What is the best setting for heating and water

bhzmac1

My parents have recently moved to a new house and we are trying to work out the most efficient way to set up the heating and hot water supply, in-particular the hot water, as previously they have been used to a combi boiler so hot water on demand.

My mum is in most days so require hot water pretty much all day, they shower and bath normally in the early evening. At the moment the central heating is the only source of heat and is still required some heating during the cooler evenings.

The system they have had been fitted within the last 2 years so is fairly new and comprises of:
-Condensing boiler
-Foam insulated hot water tank with thermostat
-Duel timer switch for heating and hot water with over ride
-Room thermostat
-Standard RAD no TRV's

They way they are using it at the moment is.

Heating: heater timer always on, room stat set to min and just turn up stat when they require some heat. Heat output setting on boiler set to med to high

Hot Water: Cylinder thermostat set to 70. Manually turning the water time on when they get up and turning it off after baths etc in the early evening.

What are people's experiences with this set up and the most efficient set up for the demand?

macman

It's rather pointless using it manually if you have a timer/programmer. Set the programmer on/off times acording to their particular requirments.
For example, if getting up at 7am, set it come on at around 6.30am. Heating should not be on 24/7, as quite unnecessary.
Hot water probably can be set back to 60C minimum

G_M

A lot of this is trial and error, as systems vary, and everyone's requirements differ:

* Cylinder stat could be lower - try it! If the bath/shower is not hot enough, turn it up again! But the higher it's set, the more the boiler has to work.

* hot water timer. Depends how regular your schedule is. Do you always get up, bath etc at (more or less) the same times? How much water gets used during the day? How long does the cylinder keep the water hot?
- you could always pay £10 and add another insulation layer to the cylinder. Water will stay hot all day (& if not used, will hardly need re-heating in the evening)
- if all you do during the day is a bit of washing up, why waste energy heating a cylinder-full of water in the morning? Use the kettle! Then just heat the tank for bath/shower in the evening

* ch. If not needed every day, turn the timer off! Use the 'over-ride' switch if you need it oneevening cos it's chilly.

* boiler stat. Again - trial and error (& what works in summer may need adjusting in winter).
- If too high, boiler has to work hard (waste money) to get the water up to temperature.
- But if it is too low, then you'll be circulating warm water, not hot, & the cylinder stat & room stat will be continually saying "I'm not hot enough" so the boiler will never switch off (waste money).

reeac

bhzmac1 wrote: »

My parents have recently moved to a new house and we are trying to work out the most efficient way to set up the heating and hot water supply, in-particular the hot water, as previously they have been used to a combi boiler so hot water on demand.

My mum is in most days so require hot water pretty much all day, they shower and bath normally in the early evening. At the moment the central heating is the only source of heat and is still required some heating during the cooler evenings.

The system they have had been fitted within the last 2 years so is fairly new and comprises of:
-Condensing boiler
-Foam insulated hot water tank with thermostat
-Duel timer switch for heating and hot water with over ride
-Room thermostat
-Standard RAD no TRV's

They way they are using it at the moment is.

Heating: heater timer always on, room stat set to min and just turn up stat when they require some heat. Heat output setting on boiler set to med to high

Hot Water: Cylinder thermostat set to 70. Manually turning the water time on when they get up and turning it off after baths etc in the early evening.

What are people's experiences with this set up and the most efficient set up for the demand?

70C sounds dangerously high - risk of scalding. 60 would be better.
Re. boiler setting I understand [I have a conventional non-condensing boiler] that you'll get more condensing and hence higher boiler efficiency if it's set low. I'd try medium rather than medium-high.