Radiators too hot

Millie_Millsters

I've just bought a house that has a Halstead Finest Gold combi boiler. It seems pretty good but the radiators (6 +towel rail) get far too hot and I can't find any trace of a room thermostat or any other way to turn them down.

There is a dial on the front of the boiler for CH which is at max but it doesn't seem to make any difference if I turn it lower.

Should I get thermostatic radiator valves fitted or can I get a general room thermostat or... any other suggestions? Setting I've missed somewhere... ?

I either boil, freeze or have to play with the timer/on/off switch!

Ebe_Scrooge

Hmmm. I'm not an expert, but I would have thought the dial on the boiler should regulate the temperature, as long as it's working properly. You're sure it controls the CH rather than the hot water temperature ?

That aside, TRVs are a good idea anyway. They're cheap enough to buy, and easy enough to fit by most average DIY-ers. They can save you money over time as you can have different rooms at different temperatures ( typically, most people have bedrooms a bit cooler than living rooms, for instance ). So you're not paying to heat the whole house, only the rooms you need. And, quite aside from the fuel savings, they make life more comfortable.

Be aware that you need to leave one radiator without a TRV so that the main thermostat ( whether that be a room stat or built into the boiler ) can work properly. If you have a room stat, then you usually leave the rad in that room without a TRV.

Hope this helps.

Millie_Millsters

Yes thanks, that helps.

I was thinking about TRVs anyway, as I had them in my old house and think that heating bedrooms is mostly a waste. I'm not up to doing a DIY job though!

The dial is definitely for CH because there's another on next to it for HW.

macman

I find it hard to believe that any system fitted in recent years has neither TRV's nor at least a room 'stat. These are required under Building Regs. If so, get a wireless digital programmer and TRV's fitted as a priority.
In the meantime turn down the CH water temp on the boiler to about 2/3rds.
Remember that the rads are either on or off, what matters is not how hot the rad is, but how hot the room is! A TRV simply alters the temp at which the valve opens or shuts, it doesn't alter the temp of the water in the CH circuit. That is controlled by the boiler setting.

Millie_Millsters

macman wrote: »

I find it hard to believe that any system fitted in recent years has neither TRV's nor at least a room 'stat. These are required under Building Regs. If so, get a wireless digital programmer and TRV's fitted as a priority.
In the meantime turn down the CH water temp on the boiler to about 2/3rds.
Remember that the rads are either on or off, what matters is not how hot the rad is, but how hot the room is! A TRV simply alters the temp at which the valve opens or shuts, it doesn't alter the temp of the water in the CH circuit. That is controlled by the boiler setting.

The boiler was fitted in 2000 (the previous owner left the bill).

It is the temp of the water I'm concerned with mostly, so I've turned down the dial on the boiler and will leave it for a while instead of playing with it!

What does a wireless digital programmer do? The boiler does have a mechanical timer thingy on it, where you have to flick the tabs out to set the on/off times.

Norman_Castle

It is the temp of the water I'm concerned with mostly, so I've turned down the dial on the boiler and will leave it for a while instead of playing with it!

On my old heating system the only temperature contol was on the boiler. set yours to low, stop playing with it!, and see if it maintains a steady temperature

Millie_Millsters

Norman_Castle wrote: »

On my old heating system the only temperature contol was on the boiler. set yours to low, stop playing with it!, and see if it maintains a steady temperature

Yes Boss!!!

macman

A 7 day programmer will give you proper control over both timing and temp, also frost protection.
Little extra cost over fitting a room 'stat.

gmgmgm

This is mostly still on topic... (but I can open a new thread if necessary)

I have a similar system, but with TRVs on most rads and a stone-age timer. Boiler is a recent Potterton Performa

How easy is it to fit a wireless room thermostat and how much should the kit cost? (I'm fairly capable when it comes to electrics).

OP, I'm assuming you'll probably want to do the same thing!

gas4you

OP. You need the boiler stat checking out

Millie_Millsters

Thanks all for the help and comments I've got it sussed now.

Norman_Castle wrote: »

On my old heating system the only temperature contol was on the boiler. set yours to low, stop playing with it!, and see if it maintains a steady temperature

I turned the CH stat on the boiler down (and stopped playing with it!) . The rads are now a sensible temperature rather than scalding hot. My mistake was in only checking one of the rads, it appears that the one nearest the boiler stays hotter than the rest.

macman wrote: »

A 7 day programmer will give you proper control over both timing and temp, also frost protection.
Little extra cost over fitting a room 'stat.

I can't see the point in getting one of these now I've sussed out the CH control on the boiler. My timer may be 10 years old but works perfectly and the boiler already has frost protection build in.

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

That aside, TRVs are a good idea anyway.

Yep, gonna get some of these for the bedrooms at least.

Thanks all :beer: