Which heating thermostat

FreeBear

twopenny said: TIW, hot water done on same timer. Drayton or similar in the airing cupboard

https://www.screwfix.com/p/drayton-lp112-2-channel-digital-programmer/64558

One of these in the house somewhere -> https://www.screwfix.com/p/drayton-rts8-1-channel-wired-room-thermostat/46637

And if you haven't already got one -> https://www.screwfix.com/p/flomasta-cylinder-thermostat-230v/6803k

Both would be wired in to the wiring centre which is probably close to where the timer is (or it could be close to the boiler & pump/zone valves).

twopenny

There is a frost thermostat by the boiler

And the original immersion one is on the tank (new) is in the cupboard with the timer.

Sorry the photos are blured, I was shivering going outside!

Hot bath and dinner now.....

diveunderthebonnet

We have a wireless thermostat ,fits on the living room wall ,works off two AA batteries which last for ages ( i have used rechargable ones ) there is a box on the wall next to the boiler and when you turn the stat up or the room goes cold you hear the click on the boiler as it fires and it switches off when it reaches the temp on the stat ,very easy to use and it looks reasonable to buy and fit ,we got it supplied with the boiler package.

MysteryMe

I've got an EPH CP4. I got it when I changed my boiler last year but think they around £60-£70 plus fitting of course. It just stands on a shelf in my lounge and there it stays. There is a small receiver that is wired to the boiler upstairs.
Quite easy to programme, loads of you tube videos etc and there is a cover on the controls so no chance of accidently changing it.

twopenny

Thank you Dive and Mystery

I actually want something I can quickly change before I go out in this weather.

Not having to press buttons and remember the routein and do it again.

But I will have a look at the options.

I asked around before I asked here but so far it's TRVs only with no wall thermostat or wifi ones you carry from room to room and they aren't that impressed.

Harder to chat and meet with neighbours in this weather. Everyone is staying in or making a dash.

ThisIsWeird

twopenny said:

There is a frost thermostat by the boiler

And the original immersion one is on the tank (new) is in the cupboard with the timer.

Sorry the photos are blured, I was shivering going outside!

Hot bath and dinner now.....

Do these two copper pipes become hot when the boiler is on? Ie, are they the flow and return pipes? If so, why the hell aren't they lagged? If they aren't F&R, then - still - why aren't they lagged?!

Ok, I understand this is what you have; Boiler in garage, with frost stat that'll turn it on whenever the temp drops too low - this will prevent it from freezing.

Airing cupboard in hallway which has the hot cylinder, pump(?), 2-way motorised valve(?), and 2-channel 'programmer' (timer).

Could we have a photo of your airing cupboard, showing all these parts, please?

The 'wiring centre' will be in that airing cupboard - ie, whatever type of room 'stat you end up going for will be wired to there, and not the boiler. (Your boiler just has a wire coming from that cupboard to the garage that tells it to simply 'come on' and 'go off'.)

Wiring the new 'stat should therefore be easy - a wire from the airing cupboard, up into the loft, along to the sitting room, and down into there. However, this would either mean a visible wire coming down the wall in your sitting room, or visible ducting, or for the wire to be buried or hidden in the wall somehow (you may have a floor to ceiling unit in there, for example, where the cable could be run?). 

So - first Q (apart from photos, please); is there a way to run a wire from the ceiling down the wall in your sitting room, where you'd want the 'stat to be mounted? (The option of 'wireless' would negate this, of course.)

ThisIsWeird

The next Q is, do you really only want a manual up-down room 'stat that you need to adjust every time you want a change in temp? For instance, you currently have the heating off overnight? Are you totally happy with that, or would you like it set to a minimum that would prevent the house becoming too cold, and then it brings the house back up to your 'living' temp in the morning, automatically?

This is what a Prog Stat would do. From what you've told us, you could program it to come on at 18oC (or whatevs) at 7.30 so you wake up to a warm house. It would then automatically turn the heating down to, say, 16oC at 10am, and then back up to 18oC at 4pm. Finally down to an 'overnight' 14oC at 9pm. And, of course, a press of a button at any time will change these temperatures whenever you like - 'up' if you are a bit chilly, 'down' if you are heading out when it's running at 18oC - and it will revert to the programmed temps at the next change.

How does a Prog Stat save you money? Mainly by never forgetting to turn the temp down! And the other benefit is that it never forgets to turn the temp back up for when it's usually needed.

twopenny

No to programme. I like to sleep in the cool with the window open. Even now a crack. I'm old school. I'm retired and heating isn't something I forget.

So that's one to tick off.

Now it's wired or wireless. Thanks. Now it's limited I can start looking.

Don't know why they aren't lagged. Can I just sling some of the grey pipe lagging on there?

Same in the loft. But I have to wait until the leg is working and it's too cold at the mo to crawl around up there. Some pipes are to tight to the beams etc to lag so felt under those too and cut the grey cosy stuff to fit.

It's on the list for when the weather bucks up.

Another case (5 times so far) of someone was coming to do it last autumn but cancelled on the day  

That's why I'm bothering the nice people on the boards

OK but it's plasterboard so a void down but it would mean cutting it I guess to find the wire so not pretty even if done carefully. But that's asking whoever I can find to do it.

The hall would be a better site. It does heat up nicely if I remember to close all doors.

But you say ideally the living room where the rad doesn't have a TRV.

Yes I have a huge Georgian bookcase thingy in there, bit of a nightmare to take all the books and stuff out and it moves in 2 pieces so ...........

It was another reason to want a simple knob type so as not to dominate a 'homes and gardens' type room with a white digital display but if wireless is the way to go then I must think of a way to disguise.

Seems I have some cobwebs.....I knew it needed a going over but can close the door on it. I'm half way through painting an unpainted artex ceiling at the mo when there's enough light to see.

ThisIsWeird

Ok, so the pump is in the boiler, I'm guessing?

Could you take a pic of this item (yellow circle) from the side, please, so we can see the pipes going to it?

I would personally strongly recommend the sitting room as the 'stat location for a couple of reasons - it's already without the TRV (which you cannot have in the same room as they'll 'fight' each other - tho' you can 'disable' a TRV by leaving it on 'max'), but mainly because it's the room, more than any other, that you do want accurate temp control over. If a bedroom, hallway, bathroom, whatevs, is not at the exact temp you desire, then big deal. But the sitting room? Nah - it should be spot on :-)

Where is the rad in your sitting room?

(Yes, you can just shove sliced-open foam lagging over these pipes.)

twopenny

This is the pump, just above the alternator with shelf in between.

Set on 2 to move the water faster and avoid kettling which was happening I understand, and warm the house quicker

It's a bit noisy but I'm not changing that during the cold spell as its all working at the mo. I may play with it when it's not vital.

The boiler is on 2 but could be turned down. Still leaving it until the weather turns sultry

Radiator in living room is behind the door