Will a room thermostat help?

espresso

brysiewysie wrote: »

Won't even adding a thermostst be quite a lot because of all the bits involved in getting it done?

It should not be expensive. A room stat can be purchased for a few pounds, e.g. here cable is not expensive and it should be easy to wire in to control the pump (which is wasting electricity if running all of the time).

Got2change

Thank you both for your replies.
It seems many moons ago that I gradually had bits replaced and added to the system in my previous house (that I owned), a valve or pump here, digital timer there - and yes, a room thermostat that didn't cost much, Eventually the bleeping back boiler ended up being condemned though. The main thing though for me was that I had a fairly efficient (and economical) system.

As my LL is saying he will get it done but then not organising it (for over four years), I feel that (for my health and purse) - if it's not too huge a job - I should - with his permission of course - sort it out; I just want to make sure that 1) it's worth it, 2) I can at least have an idea what I'm talking about when he starts saying there isn't any point [even if he's not paying] - and 3) I don't spend any unnecessary money and get the right thing installed in the best place.

So all advice and suggestions have been and willl be gratefully received.

Got2change

espresso wrote: »

It should not be expensive. A room stat can be purchased for a few pounds, e.g. here cable is not expensive and it should be easy to wire in to control the pump (which is wasting electricity if running all of the time).

One weird thing though is that the pump is under the bath (seems strange to me).....
D'you think that will be a problem?

espresso

Got2change wrote: »

One weird thing though is that the pump is under the bath (seems strange to me).....
D'you think that will be a problem?

It does not make any difference where the pump is situated. If not actually inside the boiler casing, they are commonly in the airing cupboard next to the hot water cylinder. I suppose that the space under the bath was just a convenient location when it was installed. A room stat would definitely be worth while installing in my opinion, just to give you some control.

Cardew

Got2change wrote: »

I agree - it's just whatever is controlling the temp of the water (dial on the boiler 0-5) is as low as it can go without clicking itself off and the system shutting down.
I guess my thoughts would be that the temperature of the radiator would to some extent affect the warmth of the room although realise that the temperature of the radiator is of course dictated by the temperature of the water going through the system. But have no idea how to lower that any further than it is....
(I assume if the system does actually go OFF when the dial is turned to it's lowest, the thermostat on the boiler is functioning OK.....)

If the CH water is really hot with the dial on minimum setting, then the thermostat is probably faulty. That the boiler stops when turned to off, does not mean the water thermostat is functioning correctly.

When you turn it up from minimum, do the radiators get even hotter?

The hotter the water in the radiators, the quicker the room heats up. However in your case, without any form of control of the room temperature, it will also mean that the room will get warmer.

The cost of fitting a room thermostat will largely be determing by the difficulty of wiring it into the circuit.

Got2change

Cardew wrote: »

If the CH water is really hot with the dial on minimum setting, then the thermostat is probably faulty. That the boiler stops when turned to off, does not mean the water thermostat is functioning correctly.

When you turn it up from minimum, do the radiators get even hotter?

The hotter the water in the radiators, the quicker the room heats up. However in your case, without any form of control of the room temperature, it will also mean that the room will get warmer.

The cost of fitting a room thermostat will largely be determing by the difficulty of wiring it into the circuit.

Thank you; it is great that you get what I'm whinging about and the bit in bold is really useful to know. I shall try later turning the dial up to see what happens with the radiators.... If they get hotter does that mean the thermostat IS functioning properly (and therefore, if they don't, that it isn't)?

I know then that the LL will still baulk at doing anything (we can never really agree on what's his responsibility or mine?) and more so as British Gas - who offer the protection (so far amounting to the annual safety check, which did fair enough detect the cracked flue that could have killed me) - have just written to say that parts for this boiler (due to it being antique) are very hard to find. (OK, it was a loosely disguised sales pitch for a new boiler from them.)

I am now able to fund it myself IF it doesn't cost a lot, so any and all information that helps me understand and make the best decision is fabulous.

PS - what's the worst that could happen if the thermostat isn't functioning properly?

Cardew

Got2change wrote: »

Thank you; it is great that you get what I'm whinging about and the bit in bold is really useful to know. I shall try later turning the dial up to see what happens with the radiators.... If they get hotter does that mean the thermostat IS functioning properly (and therefore, if they don't, that it isn't)?

I know then that the LL will still baulk at doing anything (we can never really agree on what's his responsibility or mine?) and more so as British Gas - who offer the protection (so far amounting to the annual safety check, which did fair enough detect the cracked flue that could have killed me) - have just written to say that parts for this boiler (due to it being antique) are very hard to find. (OK, it was a loosely disguised sales pitch for a new boiler from them.)

I am now able to fund it myself IF it doesn't cost a lot, so any and all information that helps me understand and make the best decision is fabulous.

PS - what's the worst that could happen if the thermostat isn't functioning properly?

Taking last things first, if the thermostat is faulty your landlord will need to put it right.(presumably)

I think we should get on thing clear. Getting a room thermostat and/or TRVs will make things easier in that you won't have to be continually switching on/off the timer and/or radiators. However provided you have been controlling the temperature of the rooms 'manually' there is not going to be a large saving in running costs.

Got2change

Cardew wrote: »

Taking last things first, if the thermostat is faulty your landlord will need to put it right.(presumably)

I think we should get on thing clear. Getting a room thermostat and/or TRVs will make things easier in that you won't have to be continually switching on/off the timer and/or radiators. However provided you have been controlling the temperature of the rooms 'manually' there is not going to be a large saving in running costs.

Understood; main issue that i have is the stifling/chilly options that I get when I leave the timer to do it's stuff or simply turn the heating off. Similarly, I either have to leave the heating to come on by timer when I'm going out or not switch on until I get in. Not been a problem over the summer/not working but I need something slightly less Stone-Age now with winter coming/starting work with funny hours..... Any financial benefit will be an added bonus, although I do expect my usage to drop by virtue of being out of the house more (yay - at last....)

Your advice is much appreciated.

LittleJo

Hi,
Do you have a 'stat on your hot water cylinder?
In general the boiler runs to satisfy demand for hot water called for by eithr room 'stat or cylinder 'stat.
The boiler 'stat only governs the boiler water temp. and should be working when hot water has been demanded. The boiler should not be running if no heat has been requested.
Thus the 'stats govern temps. and all are interlocked.
Jo

Got2change

LittleJo wrote: »

Hi,
Do you have a 'stat on your hot water cylinder?
In general the boiler runs to satisfy demand for hot water called for by eithr room 'stat or cylinder 'stat.
The boiler 'stat only governs the boiler water temp. and should be working when hot water has been demanded. The boiler should not be running if no heat has been requested.
Thus the 'stats govern temps. and all are interlocked.
Jo

Although there isn't one that I can see, I would have thought that it couldn't NOT have one, otherwise wouldn't the water just get hotter and hotter....?

For further clarification - this is how I run the system at the moment - or would typically through the winter out and working 9-5:
a.m. heating and water on for 2 hours from 6:30 - I assume the cylinder stat kicks in to stop the water getting 'too' hot but nothing stops the heating.....
p.m. heating and water on from 4:30 until about 11:00.
Doesn't seem much choice if I want to be warm.

If I over-ride the timer and turn it off, it won't come on later; similarly, if I over-ride it to have the heating on constantly (if I am in and it's v cold), nothing except me turning it off manually will cause it go off -the nightmare is if I fall asleep with it on constantly because I didn't put it back to the timer. I'm sure that I have a faulty, inefficient system and understand that LL doesn't see it as a problem if it's working (and safe?), so I just need to do the best I can (at long last) - but my knowledge is so very limited.