Thermostat help

monkeypie

We currently have a gravity fed hot water system (no combi boiler) with an old Honeywell thermostat in the hallway (temperature control only) for the central heating and a programmable timer (on/off at 3 different times per day) for heating and hot water in a different location. All the radiators in the different rooms are controlled by valves.
This works fine for us apart from one feature that's missing. We'd like to be able to time control the temperature. So in the winter, during the night we leave the heating on at around 14 degrees but we'd like it to raise to say 17 or 18 degrees by the time we get out of bed. When we leave the house we can manually switch to a lower temperature and increase it again (or program for a certain time) when we get home. Very simple really but I can't seem to find a simple enough thermostat to do just that. It's all about smart, wireless thermostats that track where you are and learn your heating habits which are just way too complicated for what we need. Any advice?

Laurensalive

I have the same thermostat and have to get out of bed to lower this. But my boiler does have a times on though. Difficult one this.

matelodave

This'll do the trick - don't have to get it from E-bay. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/191372299907?adgroupid=13936810266&hlpht=true&hlpv=2&rlsatarget=kwd-124296826386&adtype=pla&ff3=1&lpid=122&poi=&ul_noapp=true&limghlpsr=true&device=c&chn=ps&campaignid=220881786&crdt=0&ff12=67&ff11=ICEP3.0.0-L&ff14=122&viphx=1&ops=true&ff13=80

Sterlingtimes

I have thought about this a lot. We are heavy tumble dryer users. I have measured our £150 B rated vented dryer for a year and it has used 897 kWh at a price of £100.46. Condenser dryers are disappointing in drying time. The heat pump dryers cost about £300 more but use half of the power. So I would need run for six years saving £50 a year to get payback. The maintenance cost of the more complex dryers is higher. I also get a solar power contribution that somewhat extends the payback period. I would invest in the same low end vented. Scrap when broken and start again.

Scrounger

The Horstmann DRT2 - £26.99 @ Screwfix has some very good reviews and looks simple to install.

Scrounger

AndyPK

Yeah you want to replace the dial T stat with a Programmable Digital Room stat.

But as a post note you have 3 options for your current timer.

1) Set the timer to CH always on (in winter) and let the new stat do the timings
2) A wiring change at the timer (basically does the same thing as above)
3) I'll get ear ache if I mention this