Could someone explain how our heating system works please

[User1483098432]

I've just moved into a new house and it has a fairly new heat only condenser boiler in the kitchen. And then a water tank in the loft and another tank in the airing cupboard. But I can't figure out how to use it. I can get hot water but the radiators are cold.

The tank in the airing cupboard has an immersion heater on top which connects to a plug socket, but the same plug socket is also connected up to the program switch on the wall. Which has options for heating, hot water and a timer. Does that mean the immersion heater has to be on any time we want heating or hot water? We have a plumber coming around on Saturday to have a look but the house is freezing at the moment. So I was hoping someone might have an idea about how to work the darn thing as I've only ever lived in houses with combi boilers and I haven't got a clue.

In Scotland houses come with a warranty so to speak, you have a month or two to report anything that’s not working, like a toilet or central heating etc. So if it’s the same in England make sure you let the seller know if the pump is bust if it is so they pay for the repairs.

@Elieza I don't think it's the same here unfortunately

Bummer OP. You could ask the solicitor that did your conveyancing what to do? Perhaps there was a clause he puts in all his contracts that you aren’t aware of?
It could be that the seller is a very nice person who will pop round and show you how to work it and all’s fine?

@User1483098432

Is there any chance you could post photos of your own cylinder, controls and pipework?

Photos of other people's don't give any clues of what your problem might be.

Is there a separate thermostat for the heating somewhere? Hallway? It could be that this is broken and it thinks your house is hot enough?

The top line of the control unit allows you to program the on and off times, twice a day, and set the clock. Check the times that are set, adjust if necessary and then put it back to Auto.

Try putting the heating to Continuous as others have said. If you can hear it firing up it sounds like it's trying to work, which is why I wonder whether the thermostat is playing up.

On a tank/cylinder set up, the immersion is usually a backup option so it could be that you have hot water because the immersion is fuelling it, rather than the boiler.

@elieza we called the estate agent to ask if they would contact the seller and ask him to just call us and explain how to use it. And the sellers reply was basically that they can't be bothered

@PigletJohn I hope these are OK.

This is the control panel on the wall. It does usually have a time displayed on it but the electricity had to be turned off for a while while some work was being done.

Well you’ve got your heating and hot water switched off...

Switch them to Cont (continuous) and see if the radiators heat up and your water gets hot for starters.

looking at the programmer pic, the display is blank, so there is no power to it. Is it now working again? If not, your boiler will not work.

To the right of your hot water cylinder is a motorised 4-port valve (with a rectangular metal box on it)

When the boiler is working, feel those three pipes and see which of them is hot.

You really, really, really ought to have a room thermostat on the wall. Can you see any trace of one? Most often in the main living room but in an older house may be in the hall.

Also please photograph the radiator valves. You may have two different types.

Some older people like to switch the CH on and off like an electric fire, and have an aversion to thermostats.

@sidge I've tried switching it to on and set to continuous and the radiators don't get hot and neither does the water.

Also, to the right of the cylinder, low down, is the dark red pump.

When the boiler is working, this may whir.

Feel it. It should be warm. If it is hotter than the pipes going into it, it is jammed or dry. Turn off the boiler at once until the fault has been found and fixed.

@PigletJohn I've looked all over the house and I can't find a thermostat. The display is back on now, the electricity just had to be turned off for a bit so a dodgy light switch could be fixed. I will take a pic of the radiators, but they have a white cap on one end and a thermostatic valve on the other end if that's any help. Thank you

If the display on the timer/programmer is still blank, then it has no electrical power and the boiler will not work.

Either you have an electrical fault, or the power has been turned off.

look for a switch, probably close to the boiler, something like the one in this pic. Ideally it should be marked "boiler" but most are not.

OK. So now the controller is back on, run the HW slider to "cont" and the red light should come on. Does the boiler start?

If not, run the CH slider to "cont" and the red light should come on. Does the boiler start?

If not, look at the boiler knobs and pressure gauge. What do they say?

@PigletJohn yes the lights come on the display when switched to on and continual and the boiler starts up.

That’s great it is working OP. Sounds like the broken socket tripped a fuse or something.

Shame the people that sold you the house weren't interested in helping you but that’s the way those things are going these days, all selfishness. They prob knew any the bust socket and want to pretend they didn’t.

If you are going to get maintenance breakdown boiler cover on your central heating system from a company for monthly fee anyway, you could ask them to come out and do it’s annual service and show you how to work it while they are here. Or pay for a one off service.

Or ask neighbours if they have the same system. Or see if there is a brochure online for the Honeywell controller (especially if it has a model number or somesuch on it).

My mums system is different but she can’t get the hot water boiler on if the heating is off so has to have both on for half an hour even in the summer. Just mentioning in case it’s relevant. Mine is not like that. I can have either or both.
Good luck.

@Elieza unfortunately the heating and hot water still aren't working, despite the boiler coming on and control panel working the pipes that form a T get hot for a while and then just go cold again. We have a heating engineer coming in the next couple of days and hopefully it will be an easy fix because it's freezing in the house.

That sucks OP. I hope it can be fixed soon. It’s to be cold here tonight so I hope you have plug in heaters.

The sellers response doesn't sound good, I hope it isn't going to be an expensive fix.