What system have I got?

[Deleted member 101873]

Hi folks, I'm a householder just trying to learn at the moment, so just hoping you can educate me a little.

My house has an old gas boiler (Ideal S E-Type) and Grundfoss pump in the kitchen which supplies the hot water and ch. The hw tank is in an airing cupboard upstairs next to bathroom. I have a room thermostat on the hall wall, and the f&e tank for ch is in the loft. All very conventional-looking and probably dates back to 1970s, but still working ok(ish).

I'm trying to learn what I've got and have read up on "s-plan" and "y-plan" systems and kind of understand the idea of how the valves act to control the pumped hot water in those. However I've had a good look and can't find any valves anywhere on my system. Unless they're really well hidden, I'm quite convinced there are no valves controlling the flow. Could I be right, or are there control valves hidden somewhere?
If I'm right and there are no control valves anywhere, (i.e. I'm not s or y plan) how does the hw from the boiler "know" where to go? That is, wouldn't it just circulate around the hw tank, in preference to supplying the ch system? What's to stop it just taking the easiest route?

I do have some issues with the hw and ch systems, but I'm not looking for answers to those just yet. I'm hoping if I can understand what system I've got and how it works, I can then go through some of the excellent old threads on here and learn more as I go!

So there you go - what type system have I got and how should it work?
Cheers!
Paul

 

[Ben-gee]

Most likely that you have a y plan with a mid-position valve somewhere .

If you put up some pictures someone will be able to tell you - impossible otherwise.

If you have some issues why not get a local engineer to take a look at them and he/she can also explain your system to you.

 

[Aquarius]

Have a look in the loft for them, or a wiring centre. However, if you cannot find them, then I’m more inclined to think you may have a gravity fed hot water system, and a pumped heating system.

 

[moonlight]

You could have a pumped heating system and gravity hot water. Sorry Aquarius didn't read all of your post.

 

[Deleted member 101873]

Hi folks, I'm a householder just trying to learn at the moment, so just hoping you can educate me a little.

My house has an old gas boiler (Ideal S E-Type) and Grundfoss pump in the kitchen which supplies the hot water and ch. The hw tank is in an airing cupboard upstairs next to bathroom. I have a room thermostat on the hall wall, and the f&e tank for ch is in the loft. All very conventional-looking and probably dates back to 1970s, but still working ok(ish).

I'm trying to learn what I've got and have read up on "s-plan" and "y-plan" systems and kind of understand the idea of how the valves act to control the pumped hot water in those. However I've had a good look and can't find any valves anywhere on my system. Unless they're really well hidden, I'm quite convinced there are no valves controlling the flow. Could I be right, or are there control valves hidden somewhere?
If I'm right and there are no control valves anywhere, (i.e. I'm not s or y plan) how does the hw from the boiler "know" where to go? That is, wouldn't it just circulate around the hw tank, in preference to supplying the ch system? What's to stop it just taking the easiest route?

I do have some issues with the hw and ch systems, but I'm not looking for answers to those just yet. I'm hoping if I can understand what system I've got and how it works, I can then go through some of the excellent old threads on here and learn more as I go!

So there you go - what type system have I got and how should it work?
Cheers!
Paul

Thanks folks. Following an exhaustive search of the system, I can confirm there are definitely no valves anywhere, so I'm convinced it is as Aquarius and Moonlight suggest - pumped ch and gravity hw.
I'm currently cleaning and flushing everything after which I will rebalance the rads. I'm hopeful this will resolve the small issues with the ch.

Thanks also to Ben-gee. I'd be reluctant to engage an engineer at this stage as I like to learn and understand for myself as best I can - if it gets beyond me then will be the time for calling in the pro, but not there yet. There's also the financial savings, but the main thing for me is the sense of satisfaction when I come to understand something and can from then on manage it myself.
Thanks folks, I appreciate your time and comments.
Cheers!
Paul

 

[fixitflav]

Hi folks, I'm a householder just trying to learn at the moment, so just hoping you can educate me a little.

My house has an old gas boiler (Ideal S E-Type) and Grundfoss pump in the kitchen which supplies the hot water and ch. The hw tank is in an airing cupboard upstairs next to bathroom. I have a room thermostat on the hall wall, and the f&e tank for ch is in the loft. All very conventional-looking and probably dates back to 1970s, but still working ok(ish).

I'm trying to learn what I've got and have read up on "s-plan" and "y-plan" systems and kind of understand the idea of how the valves act to control the pumped hot water in those. However I've had a good look and can't find any valves anywhere on my system. Unless they're really well hidden, I'm quite convinced there are no valves controlling the flow. Could I be right, or are there control valves hidden somewhere?
If I'm right and there are no control valves anywhere, (i.e. I'm not s or y plan) how does the hw from the boiler "know" where to go? That is, wouldn't it just circulate around the hw tank, in preference to supplying the ch system? What's to stop it just taking the easiest route?

I do have some issues with the hw and ch systems, but I'm not looking for answers to those just yet. I'm hoping if I can understand what system I've got and how it works, I can then go through some of the excellent old threads on here and learn more as I go!

So there you go - what type system have I got and how should it work?
Cheers!
Paul

Does the HW cylinder have a thermostat? If not, it's likely you have pumped CH, gravity HW, as others have said.

 

[SimonG]

Pumped heating, gravity hot.

As above no cylinder stat and the programmer will only run the heating and hot water at once or water only. No choice for heating only.

 

[fixitflav]

Pumped heating, gravity hot.

As above no cylinder stat and the programmer will only run the heating and hot water at once or water only. No choice for heating only.

Interesting. I have an Ideal SE 50, installed 1999, and according to the manual it's for fully-pumped systems only.

 

[Deleted member 101873]

Does the HW cylinder have a thermostat? If not, it's likely you have pumped CH, gravity HW, as others have said.

Thanks - you're quite right; there's no thermostat on the hw cylinder so seems I've got pumped ch/ gravity hw.
Thanks.
Paul
[automerge]1593044271[/automerge]

Pumped heating, gravity hot.

As above no cylinder stat and the programmer will only run the heating and hot water at once or water only. No choice for heating only.

Thanks, yes, that describes what I've got. Cheers!
Paul

 

[Ric2013]

Hi OP,

You state the 'F&E tank for CH is in the loft' and the hot water tank is in an airing cupboard.

Do you mean that the cupboard contains a cylinder AND a cistern, or is there only one cistern in the house?

If only one cistern then possibilities are: 1. Your hot water cylinder is the mains-pressure unvented type. 2. The tank (cistern?) in the loft is for the hot water cylinder refill and expansion - does this cistern refill if you draw off hot water through a tap? and the CH is a sealed system (unlikely if it's a semi-gravity system). 3. You have a self-filling, self-venting ("Primatic") hot water cylinder.

What issues are you having with it? You say it works okay(ish)...

 

[BN9Pete]

Hi OP,

You state the 'F&E tank for CH is in the loft' and the hot water tank is in an airing cupboard.

Do you mean that the cupboard contains a cylinder AND a cistern, or is there only one cistern in the house?

If only one cistern then possibilities are: 1. Your hot water cylinder is the mains-pressure unvented type. 2. The tank (cistern?) in the loft is for the hot water cylinder refill and expansion - does this cistern refill if you draw off hot water through a tap? and the CH is a sealed system (unlikely if it's a semi-gravity system). 3. You have a self-filling, self-venting ("Primatic") hot water cylinder.

What issues are you having with it? You say it works okay(ish)***

Do you realise he posted this 7 months ago?
Prob got his answer now. 🙂

 

[plumbingdoctor]

Hi folks, I'm a householder just trying to learn at the moment, so just hoping you can educate me a little.

My house has an old gas boiler (Ideal S E-Type) and Grundfoss pump in the kitchen which supplies the hot water and ch. The hw tank is in an airing cupboard upstairs next to bathroom. I have a room thermostat on the hall wall, and the f&e tank for ch is in the loft. All very conventional-looking and probably dates back to 1970s, but still working ok(ish).

I'm trying to learn what I've got and have read up on "s-plan" and "y-plan" systems and kind of understand the idea of how the valves act to control the pumped hot water in those. However I've had a good look and can't find any valves anywhere on my system. Unless they're really well hidden, I'm quite convinced there are no valves controlling the flow. Could I be right, or are there control valves hidden somewhere?
If I'm right and there are no control valves anywhere, (i.e. I'm not s or y plan) how does the hw from the boiler "know" where to go? That is, wouldn't it just circulate around the hw tank, in preference to supplying the ch system? What's to stop it just taking the easiest route?

I do have some issues with the hw and ch systems, but I'm not looking for answers to those just yet. I'm hoping if I can understand what system I've got and how it works, I can then go through some of the excellent old threads on here and learn more as I go!

So there you go - what type system have I got and how should it work?
Cheers!
Paul

Hi thewoodgnome

You probably have a heat pump hot water system try to see any models brand and refer to the nearest dealer

 

[SimonG]

Hi thewoodgnome

You probably have a heat pump hot water system try to see any models brand and refer to the nearest dealer

Oh no he doesn't.

Well slap my thigh!

 

[plumbingdoctor]

Oh no he doesn't.

Well slap my thigh!

If that the case