How to identify what heating system you have. In the UK.
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- čas přidán 9. 07. 2024
- If you are not sure what heating system is in your home , then Al takes you through the most common ones.
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Very helpful video, cheers derek for taking the time to explain the various boiler systems, legend !!!
Glad to help
@@dereton33 instead of pointing the camera at your monitor have a look into OBS its a screen capture software check youtube for tutorials for better quality clips hope this helps
Hi great videos can I magnaclense a prismatic system ? Also on other systems do I need to isolate the heating coils ? Thanks for any help you can share
Top man. Great video. Many thanks.
You are remarkable, absolutely with kind and humble
Thanks Nemo.
you legend ! almost no vids on this stuff , it gave me a big help sir , thank you
You're welcome!
Thanks Del all the very best to you and yours.
Thank you too
Excellent Vid mate will keep you in mind when I get to modify my system!
No problem.
Another good video very informative thanks. I have a question, is the flow, hot feed, always on the left side of the radiator or does it depend on who installed the system?
+luckyeddie Depends who installed the system. The way to find out is to switch the heating on from cold and see which pipe heats up first coz that one will be the flow.
excellent information and very well put, thank you, I have a question what system would I have to use to heat my water and raditors via a wood burning stove boiler? is it vented or unvented? thank you
Unvented.
Great video for new starters. Thanks
No problem
Can I just say that I will not know it when I see it because I'm not a plumber, thanks for making this though mostly very informative
Very helpfull well explained thanks
No problem.
Thanks this was really helpful!
No problem!
Great video - thanks for sharing, can you tell me, if I have an unvented system as per 3min 25s of your video - to increase my hot water pressure, do I fit a mains booster on the cold feed into the tank, or on the hot outlet side?
The hot outlet side.
Great video, thanks for sharing your knowledge. I have a question if you don't mind. In a typical F and E system what would be the most likely cause of the expansion tank filling up with hot water? Thanks.
The inner coil of the hot water cylinder is holed.
My friends pump was set by plumber to max speed,I turned down to lowest speed cured this problem.
Hi, thanks for the video! It looks like I have a combi system. Can I add a thermostat to it and how much this cost rughtly? I have a boiler - saunier duval themaclassic f24e.
Yes you can add a thermostat. Do not know about the cost of fitting but they cost about £30.00 to buy.
Well explained thanks.
No problem.
Thanks for the video! How do you determine if a combination boiler is sufficient or if you need a cylinder (of some sort). Planning to extend to have 3 bathrooms. Will an unvented system prevent filling of a bath or a toilet flushing affecting a shower? Thanks!
I would stick with the Combi. it will not effect the filling of a bath or a shower operating too much. A cylinder will never cope.
great video, why some cylinder with 5 pipe ? I know 1 cold in 1hot out , and 2 in and out from boiler , and no idea what extra pipe for ?
A hot return for extra long trips to hot taps.
This is one of the best videos
Thank you great comments indeed.
Thanks for the reply, a bit obvious reallywhen you think about it ...... I didn't, each to their own as the saying goes thanks again.
luckyeddie Q.
Hi - Really useful video. Thanks. One question though. We are about to replace our 4-pipe regular oil boiler (20 years old) with a gas condensing boiler; is there any reason to stop us doing, pretty much, a straight swap-out in terms of the 4 pipes from the old boiler in the garage and what other components might we need to buy.
No should be straight forward swap. You will need to run an extra condensing pipe into a drain, and a gas supply pipe 22 mm.
Thanks for the super quick response. One local company we had quote for the work wanted to rip out the old h/w cylinder from our airing cupboard, rip out the Header and Expansion tanks, supply a new h/w cylinder in the garage, supply/fit a new pump, supply fit a divertor (I guess they have to because our existing system is 4-pipe), fit a new wired programmer in the cellar, have a wireless room stat, fit a wiring centre box and re-do all the pipework! I guess they're just trying to make more work (=money) for themselves. Who can one trust nowadays? We already have all of that apart from the divertor of course (£60). So it will be interesting/laughable(?) to see what the quote is.
Wow, that`s one way to give the bill a massive boost.
Thanks for this.
Confirms I have the second system. Some muppet decided to run the overflow from the small tank into the big one :-O
One thing I can't find is any motorised valves. Got a pump right next to the boiler in the garage but I cannot find any motorised valves. Trying to diagnose why the boiler switches in then off when the hot water timer kicks in.
Thanks
Fantastic video thanks
Very welcome
So.. I have a cold water tank - upstairs in the loft - I think we have figured that it feeds the upstairs so bath, sink and toilet. But I also have a combi boiler which by all accounts looks like its on the mains.
Do I still need the tank? It makes fro convoluted processes when trying to isolate water!
The cold water tank is probably feeding the cold bath/basin taps and WC cistern. I have a video on getting more pressure which shows how to convert to mains. You could then loose the tank in the loft.
@@dereton33 But if there was enough pressure to fill up the tank, then why was it installed there in the first place? Currently I'm thinking about removing the tank and connecting the inlet to the tank with the outlet from the tank. Will this be a problem?
Hello, thank you for the video. I have question please. Q. How do I identify if I have single or a double pipe system that goes to the radiator please.
On a single pipe system just one pipe will feed in one side of the radiator, then pass underneath and feed the other side.
Hi Al, Another great Video!
I hope you can help me with a problem we have with our shower? When we are using the shower if someone flushes the toilet the water in the shower gets very hot, it’s the same if someone uses the cold tap on the basin. In turn if we turn on the hot tap on the basin the shower is freezing cold. We checked this yesterday and not sure if we can do anything. From your videos we have worked out we have a gravity feed system. Thanks very much
Nothing can be done with gravity, your only option would be to use a shower pump.
Great Vid pal, Not sure if you can help, I currently have a bosch cdi boiler Not combi with a hot water cylinder, for some reason I'm not getting hot water, we have the timer on advance and the boiler isn't firing up,I've also tried to switch the emersion on and the cylinder isn't getting hot, my theory was the thermostat but not 100%, surely the thermostat doesn't control both the boiler and the electrical element or does it ? as this would make sense that the thermostat is dead, any pointers would be great
It will be themotorised valve. Switch over to manual for now.
Cheers for that vid! I have a question about three port valves. The motor head on mine keeps clicking between centre and hot water. It won't settle and continually clicks. It's driving me bananas! Any idea what might be going wrong? It is a Drayton.
+burien cox Hate to say it but looks like a faulty valve.
excellent video
Thank you very much!
Thanks very informative helpful..
You're welcome
hi thank for a good video nice tips
+david clarke Cheers Dave.
Hi Al, really useful video but I'm still a bit confused. My system is like the third picture you show in this video which I am assuming, from what you say, is NOT a combi boiler. So, 2 questions if I may. Is the third picture a combi boiler and if not would I use the same techniques to reduce its pressure as one would for a combi boiler. Many thanks. Steve.
The 3rd picture is a F and E system that uses a pressure vessel. As you have a pressure vessel fitted with gauge you use the same way of reducing the pressure as if you had a combi boiler..
@@dereton33 Hi Al, sorry, I made a mistake. I meant to say my boiler is picture no. 4, not 3. My old house had an F&E system and I'm a bit unsure of this unfamiliar one in my current house a Potterton condensing boiler(your pic. no 4). Do I still use the same techniques to reduce pressure? Thanks Again.
Does an old primatic system leave you open t legionnaires as I have only one tank in the loft system is 25 yrs old or more 🙏
No , they last years , scaremongering know-alls spread worries and fears, like the petrol shortage.
hi Derek, I've got a regular boiler, with large tank plus small tank in loft...my Hot water cyclinder is under boiler in airing cupboard...but how do I tell if my Hot Water cyclinder is Indirect or Direct ?
You have an F and E tank so yours is indirect.
Hi can I put leak sealer in the water tank in the loft. My boiler is behind the fire downstair. The hot water supplies the central heating aswell as taps, shower etc. Would the sealer block the shower thanks
No it will be alright. Put it in the F and E tank, then drain about a bucket full of water from the system downstairs so the stuff gets well into the system.
Housing Association installed Vaillant boiler years ago, (replaced Immersion) Im sure a cold water loft tank still feeds bathroom , is this usual?, is it good or bad?health/performance/energy wise?. Is it legal? Nobody has cleaned/checked tank for many years, dont think it even has a lid. Thanks ; )
Yes it is still quite legal and as long as you do not drink from the basin tap you will be ok. Health wise I can only say that as far as I know it has done no harm so far.
If a boiler make loud noise n a 3 flat n no heat coming up at all is this something 2 be affaird of
No the boiler has safety features built in, but it should be looked at by a professional gas engineer sooner rather than later.
Another one to add to the list. The single feed primatic hot water cylinder, using just an airlock to separate the radiator water from that which comes out of the tap. If one can't find a vented feed and expansion cistern at the top of the system or a pressure vessel one could be unfortunate enough to have a primatic cylinder
Thanks Nick, I remember those, fortunately they are rare these days.
i moved into an old house with an open fireplace. I've been told there is a "back boiler" which heats the water and radiators when the fire is lit . There is a switch which apparently pumps the hot water into the radiators ? The fire is lit i switch on the pump (i can hear bubbling noise) but no warm radiators or hot water . Can someone explain, why not ?
Check the small header tank in the loft. (F and E tank) It could well be empty. if it is ok then you have air in the system.
I have two overhead black plastic tanks as part of our open vent system. I need to add radiator cleaner. Which one do i put it in. They both appear same size.
The F and E one it should be slightly smaller than your main tank and also will have brown sludgy water in it.
Hi I have a oil burner to heat my radiators, downstairs is hot and upstairs is cold my water was off for a few days and I think this let air into the system! How can I get the radiator upstairs hot again, please help! ,!
Try turning off all the downstairs ones to force it upstairs, do check there is no air in the rads upstairs first.
I have gas and want to fit and electric shower above bath. Both sink and bath pipes are fed of 15mm then 15 to 22mm flexi under bath. Do i take feed from under the sink or under the bath? Thanks
It does not matter which as long as they are both mains.
@@dereton33 thanks for your reply, how do i determine what is mains?
another good video thank you. im a diy guy find these great, helped me out once or twice
+Stephen Lyons No problem pleased to help.
Hi, I have a f & e system, I am removing the bath tomorrow and need to drain down the water to the bath. Do I need to isolate the large water tank in the loft to do this? Thank you
Safest bet as most gate valves never shut off properly.
hi, how do i stop hot water coming through the taps from a cylinder to adjust pipework in the bathroom, and do i have to switch anything off while cutting pipework, thanks
There should be a gate valve in the airing cupboard. If not shut off the mains and drain the roof tank. Switch the boiler off.
i need to cut the hot water tap pipes, so do i have to drain the cylinder down to do this ? thanks mark, or is there an easier way of stoping the hot water coming through the taps to cut the pipes, thanks again, mark.
i have to drain the boiler though dont i ?, and if it an indirect system and the radiators are rn through it wont that drain the radiators ?, sorry for being so ignorant about these things.
Hi I have an ideal icos he15 boiler but I can't work out if it is a regular conventional boiler or if it is a system boiler. I have a hot water cyclinder and it looks like a big red balloon type thing in it maybe fe cyclinder? I don't have any water tank in the loft. I can't work out to replace with a new system boiler or regular boiler. I believe I have a 'closed' system as I don't have an extra cold water tank in loft. I can still obtain hot water from the cyclinder even though my boiler is broken.
You have a sealed system with a pressure vessel. You more than likely have low pressure (below half a bar) or have a broken 3 or 2 way valve.
Yep low pressure but boiler is 13 years old and is costing a lot to repair the 'motherboard' great thanks for your prompt response, system boiler it is 👍
Have got a filling loop pressure vessel (sort not to sure how you spell it) the question is why my hot water from my tank is warm but never hot? The central heat work well and very hot.
When i plug separately the water tank water is very hot no problem.
Could be quite a few things, first check the motorised valve.
Its now working fine as i discover the wire as been cut which command the valve
our system have a small water tank in the loft, and downstairs, I see a small vessel just above the hot water cylinder but I dont see a pressure gauge anywhere, how do i know what system do we have.? as we need to replace the motorised zone valve.
advice?
As you have no pressure gauge and still have a roof tank I would say you have an F and E system.. It would not effect changing the motorised valve.
@@dereton33 thanks, do i will need to drain it fully? the pump and the motorised valve is located in the loft were the boiler and hot water cylinder is in the bungalow
Why I have to refill tank upstairs every third day ? Where the water disappear ?
If you mean the F and E tank then it means the ball valve is jammed off.
Hi, we have f and e system, the small heating header tank water level has dropped after I have turned water supply to it , does this definitely mean we have a leak in the central heating somewhere? Currently having issues with leaks in copper pipe in. 30 years old house 🥴
Try tying the valve up for a few days then see how much loss there is. If the tank is empty then yes a leak if not much has gone, then no.
dereton33 thanks I’d had it tied up for 2 days and about 3 or 4 inches had dropped but not empty, I will tie up again and leave for longer and keep an eye on it
dereton33 hi I’ve now had the valve closed for a week and the level has dropped 15mm is this a concern? The tank has been uncovered so I suppose with the heat it is possible of some evaporation ? Thanks
What about series connection of radiators in a combi system?
01:40 ….novice here, my tank has just started leaking at the top around the base of the silver circular thingy ma jiggy. What do I do apart from scream ?
Call a plumber.
Hi, again i have a feeling loop system with pressure vessel. At present i use only the Hot from the tank which as been connected to the electricity.
I have switch off the comby and switch on the tank water only. The water is too hot! i have turn down the Honeywell temperature gage but with no effect what so ever.
I would like to use only the hot on the hot water tap with reasonable hot water. Any suggestion? Thank you,
+Jean Leclerc you will need to turn down the thermostat in the immersion heater.
Ok i will check that tomorrow thank you. you are so helpful.
Same problem as me but my water is really hot...sure its gonna be thermostat's broken,sometimes they seize onto the copper tank so I'm already expecting a bill
whats the purpose of small pipe outside of the house? i mean,when when i switch on heating system,it heats up and when its heats up,outside of house i have small black pipe.and from there dripps water.why?
Depends if you have a combi or F and E system.
@@dereton33 how to find that out?
Can the loft tanks ever become empty then need time to fill again ?
Yes if you run a bath or the valve runs slow in the tank.
@@dereton33 ... that's what's happened then ...we've hardly got water comming out of taps...my daughter's boyfriend had a 15 min shower but he wasn't to know we have a loft tank lol...Thankyou x
hi, whenever I put my heating on I get this horrible smell. It is a mix of a mouldy, gas smell and it always happens in the morning. any ideas what it could be?
+bencb3 No but I would get the boiler checked.
Hi, I had a similar problem first thing in the morning in the bathroom,a gassy /cabbage smell,turned out to be a dead dried mouse under the bathroom floor that had died next to the rad pipe.
dereton33 Your the man.
my boilers enginers name is aah
bencb3 last time i had that it turned out to be my gf’s farts.
So, when I look at my heaters, how do I identify my system?
Combi boiler has no hot water tank or roof tanks. F and E does.
Hi Derek, thanks !)lfor the education, 😊 I NEED YOUR HELP Trying tonfigure out what type of heating system I have, what kind of boiler, ive left as muxh info as I can below and I know I have no right ask you for anything but Google let downand I'm unsure who to go to,. I &ope I hear from you.
First. An unqualified techncian Guessed it was A "System Boiler" but does that mean Conventional boiler?? He diddnt know either.
I live in a Bungalow, and in my hallway (or first small room you enter from the front door that has a door to the living room on the left and bathroom to the right) in betwee, theires another door with t&e airing cupboard, I have a reservoir that's slightly raised by about 6 inches, and the reservoir (if this the right term) has a dial on it to control the hot water temperature (using a flathead screw driver), right above it (Above the towels there is a unit that tells me the water pressure, if if the dial drops I just need to stick a flathead into something near the pressure gauge and turn until its back to normal, there's also a switch in the airing cupboard that shuts off the hot water (if that helps, my "thermometer" is an old dial that clicks on when turned by hand, this is in the living room,
In the kitchen at the back of the bungalow (it's a really small bungalow) youl find what I believe is called the programmer, it's a pixilated screen that tela the time and i can use it to schedule when I want My heating on, or if I want to turn my hot water off all night then heat it up an hour or so before waking up so it's warm by the time I get my morning wash.
The things I have mentione# so far! Are all 1 brand, "Honeywell" however next to my programmer is my (forgot the name) heating system Specifically an Ideal: Logic - Heat 15.
Clearly I am clueless with these systems right now but I'm trying to learn.
My equipment is outdated and I was hoping to upgrade, my thermostat is that old that the numbers have faded, it doesn't click on until I dial it past 30C, so I was hoping I could change the thermostat (my brother installed his own system as he's qualified so il ask him to do mine, he told me to find out what kind of heating ststem I have first, i have 5 radiators (1 for each room)
And I was hoping I could install the honeywell T6 Thermostat or similar along with those things that you somehow screw onto your radiator and using an app you can set b off times or control the temperature properly, and most importantly Save money, I can get the honeywell t6 (and all it comes with + 3 radiator valves? If that's the right word) and have them fitted, it does mean giving him my old PC (that I don't use) but if it can save me money in the long run then I'm happy,.
So if possible, can you tell me what type of boiler? System I have?
Yesterday my pressure dropped so I had to call the housing company (I diddnt know about the
Valve you can turn with a flathead to fix the issue back then ) but I asled him and he said
"I've only been here a
Week, they only send me on the small jobs I'm still learning but I'd say it's a "system boiler"
Is that right? And I can't find anything about them, unless it' another word for Conventional??
I'm so sorry to take up so much of your time, Google isnt helping and I don't know what to search for,.
Anyway I'm sorry for the long message I wasn't sure what info you needed so I'm sorry if went to far and I hope you know that il support you/subscribe whether or not you reply, and I understand if you don't reply, my own fault for looking like a psychopath hahaha
Take Care Derek, Stay safe & I hope 2024 brings you all those well deserved memories and dreams we both know you deserve, including your following/Subscribers going sky high😊
SORRY AGAIN. Take care
Chris
Hi Chris, You have a pressurised system, so you may well have a combi boiler. If however you have a hot water cylinder then you have a System boiler. You can also tell if you have a red pressure vessel mounted somewhere. You can change the thermostat for almost any type. Also as you say you can get the smart radiator TRVs.
whats F and E system 1:27 ? Tought there is just direct and indirect systems
F is feed E is expansion. There are also direct and indirect systems.
cheers
why do you call it an f and e system ?
Its short for feed and expansion system.
You again😉
Yes. Ha ha.
A humming pump in the middle of the house is very common and terrible!
orrible noise.
Pressure Vessel System 2:14
Great .
F and E???
Feed and Expansion.
Ursa Major65 Feed and expansion and it is 81 L
Scottish rite widows son? 😉 Wink wink