Heating and hot water in rented property

ashleymark

Hi,

I’m wondering if anyone can provide me with some insight on how my heating and boiler system work after I have just moved into my first rented property with bills exclusive to rent. its a 3 Bed house with a boiler (kitchen) and a water cylinder/immersion heater in a cupboard upstairs.

The boiler in the kitchen has buttons to activate central heating which all seem fine and the radiators all fire up. There are buttons for domestic hot water however, after looking into this I guess this particular model doesn’t offer the hot water supply and the relevant taps.

In addition to this I have a thermostat and a Honeywell programmer which oddly includes hot water programming. The switch for the cylinder upstairs is off and at first I was able to get some running hot water. Now the water is only lukewarm at best and I have tinkered around and found that I can get hot water by turning the C.H. on. I haven’t touched the cylinder/immersion heater and I’m wondering if this is my only supply of hot water so does it need to be on all the time?

Boiler: Chaffoteaux & Maury Centora Green
Water cylinder: Gledhill stainless lite ASL Indirect
Programmer: Honeywell ST6400C


Thanks in advance

Ashley

AnotherJoe

Try CH on but thermostat low so the CH doesnt come on, water should then be heated.

G_M

The switch for the cylinder upstairs will (almost certainly) be for an immersion heater. This is an electrical heating element (like in a kettle) inside the cylinder and will heat the water in the cylinder.

Not ideal as he primary source of hot water - it's expensive and usually a back-up.

In theory, the honeywell programmer should allow you to select HW on and CH off. This would control a 2 or 3 port diverter (in the airing cupboard? ) which diverts water down the relevant pipework (ie to the radiators and/or HW cylinder). Sometimes these diverters stick and need loosening/replacing.


I would ring your LL and ask for an explanation of how the system works. If he does not know/cannot explain, or you have no number and his agents don't know, then write a friendly letter (yes - put it in writing) asking for either an explanation or a repair as appropriate.

notbritishgas

Do not forget that before hot water comes out of the taps the water in the cylinder must be heated.
This can take up to an hour before the whole cylinder is heated, so leave the Hot Water on for a fair time then test.
As others have said the switch in the airing cupboard is for the immersion heater and should only be used as a backup for when the boiler breaks down.

ashleymark

Brilliant thanks for taking the time to break it down for me �� I will give it a try later on after work to see if your recommendations do the trick

Need_a_name

Also, as you have the makes/models a quick google should provide manuals to print out and take home with you if they have not been provided by the LL

But if you do have to contact them always follow any advice from G_M