S
Sentry1
Hi all,
We have recently moved in to an old victorian semi detached property with an old heating and hw system.
This consists of an old, currently short cycling Glowworm economy 50 f (i think) boiler in the kitchen connected to a pump, hw cylinder and 2 open tanks in the airing cupboard in the bathroom on the first floor. There are 10 radiators (two of which are newer and in the basement). I recently removed the hall rad to allow the plasterer access.There are only a couple of thermostatic valvs on the radiators.
The only control is a timer on the boiler and...get this...a manual valve to choose between heating the hot water or the central heating. No thermostat and no way of efficiently heating hot water only when it gets cooler or heating the house only when it drops below a certain temp. There is a water temp thermostat on the boiler but i'm not convinced this makes much difference. All we can do it have the boiler on...or off!
There is a power shower pump attached to the cyclinder powering one shower.
Some advice required if possible for the following things
Any help and thoughts on our situation would be terrific please!
Many thanks,
Pete
We have recently moved in to an old victorian semi detached property with an old heating and hw system.
This consists of an old, currently short cycling Glowworm economy 50 f (i think) boiler in the kitchen connected to a pump, hw cylinder and 2 open tanks in the airing cupboard in the bathroom on the first floor. There are 10 radiators (two of which are newer and in the basement). I recently removed the hall rad to allow the plasterer access.There are only a couple of thermostatic valvs on the radiators.
The only control is a timer on the boiler and...get this...a manual valve to choose between heating the hot water or the central heating. No thermostat and no way of efficiently heating hot water only when it gets cooler or heating the house only when it drops below a certain temp. There is a water temp thermostat on the boiler but i'm not convinced this makes much difference. All we can do it have the boiler on...or off!
There is a power shower pump attached to the cyclinder powering one shower.
Some advice required if possible for the following things
- i want to have much greater control over the operation of the central heating but without affecting the hot water supply. In my previous house i installed a wireless thermostat which was great but of course we didn't have the added complication of a hot water tank there.
- we are going to convert the loft this year...i dont want to spend loads on the heating if i'm going to change it all very soon anyway
- ideally i want good powerful showers in the original bathroom, in the new attic bathroom and potentially in a little ensuite in the basement.
- i would quite like to remove the need to have a hot water cylinder as i think this is perhaps a really inefficient way to use hot water. Please educate me on this...previously i had a combi boiler...water was heated as and when required and no earlier!
- Another reason to remove the tanks would be to free up more space in the original bathroom for a stand up shower
- We clearly will need a new boiler and are keen to reposition this elsewhere in the house (whether the new oneis combi or otherwise) . Is this possible? Perhaps the loft?
- the boiler was previously kettling and i fixed this with some sentinel x200 concentrate. Following some removal and replacement of radiators by the plumbers, this has returned along with a load of other noises.
- what do you think we should do in the short, medium and long term? i.e. what would a fisrt step be in controlling the heating better? We have a new six day old baby so temperature is even more important now! Happy to spend a little even if it will not be used later (eg 40 quid for a new wireless thermostat)
- Should we plan to get a combi?
- Are electric showers much better now? I.e. more power! Less noise! If so, examples would be great!
- if you think we should still have a cylinder, could this be placed in the eaves of a loft conversion?
- finally...how do i stop my boiler short cycling so much? I.e. on and off at least nce per minute, if not more.
Any help and thoughts on our situation would be terrific please!
Many thanks,
Pete