3 Bed Semi Heating Upgrade

philboy

My wife and I recently purchased a 3 bed semi (110 sq.m, BER: C2). We are looking at upgrading the heating and would love some feedback on our possible plans below.

We will be adding a Nest smart thermostat to the OFCH and Tado Smart TRVs to the bedrooms and main living areas. We are looking to replace the open fire place in the living room with an inset stove with back boiler. We are also considering solar thermal (rear roof faces WSW). The hot water requirement is currently just for 2 adults.

Should we also look at a buffer tank and can all 3 heating sources be hooked up to this?

deezell

philboy wrote: »

My wife and I recently purchased a 3 bed semi (110 sq.m, BER: C2). We are looking at upgrading the heating and would love some feedback on our possible plans below.

We will be adding a Nest smart thermostat to the OFCH and Tado Smart TRVs to the bedrooms and main living areas. We are looking to replace the open fire place in the living room with an inset stove with back boiler. We are also considering solar thermal (rear roof faces WSW). The hot water requirement is currently just for 2 adults.

Should we also look at a buffer tank and can all 3 heating sources be hooked up to this?

I'd question the wisdom of two different smart systems. Tado TRVs can be integrated better into the tado system if you use the tado extension kit or Tado main thermostat. If You use TRVs in every room then no need for a general thermostat. The Nest will not be able to respond to the tado TRVs if one opens for heat but the boiler is off by the Nest, unless you have both the Nest switch box and the Tado extension kit wired together in tandem to call the boiler, a messy solution. Without this the tado TRVs will act like any TRV, albeit with remote control by an app. Remember, the Nest only responds to it's own thermostat, it doesn't know if a a room TRV is looking for heat. The Tado system is aware of individual room TRVs settings. Unless you install TRVs in every room, you will need to depend on one thermostat (one of the TRVs or a main thermostat) to call for heat on behalf of non measured rooms' radiators.
Multiple heating sources can be combined either by electrical controlled valves, or by mixing in a manifold tank. The latter is less prone to problems as it is a passive device. Both systems can be setup for zoned heating. It can be used on sealed or open systems, gas or oil. The cost of solar for home heating is high in relation to returns. You might need a full roof of panels and a large space devouring buffer tank to get a worthwhile system in the winter. The money would be better spent on additional external insulation and better double, triple or thermal glazing. Solar works best for domestic hot water, one or two panels will save your oil/gas on sunny days
Check out NRGawareness.com for plans and products to combine boilers, stoves and solar/ heat pumps via a single inexpensive manifold. Tado offer a rental system which would be a good way of testing your preferences before committing to full purchase. I use the Tado main thermostat only system, It's very good, and you can add in TRVs later.

DGOBS

First thing I would do is look at insulation before upgrade, no point having a great efficient boiler and control system, and a house that leaks heat like a rusty bucket.

philboy

deezell wrote: »

I'd question the wisdom of two different smart systems. Tado TRVs can be integrated better into the tado system if you use the tado extension kit or Tado main thermostat. If You use TRVs in every room then no need for a general thermostat. The Nest will not be able to respond to the tado TRVs if one opens for heat but the boiler is off by the Nest, unless you have both the Nest switch box and the Tado extension kit wired together in tandem to call the boiler, a messy solution. Without this the tado TRVs will act like any TRV, albeit with remote control by an app. Remember, the Nest only responds to it's own thermostat, it doesn't know if a a room TRV is looking for heat. The Tado system is aware of individual room TRVs settings. Unless you install TRVs in every room, you will need to depend on one thermostat (one of the TRVs or a main thermostat) to call for heat on behalf of non measured rooms' radiators.
Multiple heating sources can be combined either by electrical controlled valves, or by mixing in a manifold tank. The latter is less prone to problems as it is a passive device. Both systems can be setup for zoned heating. It can be used on sealed or open systems, gas or oil. The cost of solar for home heating is high in relation to returns. You might need a full roof of panels and a large space devouring buffer tank to get a worthwhile system in the winter. The money would be better spent on additional external insulation and better double, triple or thermal glazing. Solar works best for domestic hot water, one or two panels will save your oil/gas on sunny days
Check out NRGawareness.com for plans and products to combine boilers, stoves and solar/ heat pumps via a single inexpensive manifold. Tado offer a rental system which would be a good way of testing your preferences before committing to full purchase. I use the Tado main thermostat only system, It's very good, and you can add in TRVs later.

Some great feedback there, thanks. I read a lot more into it and am going to go with the full Tado system.

We are going to get a Stratford inset boiler stove. As we won't be lighting the stove a huge amount due to us both working and being away every second weekend, we are not going with the buffer tank.

We are definitely not going the PV route and are still considering Solar Thermal for hot water.