Anyone know anything about heating controls?

uksparks · Dec 31, 2014

Hi,

I have just swapped my ancient potterton room stat with a new Honeywell DT90E, just because there's now no argument about what temperature its at.

I have a a non condensing boiler with indirect heating via a coil thing (i think) which is unvented.

Its a Potterton Suprima 60L 78.15 Efficient D rated boiler which kicks out 17.6kW.

See link: Potterton Suprima 60L Gas - Boiler Efficiency Ratings

Reason for my concern and want to do something is because the gas bill for the last 4 weeks was £150, the last house it was only £35 per month ish, but this was 312 units, £150 of actual usage not guesstimated.

Anyway, see the photos below of what I have.

I have 15 Radiators and want to know if I can make it all wireless and have a stat in each room, so would want probably 8 room stats.

Can I do this with what I have? I have a TRV on each radiator, but what I want to know is, can I change them all for wireless and pair them all with the relevant radiators so that I can turn the heating up in one room and it opens the stat or something?

Do you see what im getting at?

[ElectriciansForums.net] Anyone know anything about heating controls?

Octopus · Dec 31, 2014

Hum, turn the heating down and installing more insulation?

TJ Anderson · Dec 31, 2014

That is going to cost a lot in parts to do what you suggest. Also you could end up with your boiler running longer and using more gas . Your money would be better spent on improved insulation as Murdoch has suggested and going to a condensing boiler with compensating controls. I recommend Worcester CDI (sized accordingly) and FW100. Vailant also do one.

dansk · Dec 31, 2014

Hi, never fitted one but this should do what you want evohome Controller - Honeywell UK Heating Controls

uksparks · Dec 31, 2014

The house is only 14 years old, has cavity wall insulation, tons of loft insulation, everything you can possibly do.

What do you feel is causing my high gas bill?

I don't know if leaving the hot water on auto is going to be better / cheaper than leaving it on once / twice a day? Any ideas?

Whats the benefit of a condensing of the non condensing boiler? I don't know anything about them.

uksparks · Dec 31, 2014

dansk said:
Hi, never fitted one but this should do what you want evohome Controller - Honeywell UK Heating Controls

I was wondering about that.

Octopus · Dec 31, 2014

dansk said:
Hi, never fitted one but this should do what you want evohome Controller - Honeywell UK Heating Controls

I think you need to be a registered, approved, trained installer to fit those....

ian.settle1 · Dec 31, 2014

Why not fit TRVs to each radiator?

uksparks · Dec 31, 2014

Murdoch said:
I think you need to be a registered, approved, trained installer to fit those....

I am a Honeywell approved installer having done their training course... But not on the Evohome, to be honest, I do not work with heating controls enough to be able to remember exactly how it all works.

David M · Dec 31, 2014

Firstly the efficiency of that boiler isn't as good as modern alternatives.

But a few things to consider first before you go to any unnecessary expense are:-

Is the boiler installed in an unheated area, e.g garage or outhouse? the reason I ask is that the boiler may have a frost protection stat fitted. they are usually set at around 5 degrees C so it would be worth a check, if the temperature drops low (which it will this time of year) then the boiler will kick in on regular intervals when not in full use.

Try just turning down the TRV's in the rooms you do not use much, and keep the doors closed.

Check to see if the temperature of the heating from source (boiler) is not set too high. Many people have it wound right up causing scalding hot rads which is dangerous and totally unnecessary. The boiler will just constantly keep kicking in to maintain the flow temperature.

I noticed from your pictures that the hot water stat is set ok so are you timing your hot water, or is it regularly set to constant?

TJ Anderson · Dec 31, 2014

uksparks said:
The house is only 14 years old, has cavity wall insulation, tons of loft insulation, everything you can possibly do.

What do you feel is causing my high gas bill?

I don't know if leaving the hot water on auto is going to be better / cheaper than leaving it on once / twice a day? Any ideas?

Whats the benefit of a condensing of the non condensing boiler? I don't know anything about them.

Efficiencies are much higher with a condensing boiler, but system design is also important as they only condense below the dew point (approx 55 degrees), modulating boilers condense for longer. Also how you use it, if your wife has the stat at 23 all the time, that will make a massive difference!!

TJ Anderson · Dec 31, 2014

ian.settle1 said:
Why not fit TRVs to each radiator?

He has TRV's

dansk · Dec 31, 2014

Have you checked your meter matches up with your bill, some suppliers bill you in m3 but the meter reads otherwise and therefore you get a high bill
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3hjH7Ptrt9tHDG618NQwC3Z/reading-meters

uksparks · Dec 31, 2014

Hmm, ill check about the frost thing, and having just looked at the temperature knob, its on Max..

Presumably if I turn this down will it not make a difference to the temperature of the water? Roughly where abouts should it be on the dial?

Thanks for the help everyone!

uksparks · Dec 31, 2014

dansk said:
Have you checked your meter matches up with your bill, some suppliers bill you in m3 but the meter reads otherwise and therefore you get a high bill
BBC One - Watchdog - Reading meters

Ill go and look now....