Is it ok to add rads to this system

[carlbailey]

Hi everyone. Been reading info off here for ages but now comes the time when i need some advice.

I have been doing my flat up after moving in last November. Not all the rooms have radiators so i would like to install some extra ones (2 in total). However, i've had a look at my heating system and its 'old' by the look of it . The boiler is a wall hung Glowworm and i have a hot water cylinder. Hot water is ok. Over winter the existing rads have been hot and no probs. Just had a look at the hot water cylinder and found out i have a 'servowarm' system. Is that correct?? A basic lever on a valve which alters the flow to either the radiators or the hot cylinder. There is a brand new 'Grundfos' pump on the system.

I've found the f&e tank and drain offs. Can i add rads to it or will i upset the balance of the system. I know i need to upgrade but money is tight at the moment.

Advice and help appreciated.

Carl

 

[JPC]

yes, go ahead. you can only have so many rads. check you boiler output and try and add the rads output (from a catalogue or similar, measure and check kw)

normally, most boilers will cope.

howe many rads have you got and what size boiler is it

 

[carlbailey]

Its a Glowworm Spacesaver 50FF.

At the moment there are only 3 rads on the system. These are in the old part of the flat. Flat has been extended (by knocking 2 into 1). Its now the extended part which is now my 2 bedrooms and a small bathroom that dont have radiators.

The set up is as follows. Boiler is on the wall in my kitchen and feeds a rad in the kitchen, hall, and lounge. End of hallway is small room that contains the hot cylinder and pump. Then 'added' part of flat begins.

Do i 'break' into the system for the new rads before the pump (on flow and return) which what the original rads seem to be doing, or after the pump where the hot water cylinder is. In this room the flow pipe from the boiler comes in and goes to the pump. Then after pump goes into cylinder. Out of cylinder to a manual diverter, then back to boiler via rads..

Looks an easier option if i can 't' in new pipework in this area.

 

[undercover]

This is a simple pumped gravity system really. Needs upgrading at some point but i understand how money is tight at the moment.

Boiler heats water (boiler thermostat controls the temp) and pumps it around the heating side through your rads until it "flows" into the room with your hot water cylinder. On some servowarm systems i've seen after the pump the pipe reduces to 15mm and goes through the cylinder coil (heating the domestic side). Then out to a manual "Rega Diverter" valve before returning to the boiler, again on a 22mm which will branch out in 15mm for the rads.

T into the 22mm flow and return as they enter this room. Use 22mm and branch off in 15mm for your new rads.

Your boiler should be OK but it may be a good idea to get a RGI in. These boilers can be range rated and yours will need checking and maybe the burner pressure adjusting

 

[carlbailey]

Will i be ok to do it this way and use the 22mm pipes as they come into the room with the hot cylinder.

What do you mean by range rated???

Thanks for all the speedy replies

Carl.

 

[doitall]

You can tee off anywhere in the heating side of the valve, the return must tee into the existing heating return and not the common return.