it's Oktoberfest this week or next?

 

[Drago]

Im still in Y fronts, although the 55 year old layer of inch thick residue radiates warmth like a mini compost heap.