Do you have a heating thermostat?

matelodave

A bog standard radiator 450x1600mm has an output of about 1kw. a room of your size about 27m2 would require about 3kwh or more to keep it at 20degrees when it's 0 outside (more if you don't have cavity wall insulation, double glazing and decent amount of insulation above the room if you live in a bungalow).

So even the best controls won't benefit you at all unless you significantly increase the output of the radiator - even a double panelled convector rad of that size will only give about 2kw. You need to reappraise your heating system & insulation to make sure it can do the job before spending money on super-duper controls. If the room can't get warm enough to turn a thermostat on and off then the heating will remain on continuously and you'll still be cold.

MillicentBystander

Apologies, my post regarding the plumbing was (unintentially) misleading. The bungalow has a perfectly functioning, (apparenly) 12 year old Vailliant Powermax combi boiler with full service record. The lounge also has a gas fire which I will be repacing with a wood burning stove for next Winter (i really am loathe to use it this Winter so will be replacing the radiator in there hopefully the same time as Evohome is installed). With regards to insulation, it was inadequate when we moved in but those lovely people at British Gas have upgraded the loft to 270mm free of charge. The cavity walls are already insulated so everything is fine on the insulation front and, at the moment, and I know the weather is due to get much colder, the existing radiator is providing enough warmth (albeit it's probably keeping the boiler firing longer than it should be due to its small form factor/output plus we are not people who like to be 'over warm' ). I think I may go for a 1600mm x 600mm double panel double convector Quinn Barlo (output 2.6w, almost 9,000 btu), they are very decntly priced at Plumb Arena and, crucially, seem to do free next day delivery. We'll (hopefully!) survive this Winter and will have the wood burner in for next!

Thanks for your input, Matelotdave and Cardew.:beer:

Edit: looks like this radiator may be the one to go for?

http://www.screwfix.com/p/kudox-premium-type-22-compact-convector-radiator-white-h-600-x-w-1600mm/67291

Smiley_Dan

The cavity walls are already insulated so everything is fine on the insulation front

It's "fine" for a given value of energy input. If you add more insulation, it will require less energy to heat.

I just want to correct the assumption that CWI is "good enough", because "enough" depends on a lot of things.

Cardew

I guessed right about the open fire(gas in your case) a very common arrangement in those days.

Edit: looks like this radiator may be the one to go for?

http://www.screwfix.com/p/kudox-prem...w-1600mm/67291

No! no! If you search MSE you can read of 'special' radiators filled with exotic clay and coated with a secret ingredient. They might cost £1,500 or so but they will save you a fortune in the long run.;)

MillicentBystander

Cardew wrote: »

I guessed right about the open fire(gas in your case) a very common arrangement in those days.

No! no! If you search MSE you can read of 'special' radiators filled with exotic clay and coated with a secret ingredient. They might cost £1,500 or so but they will save you a fortune in the long run.;)

Damn, clean forgot about those. Where do I sign?

leeruddecology

Thermostats. I have one, with timings to switch on and off. Simple right?

I set my NIBE f205p to come on between 07:00 - 07:30 and 18:30 - 22:00 Mon-Fri and today I came home for lunch and the heating was on. It was at 17 degrees, which is just below my set temperature of 18 degrees. But, it should only be working via the timer!! I have checked and its all set up right. any ideas? It was on again at about 17:30 as well. It only used about 2kw today, outside of the times set but thats not the point.

matelodave

What sort of timer thermostat have you got? Make? Model?

leeruddecology

its a nibe one. I beleive it comes as standard with the nibe f205p as it gives the instructions on how to use it in the manual for the nibe f205p. That said, it comes on when I don't ask it too!

matelodave

Is the unit continuously powered or does it get powered up during low tariff periods - possibly the thermostat/timer is resetting to manual if it's getting switched on & off. Just a thought?