I've done a lot of research on web sites and forums, but I want to be absolutlely sure I've understood before throwing my toys out with my builders...
I have a new build with an ICOS condensing boiler and independent timer controls for HW and CH. 1st 5 months just used hot water - all ok. In November I switched the heating on and found it less than great. I did a lot of looking around and found that this system was using twice the gas I'd done in my old house which given relative sizes and occupancy didn't make sense.
It turns out that the heating will only work, ie send hot water to the rads if the stat on the storage tank is set high enough. As soon as it clicks off when (I assume) the water's reached temp, a valve turns and the radiators don't get any more heat. I assume therefore that I'm wasting gas heating water which doesn't need to be heated just so I can get the CH working. To do this the boiler stat has to be low, and the tank stat high... I've checked as much as I can and everything seems set right(ish). The room stat controls feed to the rads correctly if the condition above is met.
I've had the builder in (twice) and last time they took off the second valve which never seems to move (I assume this is actually where the problem is) and changed temps on all the stats. As far as I can see however, it is still broke.
My question is - am I correct in assuming that a modern system like this should be able to provide CH to the rads even when the HW is set to off on the timer?
I need to know this, because this is the simplest way to prove that there is a problem with no need to wait for various interactions.
Any replies much appreciated - this is driving me crazy
I have a new build with an ICOS condensing boiler and independent timer controls for HW and CH. 1st 5 months just used hot water - all ok. In November I switched the heating on and found it less than great. I did a lot of looking around and found that this system was using twice the gas I'd done in my old house which given relative sizes and occupancy didn't make sense.
It turns out that the heating will only work, ie send hot water to the rads if the stat on the storage tank is set high enough. As soon as it clicks off when (I assume) the water's reached temp, a valve turns and the radiators don't get any more heat. I assume therefore that I'm wasting gas heating water which doesn't need to be heated just so I can get the CH working. To do this the boiler stat has to be low, and the tank stat high... I've checked as much as I can and everything seems set right(ish). The room stat controls feed to the rads correctly if the condition above is met.
I've had the builder in (twice) and last time they took off the second valve which never seems to move (I assume this is actually where the problem is) and changed temps on all the stats. As far as I can see however, it is still broke.
My question is - am I correct in assuming that a modern system like this should be able to provide CH to the rads even when the HW is set to off on the timer?
I need to know this, because this is the simplest way to prove that there is a problem with no need to wait for various interactions.
Any replies much appreciated - this is driving me crazy