Should I turn my boiler up to the maximum?

JC1440

I just moved in to a place and on the instructions for the boiler it says to set the required temperature for the central heating by ''rotating the potentiometer clockwise or anticlockwise''. Do I just turn it up the maximum and adjust the individual dials on each radiator? Each radiator has a dial which you can set between one and five, and I have each one set to the lowest dial and the heat seems decent enough. Thanks

lstar337

If it is a condensing boiler then you should try to get the return feed to below 55c to maintain the highest level of efficiency, though this will make the response slower. If you just want fast heat then set it as high as needed.

You need to balance out your radiators to get the temperatures you desire in each room and then leave them set that way.

As an example, I know that if I have my hall/stairs/landing radiator set to 5 and the room stat at 18c, then my lounge will be 21c with the radiator on 4, and my bedrooms will be 18c with the radiators on 3.

Balance out your radiators first, then set the boiler as low as you can accept.

JC1440

Thanks a lot, I'll give it a try.

captainhindsight_2

The boiler stat wants to be on high, then the TVRs and room stat be on the lowest comfortable settings.

This means the boiler is running for shorter periods of time, at its most efficient and thus using less gas.

footyguy

captainhindsight wrote: »

The boiler stat wants to be on high, then the TVRs and room stat be on the lowest comfortable settings.

This means the boiler is running for shorter periods of time, at its most efficient and thus using less gas.

In the same way presumably that driving a car in a manner that gets you from A-B in the quicket possible time, so that the engine does run not too long, and will be operating at it's most efficient (wide open throttle) uses less gas too? :huh:

Oh dear ... :cool:

lstar337

captainhindsight wrote: »

I clearly know a lot more than you, having run a company that has fitted hundreds of boilers.

You are clearly full of crap and have no idea how to read let alone know how a modern heating system works

Take a look around the internet, every scrap of information on the matter points to keeping the return flow as low as possible to keep the boiler condensing.

The boiler can only reach its top efficiency level while condensing.

So set the central heating temp as low as you can before it stops working, and balance your rads.

Running a company that fits boilers, doesn't make you an expert on running them.

captainhindsight_2

lstar337 wrote: »

Take a look around the internet, every scrap of information on the matter points to keeping the return flow as low as possible to keep the boiler condensing.

The boiler can only reach its top efficiency level while condensing.

So set the central heating temp as low as you can before it stops working, and balance your rads.

Maybe people need to learn how to read...

Each boiler has its own temperature setting that is runs at its most efficient. This can be looked up, and then set the boiler to that high temperature. :T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T

lstar337

captainhindsight wrote: »

Maybe people need to learn how to read...

Read what?

You said:

captainhindsight wrote: »

The boiler stat wants to be on high, then the TVRs and room stat be on the lowest comfortable settings.

This means the boiler is running for shorter periods of time, at its most efficient and thus using less gas.

Which is pretty much total b0ll0cks.

When the boiler stat is high and rads stopped down low, not only will the return temp be too high for the boiler to condense (reach its highest efficiency), but it will be constantly switching on and off.

I think you need to do a little reading.

JJ_Egan

Does this apply to non condensing boilers ??

lstar337

Paul Balmer of Kiwa GASTEC at CRE told me that a large number of condensing boilers never condense, because they are set up with the wrong conditions. The dew point is at 55 degrees, and for the boiler to condense the temperature of the water that returns to the boiler must be 55 degrees or below. Many are set up with a flow and return temperature of 70 degrees.

http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1946/Is+your+condensing+boiler+actually+condensing'3F/

Can I ensure it is always condensing?

Not entirely, but there are some things you can do to help by ensuring that the water returning to the boiler is at the right temperature to encourage condensing – around the mid 50s (°C).

http://www.waterandgas.co.uk/condensing_boilers.php

Well insulated properties can have flow temperatures from the boiler at around 40-50deg, thus keeping the boiler in condensing mode for much longer; its most efficient combustion scenario. This helps reduce energy costs, increases comfort and reduces the need to keep fiddling with controls!

http://www.dcheatingengineers.co.uk/control-systems

Plenty of other forums saying the same thing if you look around.

Andy_WSM

captainhindsight wrote: »

Maybe people need to learn how to read...

To be fair, I think you meant to say "Apologies for getting it wrong!" - There's no shame in admitting you got it wrong, there's a lot of shame in being wrong and not able to admit it. (Ask Cameron!)