Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

Confused about my hot water system

25 replies

LucyLocketX · 26/11/2013 21:41

Apparently I don't have a hot water tank.

Does this mean I should only switch the hot water on when I actually want to use it?

It's currently on a timer but not sure if its actually doing anything if I'm not using the hot water if you see what I mean.

I hope I'm making some sort of sense. I would ask the landlord but I've been here ages and am too embarrassed to admit I still don't know how it works.

I guess I need to test it really but if someone could explain I'd be grateful. Thanks!

OP posts:
ilovepowerhoop · 26/11/2013 21:48

do you have a combi boiler then that heats the water as you use it? I cant see why you would have a timer for the hot water if you dont have a tank to store it in. How old is the system?

Original poster
LucyLocketX · 26/11/2013 21:57

I know. I'm really confused.

My dad seems to think there's no hot water tank but isn't sure either how it works.

It's all fairly new. About 18 months old. Everything here is in very good condition.

OP posts:
Original poster
LucyLocketX · 26/11/2013 21:59

He didn't seem to think there was a combi boiler either.

But is there any other way of heating it?

OP posts:
PigletJohn · 26/11/2013 21:59

It's not a tank you haven't got, it's a cylinder.

ilovepowerhoop · 26/11/2013 22:00

my hot water tank is hidden in an upstairs cupboard but is behind boards so not easily accessed. You need PigletJohn as he knows about boilers and the differences between systems. Where is your boiler? When you turn on the hot tap does the boiler fire up at that same time? (would suggest a combi if it does which would mean you wouldnt need to put hot water on a timer)

LunaticFringe · 26/11/2013 22:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DorrisM · 26/11/2013 22:01

If you turn on a hot tap does the boiler fire up? If it does you've got a combi, if it doesn't then you don't. Go and test it, turn the heating off for a few minutes so the boiler is off first then turn on a hot tap.

Saltycopporn · 26/11/2013 22:07

I understand how this works perfectly. I may or may not be able to explain it!

During the on times set on your timer the water is brought up to a temperature (60 degrees is normal) set by a thermostat (normally about 3/4 the way down the tank). As soon as the timer switches off the water will start to cool although a tank full of hot water will stay hot for hours.

The most efficient way to use your hot water is to work out when you take most showers and set the timer to heat the hot water for an hour either side of these times.

The water temperature will only ever be topped up as it would never have enough time to get cold. If you have a house full of people the hot water may need to be set to come on for longer to allow recovery from multiple showers

ilovepowerhoop · 26/11/2013 22:09

yes, but she says she doesnt have a cylinder to store the water in that is being heated. A combi wouldnt have a hot water cylinder as it heats the water on demand. Could the timer switch be from an old heating system or is there a hot water cylinder hiding somewhere?

PigletJohn · 26/11/2013 22:10

Cylinder.

Saltycopporn · 26/11/2013 22:21

Hmmm im not great at reading posts before replying. If you are sure you dont have a tank then its possible that the timer relates to a combi with a preheat function. That is a combi that also stores a small amount of hot water within the boiler so that it can be deliverd to the tap more quickly. However these timers are normally an integral part of the boiler.

PigletJohn · 26/11/2013 22:32

If you keep saying "tank" I shall come and poke spiders through your letter box.

ilovepowerhoop · 26/11/2013 22:37

can you help the op, PigletJohn with her cylinder issues?

PigletJohn · 26/11/2013 22:44

Like you said, turning on the hot tap and seeing if the boiler fires will do. See how quickly the boiler stops firing when you turn off the hot tap.

Turn the heating off first by turning the room thermostat down.

ProcessYellowC · 26/11/2013 22:56

OK, outside of the box here - is there definitely a boiler that burns gas?
Or, could it possibly be on a communal system, in which case you have a Heating Interface Unit. This is unlikely, but a possible if the whole home is 18-months ish old.

Just the only thing I can think of if you don't have a combi boiler nor a system boiler with a cylinder/tank...

Regardless, if your landlord is approachable (or a faceless corporation - almost even better), it could really be worth a bit of cringing to save yourself potentially quite a bit of money in the long run.

Saltycopporn · 26/11/2013 23:06

I might collect them and pop them back to you everytime you say f&e tank when it should be cistern.

PigletJohn · 26/11/2013 23:13

Ha ha!

Saltycopporn · 26/11/2013 23:27
Grin
Monty27 · 26/11/2013 23:51

Lol! :)

CointreauVersial · 27/11/2013 00:16

Ah, PigletJohn and his cylinder fixation...Grin

Original poster
LucyLocketX · 27/11/2013 15:21

Thanks all. I spoke to the landlord.

Apparently it is a combi.

So does this mean I've been wasting my money by having the hot water timer come on every day mid-afternoon for two hours?

Am I only supposed to switch it on right before I want to use some hot water? The landlord wasn't sure about this either.

OP posts:
ilovepowerhoop · 27/11/2013 15:50

I thought the point of having a combi meant you didn't have to put hot water on a timer as it heats on demand when you turn the tap on. Is the timer for heating or definitely for the water?

specialsubject · 27/11/2013 19:42

the hot water timer can't be connected to anything if there is no place to store hot water.

(I've also got a property with a combi boiler, it has the timing for hot water because the timer has the function for that, but there's nothing to connect it to)

never be afraid to ask a question of the landlord!

PigletJohn · 27/11/2013 19:47

have you got a timer for the central heating? Does it work? And a room thermostat?

claretandamberforever · 27/11/2013 19:49

do you know the make and model number of your boiler?

New posts on this thread. Refresh page