Hi all,
Yes, it may be the first failed diverter valve of the year, and it has inspired me to thing about replacing my whole system. Firstly a bit of background about the current system.
House is a 2 bed end terrace, currently only has 5 radiators, one in the lounge (open plan to dining room), one in the kitchen extension (which gets really cold in the winter - insulation problem there i think), one in the master bed, one in the hall and one in the bathroom. Second bedroom doesnt have a rad. They are all old rads, no TRVs or anything. The system as a whole is absolute crud. Some of the rads are in series with each other, some (in the kitchen extension) are teed off. Hot water is heated indirectly in a standard cylinder in the second bedroom airing cupboard. Theres a pump and a diverter under the floor(!!!) in the dining room, by the Baxi back boiler. As SWMBO wanted laminate, thats the replacement of that scuppered. I dont even think its all plumbed in right, you have to have the hot water on for half an hour before you have the heating on in order to get any hot water at all. I think that the hot water is pumped through the rads before it heats the cylinder water, so its cold by the time it gets there!!
Our only requirements of the new system are....
6 new radiators and pipework that must be hidden underfloor (floorboards and joists), sized to handle our heat requirements.Keeping the ability to store hot water in the cylinder - two reasons here which i think are valid - 1. our venturi shower wont work without a hot water cylinder. 2. The wife likes the occasional bath.
I am umming and aahing about whether to do this diy, as it needs to be in before it starts getting really cold, and working full time, i dont have much of it spare to do something like this. And of course, i havent done a central heating install before. Im confident that my plumbing and electrical skills are up to it though.
Also, i need to keep the cost around the 1500 mark.
So on to my questions and musings.....
Can i easily keep the current indirect heating system used for our hot water, while replacing the central heating section. Can a combi/condensing boiler do indirect water heating efficiently.
Pipework under laminate floor - any suggestions. I think removal of aforementioned minging flooring is the best option.
TRVs/Thermostats etc... We just want the whole house to be warm, not really bothered about upstairs being cooler than downstairs etc. Whats the best way to do this. Im guessing at trvs on all rads (except bathroom one), but would you recommend a room thermostat in the lounge to tie in with these. If someone could explain the need for room thermostats when you have trvs i would appreciate it (seen a few installs with trvs and thermostats but dont really understand why you need thermostats when the temp is controlled by the trvs)
Types of boiler/boiler recommendations that fit in with our budget would also be appreciated.
Im sure there are a load of things ive missed out, but any pointers would be appreciated (and yes, i have read the faq etc)
Mark