The All New Megathread

[garynortheast]

Don't think there's a thermostat to turn it on Mike. There is a timer, but I've never managed to get to grips with it or make it work. I find it easiest just to turn it on when I need it really.

[Luckypants]

Sorry if my previous post seemed abrupt, having re-read the post it comes across that way. It wasn't meant.

I'm surprised there is no thermostat, but its possible they rely on TRVs (Thermostatic Radiator Valves) only and your timer. There's nothing wrong with turning it on manually, but you don't get the benefit of a warm house when you get out of bed.

My heating is 'on' all day with working from home and I rely on the thermostat to keep a comfortable temperature. We also have TRVs to prevent any room getting too hot and allows to keep some rooms cooler than others. E.G spare bedroom is turned down to about 14C normally and being above the living room is rarely heated. I invested in some thermometers a couple of years ago and went around setting the TRVs to a temperature we found comfortable. We were then able to reduce the flow temperature in our boiler since the radiators were closing off on the TRV. The lower flow temp means the boiler is more efficient as it spends most of its time in condensing mode. These measures reduced our oil consumption by about 20%. Good for the pocket and environment.

There are a couple more tweeks on my to do list to try and improve efficiency a little more.

[redtrummy]

The plumber that installed our heating convinced me a thermostat was not necessary some 13 years ago. (Just rely on the trvs) Every year I start thinking I wish I had one fitted but before I get round to doing anything about it the weather warms up and thats it for another year! We just about cope with the help of a knee throw over! (me, tight, who would suggest such a thing)

[Luckypants]

Retro fitting a house thermostat would be quite easy now we have wireless connected thermostats, it just needs the wireless receiver wiring in to the boiler. That could be done as part of the annual service if you were worried about heating being off for a couple of hours. You could take the opportunity install a 'smart' thermostat if that is something you wanted.

The thermometers really helped with getting the comfort level right with TRVs, so each room will be the right temperature for us. However, being humans, we can still feel cool or hot even though the room is the right temperature. We put on jumpers and take them off as how we 'feel' changes. My wife suffers most from feeling cool, but a doggy cuddle will help every time.

Running the boiler at lower flow temps helps reduce overshoot of the TRV set temperature as there is less latent heat in the water left in the rad when TRV closes, so feeling too hot is rare. The house thermostat (in the hall) will turn off the boiler to help prevent cycling when the house is about the right temperature. Boiler cycling can be harmful to the boiler and can happen a lot if all TRVs close at same time. Oil boilers suffer more if cycling occurs. The thermostat we have has an oil setting which reduces the amount it modulates the boiler when approaching set temperature and as longer 'on' intervals.

[garynortheast]

I didn't see your post as abrupt Mike so no worries. Just TRVs on the system here. It's not often I have the heating on in the morning tbh, as I tend not to be in the house long enough first thing. I'm usually out walking, running, or in the garden before it gets too late, so I'm generally quite warm from my exertions when I come back in. It's normally just the evening when I put it on, and only the rads in the kitchen, bathroom, and living room are on above frost settings. The temp is set to around 17C and any more needed warmth is generally achieved by putting on more clothing.
A situation dictated partly by choice and partly by economics - state pension...blah, blah, blah....

[garynortheast]

Morning all. I think we're in line for a spell of cold weather over the next few days. Could do with it really now my garlic is planted.

Got someone coming today to redo the electrics in my outbuildings. We agreed an exchange of labour; I sorted out his laptop for him a little while back so he's going to sort the electrics for me. I'll finally have a proper outdoor cable from house to shed, and lights in the different parts of the shed.

[garynortheast]

Morning orgers. What's everyone up to this weekend then.

We had a good frost here last night, first proper one of the season. A group of us are getting together to plant wildflower plugs and native Welsh (Tenby) daff bulbs on a long grass bank just round the corner from here. Not sure how we'll get on, hopefully it's just the grass that's frosted. I don't think it was cold enough for the ground underneath to have frozen so we should be able to get the bulbs in at least.

[Craig380]

Morning Gary. Hoping that I will have my procedure today. Was scheduled for yesterday, so I was nil-by-mouth from 2am Friday, only to be told at 10pm that it wasn't going to happen.

I understand it, my case isn't an emergency and people are being brought in with much more serious spine / neuro injuries, but it's frustrating. So let's see what happens today.

[admin]

Fingers crossed for you Craig.

Sent from my moto g(50) using Tapatalk

[garynortheast]

Good luck Craig, hope they get you in and sorted today. Keep us posted.