What water heating do I have?

InsideInsurance

Just moved into a new build place (renting) and unfortunately nothing comes with any instructions (not that I would read them as a guy obv anyway but still).

I am confused however over what water heating there is and would like to know as to be able to budget correctly for elec and gas.

In the kitchen is a tiny boiler which has a program button that only cycles between Off and an icon that looks like a radiator. Downstairs there is a battery operated digital thermostat on the wall that appears only to control heating.

In the main bedroom upstairs there is a duplicate if the downstairs thermostat and these operate independently of each other, I am guessing for upstairs/ downstairs control or could it be master bedroom/ rest of house?

In the airing cupboard there is a very large hot water tank plus another digital wall mounted unit but different from the other two. All the electronics branded Honeywell.

Looking at their site they suggest that there should be one main unit plus possibly room ones and the water control one but the two room mounted ones are identical and confused by the boiler only have effectively off and radiator unless the icon is misleading.

So is this gas heated water or is it electric? Clearly the CH is gas.

Habbakuk

Not being an expert but you could find out by switcing of the gas by turning off the gas valve and see if the water is heated? I sure someoby more knowledgeable will come along soon.

JohnB47

If the only boiler you can see is tiny and it only has a radiator icon on it, I wonder if your water heating is by an immersion coil in the tank.

To check if water is being heated by gas, locate your gas meter, turn on the hot water and look at the meter. It will show movement or will make a sound if gas is being used. At least, that's what mine does - more modern ones may not make a noise but you should be able to tell if gas is being used.

If that doesn't indicate usage, check the electricity meter. If that's not showing lots of power being used, it could still be that you're water is heated by electric but on a timer. Can you see one anywhere?

macman

Why don't you ask your LL to provide such basic information? How was the hot water and heating system described in the rental details? What does the EPC say-the document that your LL is legally obliged to provide you with on occupation? Or the gas safety certificate?
Why do you say that the CH is 'clearly gas'? This sounds more like an electric boiler driving a wet CH system (which, unfortunately for you, is the most expensive heating system ever devised).
Do you have a live gas supply and meter?

InsideInsurance

macman wrote: »

Why don't you ask your LL to provide such basic information? How was the hot water and heating system described in the rental details? What does the EPC say-the document that your LL is legally obliged to provide you with on occupation? Or the gas safety certificate?
Why do you say that the CH is 'clearly gas'? This sounds more like an electric boiler driving a wet CH system (which, unfortunately for you, is the most expensive heating system ever devised).
Do you have a live gas supply and meter?

The LL has never seen the property, he is an overseas expat who's buying up new builds and letting them out in the area over the last few years. Not had any direct comms, all via letting agent, and whilst reasonable he doesnt seem to know much about what he's bought.

The Letting Agent wasnt much better as they pointed out the tank in the airing cupboard and introduced it as the boiler and hadnt seen/found the boiler in the kitchen.

There is a live gas meter and gas hob (electric oven). The tiny boiler you can hear kick in when you turn up the thermostat downstairs. No Gas Safety cert received yet (nor bin and a few other things) and these were noted as required by the company that did the inventory/ check in.

The details the agents used were the original builders/ site marketing materials for the development rather than bothering doing their own ones. It states "Gas fired radiator central heating" and the EPC is just a single graph giving energy efficiency at 83 with a potential of 94

I did spot that there is a fuse switch with a wire going into the hot water tank yesterday which is currently off but we do have hot water. I am guessing therefore it is gas heated with an electric backup.

Just also confused by the fact that all three control units allow you to programme on/off times and no idea how these work with each other - certainly the Honeywell site suggests that you should have only one unit that programs times and the others just being more basic temp setting units.