Boiler heating water, and radiators

lky2k23

My radiators heat up when my hot water tank is heating. 

I'm sure it needs to be fixed, but am I costing myself much waiting until December (next service) to get this fixed? 

Section62

lky2k23 said:

My radiators heat up when my hot water tank is heating. 

I'm sure it needs to be fixed, but am I costing myself much waiting until December (next service) to get this fixed? 

If you've got a fully-pumped system and everything else is set up correctly then a faulty diverter valve is a common cause of those symptons.

The boiler person may not have the parts and/or time to deal with this when they come to do the service, so you may be best off having a chat with them well in advance of the service.

How much it will cost you in terms of additional energy consumption involves a lot of factors - such as how many hours per day your hot water is set to come on for, and whether or not your radiators have thermostatic valves.  Turning the radiator valves right down will help minimise the cost in this hot weather.

Me - I'd probably get it fixed before December, if nothing else to avoid being in a situation where I had no heating for several days in the middle of winter.

SarahB16

Do you have an annual service contract for your boiler?  If so then I would call them out to look at it.  

I never wait for boiler repairs to be fixed with my service but rather have a dedicated call out to look at the issue.  Obviously if you don't have an annual service contract (which includes free call outs in the year) on your boiler then it would be a different situation.  

FreeBear

Section62 said:

lky2k23 said:

My radiators heat up when my hot water tank is heating. 

I'm sure it needs to be fixed, but am I costing myself much waiting until December (next service) to get this fixed? 

If you've got a fully-pumped system and everything else is set up correctly then a faulty diverter valve is a common cause of those symptons.

Gravity system here, and I get a similar problem with the radiators upstairs heating up. My solution is to turn the TRVs to zero on those radiators. Saves about 15 minutes on heating a full tank of water from cold.

macman

It's not a diverter valve, that is only on a combi. It's probably a sticking 3 port valve, so trying moving it manually to free it off. It's not going to be fixed as part of a service! Nor will the RGI necessarily have the part on the van, so may need a second trip. 
How much gas are you going to waste between now and December, heating your rads in the hottest summer for years?

plumb1_2

Is a 3 port valve not a diverter valve?

lky2k23

macman said:

It's not a diverter valve, that is only on a combi. It's probably a sticking 3 port valve, so trying moving it manually to free it off. It's not going to be fixed as part of a service! Nor will the RGI necessarily have the part on the van, so may need a second trip. 
How much gas are you going to waste between now and December, heating your rads in the hottest summer for years?

No clue how much gas is or will be wasted. Was kinda the reason for the question.

Bendy_House

Close off the rads meanwhile. If TRVs, then down to 'frost', if manual, then make sure you close off the 'control' one and not the 'lockshield'. The former should have an obvious knurled top, easy to grip, whereas t'other is usually smooth and slippery and non-grippy. Don't touch the lockshield.

Turn off knob clockwise.

molerat

How many gas meter units are you using per day ?  More than 1 metric unit (or 0.3 of an imperial unit) ?

Can you post up a picture of your valves / pump.

lky2k23

Bendy_House said:

Close off the rads meanwhile. If TRVs, then down to 'frost', if manual, then make sure you close off the 'control' one and not the 'lockshield'. The former should have an obvious knurled top, easy to grip, whereas t'other is usually smooth and slippery and non-grippy. Don't touch the lockshield.

Turn off knob clockwise.

This is what I've done for now. I had all the radiators set to my optimum when they were on, but won't take long to put back.

Will get fixed before the heating comes back on. 

Thanks

plumb1_2

I’d get it fixed before the cold weather comes.As when everyone turns there’s back on, they’ll be a demand you might end up at the back of a very large queue.