Avoid using GAS and ELECTRIC !

Olliebeak

:T Like the sound of your 'Cowboy Pasta' sounds like something that my grandkids would wolf down .

Raspberry_Swirl

This is probably going to sound really dumb now but here I go anyway!!!

How do you know whether your water is on all the time or not? The programming box for the heating and water hasn't worked in years so when i want the heating on in the winter i just turn the thermostat round to a temp that makes the heating kick in. This saves me money on the heating as it's only on when i need it. But i'm guessing that my water must just be on all the time then?

Help!!

Gigervamp

On my programming box, it has two sets of buttons. One for the water and one for the heating. I can have the heating turned off but still have the water set to come on twice a day.
However, when the heating is on, the water will come on too, so maybe your water comes on when you've got your heating on.

oldMcDonald

Gigervamp wrote: »

On my programming box, it has two sets of buttons. One for the water and one for the heating. I can have the heating turned off but still have the water set to come on twice a day.
However, when the heating is on, the water will come on too, so maybe your water comes on when you've got your heating on.

I'm really confused about this. We have a gas boiler and like you, we also have a programming box with one button for water, one for heating. It sounds similar to the one you describe. We also have a water tank with a wall switch in a cupboard. I assume this is an electric heater - I have never used it.

I have the heating off for most of the year, but have the water on constantly, you can hear the boiler fire up when you turn the hot water tap on. Is this costing a lot to run it like this? Would it be cheaper to have a timer set for an hour or two a day, I assume the hot water is stored in the tank in the cupboard as this is always warm? I've never really given this much thought! This is a Housing Association house and so any leaflets to explain how to work the boiler / timer are long gone, this is the first time I have had a house with CH, so I just assumed the water should be left on.

I can't believe I have been so tight over the heating but never gave the water a second thought! I've always had an electric (immersion?) water heater until now - that was rarely turned on!

Olliebeak

oldMcDonald wrote: »

.............. have the water on constantly, you can hear the boiler fire up when you turn the hot water tap on. Is this costing a lot to run it like this? Would it be cheaper to have a timer set for an hour or two a day, I assume the hot water is stored in the tank in the cupboard as this is always warm? I've never really given this much thought! This is a Housing Association house and so any leaflets to explain how to work the boiler / timer are long gone, this is the first time I have had a house with CH, so I just assumed the water should be left on.

When you say that you can hear the boiler fire up when you turn the hot water tap on. That sounds similar to mine - hot water on demand. If that's the case then you may not actually have a 'hot water storage tank' - but it heats up as you ask for it (ie turning the tap on). But to be really sure, I would contact your local Housing Officer or your Area Housing Office. They should be able to give you (or obtain for you) proper information about the Heating & Hot Water System. Is there a name and model number on the boiler/control panel? Maybe you could contact the manufacturer and ask for some information.

I work for a Housing Association, and part of my job is to explain the heating/water systems to new tenants.

oldMcDonald

Thanks for the reply, Ollie

I did ask the Housing Officer when they handed over the house, they kind of bumbled about a bit and pushed some buttons and said that it was pretty self explainatry. After a few more questions she said that she didn't know much about how it worked, but they were always easy to work out. It isn't for me!!!

The boiler is an 'Ideal Classics', if anyone else has one of these then I would be grateful if they can say if they leave the water on constant or timed. I assumed that water is stored in the upstairs tank as the airing cupboard is always really warm - warm enough to dry clothes overnight in it.

Olliebeak

Try this link. It gives a list of Classic Boilers. There appear to be an HE Series (about two thirds of the way down the page) and an SE Series close to the bottom of the page).

Have a look at both and you may find which one matches your boiler. There are User Manuals for both - but make sure which one as a couple of them are for Propane Users.

Hope they might be useful - Good Luck.

If all else fails, what about your neighbours - would you consider asking one of them for help as your Housing Officer didn't sound as though they knew what they were talking about.

liloandstitch

oldMcDonald wrote: »

Thanks for the reply, Ollie

I did ask the Housing Officer when they handed over the house, they kind of bumbled about a bit and pushed some buttons and said that it was pretty self explainatry. After a few more questions she said that she didn't know much about how it worked, but they were always easy to work out. It isn't for me!!!

The boiler is an 'Ideal Classics', if anyone else has one of these then I would be grateful if they can say if they leave the water on constant or timed. I assumed that water is stored in the upstairs tank as the airing cupboard is always really warm - warm enough to dry clothes overnight in it.

I dont know much about this, but my airing cupboard gets warm when my immersion tank is full of hot water, which is how I heat my water - I use economy 7 and have it on for 1 hour in the morning - this most days is all I need for hot water through the day. The immersion tank is completely seperate to the combination boiler that you describe and is like a giant kettle. It sounds to me that somehow, your immersion heater is on, and you are heating water on the combination boiler. If I explain a bit further, with the boiler it heats water for you to use immediately, this is not stored anywhere - so whenever you turn on the hot tap you hear the boiler fire to heat the water that then comes out from the tap - you are not using the boiler to fill up the immersion heater and storing it. The immersion heater is usually a back up system to the boiler and therefore only gets switched on if you specifically need it (or maybe in summer if your CH works with your water) So if your airing cupboard is warm, this would indicate to me that your immersion is full of hot water and therefore on!!!

Sorry this is a bit waffled, but it is quite difficult to explain - perhaps someone who knows more than me can explain better?
Lilo

she_grinch

As a cheap and funky draught excluder for kids or teenagers bedrooms simply stuff one of those long over the knee stripey socks they sell on the market stalls for a couple of pounds and either stitch or tie the open end, a great selection of colours and patterns e.g. skulls! means even the most non conformist teenagers should find something to appeal to their taste!! and not much sewing involved for those less crafty. As a gift to a child add ears and googly eyes and perhaps for a teenage girl or girly adult add a garter or sequins,for a lad, possibly an old trainer on a football sock?

Raspberry_Swirl

Gigervamp wrote: »

On my programming box, it has two sets of buttons. One for the water and one for the heating. I can have the heating turned off but still have the water set to come on twice a day.
However, when the heating is on, the water will come on too, so maybe your water comes on when you've got your heating on.

the point is that my programming box doesn't work so how do i know when my water is on/if it's on all the time?