No temperature control on central heating - advice

October22Mover

Hey all, question about the central heating in my new rented flat.

The flat doesn't have a central temperature controlled thermostat, only numbered dials on the radiators themselves and a timer on the boiler. I'm worried this is going to end up costing us a load of money if we can't easily control centrally how warm we want the place.

Does anyone else have a home set up like this and do you have any tips on managing the heating properly so as not to overuse it/spend too much?

DullGreyGuy

Presumably the dials on the radiators are thermostatic valves therefore controlling the heat for each radiator by increasing or decreasing the setting. 

What model of boiler do you have? Adding a smart thermostat, assuming its compatible, isnt a big job. 

Mister_G

Was there a wireless thermostat that the previous tenants took away with them?

victor2

October22Mover said:

Hey all, question about the central heating in my new rented flat.

The flat doesn't have a central temperature controlled thermostat, only numbered dials on the radiators themselves and a timer on the boiler. I'm worried this is going to end up costing us a load of money if we can't easily control centrally how warm we want the place.

Does anyone else have a home set up like this and do you have any tips on managing the heating properly so as not to overuse it/spend too much?

As already said, if the radiator valves are a Thermostatic Radiator Valve (TRV), which it sounds like they are, then they will control the heat given out by each radiator. The timer for the heating is the "master" control, but when on, the TRVs have control of the individual radiators. Having a central thermostat is unlikely to make much difference to running costs.

Brie

Sounds like our system. 

Basically the timer means the boiler is on or off for heating but is available all the time for hot water (except when the pressure in the system drops and there's neither heat or hot water - a simple fiddle sorts that in about a minute)

We do have a thermostat in the hall that means that when the timer is on if the temperature in the house is below 18c the heat comes on.  If it's above 18c it doesn't.  

We then have a number thingme on each radiator which should control at what point the radiator kicks in.  So rooms where it's set to 0 or 1 it will rarely come on whereas in rooms set to 5 it will.  Net result is that we can have little used rooms set to very low simply to control the damp and well used rooms at a higher temperature.  You just need to ensure that you know what the numbers on your thingme mean and where ultimately you want the heat level set for each area of the property.

FreeBear

victor2 said: The timer for the heating is the "master" control, but when on, the TRVs have control of the individual radiators. Having a central thermostat is unlikely to make much difference to running costs.

Not having a thermostat will make a huge difference to the gas bill. With just the TRVs shutting off the water flow, the boiler is going to burn gas until the sensor inside says "water too hot". And that assumes the TRVs are set up correctly for a comfortable temperature in each room.

OP - Ask the landlord to fit a programmable thermostat - It will allow you to set different temperatures throughout the day/week, and has the potential to save 15% or more on heating costs. It will also improve the EPC rating which will make it a little easier for the LL to rent out again if/when you move out.

victor2

FreeBear said:

victor2 said: The timer for the heating is the "master" control, but when on, the TRVs have control of the individual radiators. Having a central thermostat is unlikely to make much difference to running costs.

Not having a thermostat will make a huge difference to the gas bill. With just the TRVs shutting off the water flow, the boiler is going to burn gas until the sensor inside says "water too hot". And that assumes the TRVs are set up correctly for a comfortable temperature in each room.

...

But as the TRVs shut off the flow to radiators, won't that mean the boiler senses the water temperature is hot enough and stops burning gas until the temperature drops below whatever the boiler is set to?

Edit: I accept the heating pump will be running all the time the timer calls for heating, so yes, a central thermostat could reduce cost a little.

BUFF

victor2 said:

October22Mover said:

Hey all, question about the central heating in my new rented flat.

The flat doesn't have a central temperature controlled thermostat, only numbered dials on the radiators themselves and a timer on the boiler. I'm worried this is going to end up costing us a load of money if we can't easily control centrally how warm we want the place.

Does anyone else have a home set up like this and do you have any tips on managing the heating properly so as not to overuse it/spend too much?

As already said, if the radiator valves are a Thermostatic Radiator Valve (TRV), which it sounds like they are, then they will control the heat given out by each radiator. The timer for the heating is the "master" control, but when on, the TRVs have control of the individual radiators. Having a central thermostat is unlikely to make much difference to running costs.

Having run systems in the same house with boiler+programmer+TRVs & boiler+programmer+room 'stat+TRVs I can assure you that it does make a difference. It can save the boiler pumping hot water round a loop with all the radiators closed off from the loop when it doesn't need to.

The effect may be less in a flat though than in a house. Other variables it may also depend upon are how modern a boiler, what controller/timer is fitted & whether they are traditional mechanical TRVs or eTRVs which can call for heat & be set as individual zones. 

MalMonroe

Hi, I have to say please don't be too shy to contact your landlord for information. 

After all, you are paying them for the privilege of living in their property.

It's not a silly request. You just need to know how to work the heating system because quite rightly, you don't want it to cost you a fortune to run. If there's no instruction booklet, then I don't think it's an unreasonable question.

Also, I would not start modifying anything at all in a rented property (as per one suggestion above) without first obtaining the landlord's permission. Preferably in writing.

Any landlord worth their salt will be happy to help. I hope!

chris_n

victor2 said:

FreeBear said:

victor2 said: The timer for the heating is the "master" control, but when on, the TRVs have control of the individual radiators. Having a central thermostat is unlikely to make much difference to running costs.

Not having a thermostat will make a huge difference to the gas bill. With just the TRVs shutting off the water flow, the boiler is going to burn gas until the sensor inside says "water too hot". And that assumes the TRVs are set up correctly for a comfortable temperature in each room.

...

But as the TRVs shut off the flow to radiators, won't that mean the boiler senses the water temperature is hot enough and stops burning gas until the temperature drops below whatever the boiler is set to?

Edit: I accept the heating pump will be running all the time the timer calls for heating, so yes, a central thermostat could reduce cost a little.

Not having a thermostat will make the boiler cycle inefficiently. If it is a condensing boiler it will likely not get into condensing mode for any appreciable length of time. Shutting too many radiators down with thermostatic valves can be counterproductive. 

RetSol

I have lived for 20+ years in a (difficult-to-heat, converted) flat with the same set-up as yours, @October22Mover.

My fuel bills have never been excessive.

Costs having risen now, my strategy is to set the TRVs at a low level and snuggle up under a heated throw.