Was I conned?

METROID · 12-11-2012 10:53pm #1

I recently completed an extension on my home and had a new gas boiler installed? Now I can't get any hot water from the taps after the heating has been on. Instead I have to heat the water separately from having the radiators on. I was told by the plumbers that this is a new law to try and conserve energy. Is there any kind of law like this or have I been duped? I'd appreciate any kind of help.

shane0007 · 12-11-2012 10:56pm

Yes this is regulation, but you can programme them to come on at the same time.

Ging Ging · 12-11-2012 11:02pm

To satisfy part L of the building regulations the space heating (radiators) and hot water heating need to be split into different zones and controlled separately. So yes this is true but............you should be able to select either one at a time or both hot water and space heating at the same time if you want. Do you know how many zones (eg. 1-living area, 2-bedrooms, 3-hot water) have you got now since the work was carried out? What way to do select between zones? What sort of timeclock/controller? Make/model?

METROID · 12-11-2012 11:05pm

Thanks shane. So will I be getting the radiators and water heated you know, 2 for the price of 1? Or is it using double the gas for both jobs?

KTRIC · 12-11-2012 11:06pm

I just had gas heating installed and I was told no such thing.

shane0007 · 12-11-2012 11:11pm

METROID wrote: »

Thanks shane. So will I be getting the radiators and water heated you know, 2 for the price of 1? Or is it using double the gas for both jobs?

If the boiler is sized correctly, you should time them together but the hw would only need to be on for a short period to reach the desired 60C. The thermostat on the cylinder will then shut down that zone once this is reached.
If heating in the morning, for example, heating on for 1 hour but hw on for 1/2 hour. This should give you hw for the day. Later heating on but no need for hw on. Saves you money as you are not dumping heat into a cylinder when not required.

Ging Ging · 12-11-2012 11:27pm

METROID wrote: »

I was told by the plumbers that this is a new law to try and conserve energy.

Its new to some people but its a regulation since 2008 as far as I know.

METROID wrote: »

Thanks shane. So will I be getting the radiators and water heated you know, 2 for the price of 1? Or is it using double the gas for both jobs?

Unfortunately you won't be heating anything for free you pay for every litre of water you heat, it doesn't matter if its in a radiator or a hot water cylinder.

That said there may be a small advantage in having multiple zones on at the same time, as the circulating pump will then not have to run at two separate times and there would be less energy lost on initial heat up of boiler and pipework from cold (depending on the size of house, length of pipe runs and location of boiler. The savings would be small though.

Ging Ging · 12-11-2012 11:32pm

KTRIC wrote: »

I just had gas heating installed and I was told no such thing.

Its on page 13 of this;

http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/BuildingStandards/FileDownLoad,18691,en.pdf

looksee · 12-11-2012 11:38pm

I have recent heating (oilfired) and have the zone system and I find it very handy having the water heat separately as I can then have the space heating on when I like while still having hot water. The other big advantage of the new system is that, for one hour's heating each morning I have 24 hours hot water.

shane0007 · 12-11-2012 11:48pm

KTRIC wrote: »

I just had gas heating installed and I was told no such thing.

It should have at least being offered to you and quoted for. Then it would have been your decision to accept or reject.

LIFFY FISHING · 13-11-2012 7:48am

Wheather you have zoned heating or not you should be able to get jot water after having the heat on, due to the coil in your cylinder been part of your rad circuit.

shane0007 · 13-11-2012 7:53am

LIFFY FISHING wrote: »

Wheather you have zoned heating or not you should be able to get jot water after having the heat on, due to the coil in your cylinder been part of your rad circuit.

How so if the dhw zone valve is closed???? Water cannot flow through a closed valve!

LIFFY FISHING · 13-11-2012 8:05am

shane0007 wrote: »

How so if the dhw zone valve is closed???? Water cannot flow through a closed valve!

The OP never mentioned mini valves and actuators/zone valves ?

shane0007 · 13-11-2012 8:16pm

Fair point, but if the installer told them it is installed as per regs, it could be taken that it now has time and temperature control with boiler interlock. It would make sense that the system has been installed with motorised valves.

corkgsxr · 13-11-2012 9:12pm

shane0007 wrote: »

It should have at least being offered to you and quoted for. Then it would have been your decision to accept or reject.

One problem I have with it but in particular with the grant is they want a digital 3 zone clock, but most old people have no idea how to use them,

JohnnieK · 13-11-2012 9:22pm

corkgsxr wrote: »

One problem I have with it but in particular with the grant is they want a digital 3 zone clock, but most old people have no idea how to use them,

But they love that boost button:D:D

shane0007 · 13-11-2012 9:25pm

corkgsxr wrote: »

One problem I have with it but in particular with the grant is they want a digital 3 zone clock, but most old people have no idea how to use them,

Very true. No real way round it though. That's why I use the Horstmann H37XL. It is probably the most user friendly of them.

If anyone has any suggestions of others on the market, I would be very interested as the Hortsmann is very expensive. I know Sauter are much cheaper but I personnaly am not a lover of them.

JohnnieK · 13-11-2012 9:31pm

shane0007 wrote: »

Very true. No real way round it though. That's why I use the Horstmann H37XL. It is probably the most user friendly of them.

If anyone has any suggestions of others on the market, I would be very interested as the Hortsmann is very expensive. I know Sauter are much cheaper but I personnaly am not a lover of them.

I love the new Sauter stuff. It all comes with a 5 year warranty too. They also have a wireless programmer pack that contains a wireless room stat, great idea for sticking the on to existing boilers with no temp control.

shane0007 · 13-11-2012 9:35pm

Do you have a link for them?

corkgsxr · 13-11-2012 9:41pm

JohnnieK wrote: »

I love the new Sauter stuff. It all comes with a 5 year warranty too. They also have a wireless programmer pack that contains a wireless room stat, great idea for sticking the on to existing boilers with no temp control.

Dislike those Wireless stats, everything goes funny as batterys starts to go low. Iv been called to loads of houses changes batterys and away.

The sauter used to have a very short life didn't they

Horstman is very decent alright.

I quite like the hot water on apt timer with stat and motorised valve. And upstairs and downstairs on a switches. With stats.

If you don't use much hot water, turn the balancing valve right down or off.

Only digital for grants though

shane0007 · 13-11-2012 9:42pm

corkgsxr wrote: »

Only digital for grants though

And to comply with Building Regs since 2008

corkgsxr · 13-11-2012 9:49pm

shane0007 wrote: »

And to comply with Building Regs since 2008

Definitly digital for regs, or just zoned system

JohnnieK · 13-11-2012 9:52pm

I never touched Sauter. I used a few of the wireless packs before and they where crap. They have gone back to the drawing board and the next generation of controls are good.

Try www.ephcontrols.ie

shane0007 · 13-11-2012 9:58pm

JohnnieK wrote: »

I never touched Sauter. I used a few of the wireless packs before and they where crap. They have gone back to the drawing board and the next generation of controls are good.

Try www.ephcontrols.ie[/QUOTE]

It's .com

Do you what frequency they use as I cannot seem to find it on their catalogue?

Was I conned?

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