theconrodkid
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posted on 17/12/20 at 01:42 PM |
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central heating q
i have an indirect cylinder system, had a new cylinder und 3 way valve fitted in the summer, life was good.
last couple of days i have relented and put the heating on, then i find the water from the taps is getting to be just about warm, if i switch over to
hot water only the tap water gets hot but goes down to tepid over about 2 days, when the switch is flicked to HW and CH the rads get really hot but
not the tap water...any ideas chaps and chapesses ?
who cares who wins
pass the pork pies
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joneh
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posted on 17/12/20 at 05:36 PM |
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Sounds like when the three way valve is in the mid position most the water is going around the rads. Is there a slightly closed valve on the cylinder
side?
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theconrodkid
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posted on 17/12/20 at 07:00 PM |
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thanks for the reply, rads stay cold when it,s in HW only, of the 2 outlets on the valve, 1 gets hot when on HW, both when on HW /CH
looking on tinterweb it seems that the water in the coil gets hot and that heats the water in the tank ?
who cares who wins
pass the pork pies
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joneh
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posted on 17/12/20 at 07:22 PM |
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Yes that's right, inside the cylinder is a spiral of copper that indirectly heats the water in the cylinder, so you don't end up with
mucky chemical radiator water in your hot tap water. The three way valve has three pipes, in, HW (to the cylinder) and CH (to the rads).
So it sounds fine when on HW, as it should only heat the Cylinder.
When in the mid position only the central heating gets hot and the taps are just warm.
When on CH only, I assume just the heating gets hot (you'll get some heat creep along the pipe to the cylinder so best to feel the outlet from
the cylinder)?
If yes to the last question it sounds like a balance issue, where the water is taking the path of least resistance (hence wondering about a partially
closed valve on the cylinder circuit) OR the three way valve is biased to CH when it's supposed to be in the mid position and possibly faulty.
Sometimes the rubber flap can swell so the valve needs to be right over to let water through.
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steve m
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posted on 17/12/20 at 09:09 PM |
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Conrod, m8, i may of misread your prognoses, but if i say what my system was doing, there could be a similar problem
For years in my house, if we selected hot water HW it would do so, but also heat the radiators upstairs it was no big deal, but in hindsight wasteful
this honestly went on for years, but we dont need hot water that much, as washing machine dishwasher and shower do it all them selves
However, earlier this year, if we selected HW, it would do so, but also all of the houses heating as well, and being a large 4 bed place, again very
wasteful
So a plumber was called in, and the three way valve (rubber ball valve) was knackered, it was a BITCH to replace, as it was in the most inaccesable
place known, and i helped as well!
Now the HW and CH system works, just as it should, and already since March this year, ive used less that 1/3 the gas average, than i have done over
the last 5 years, thats how wastful it was heating up water !!
steve
Thats was probably spelt wrong, or had some grammer, that the "grammer police have to have a moan at
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theconrodkid
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posted on 17/12/20 at 10:55 PM |
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i think Joneh wins the prize, path of least resistance would make sense.
Steve, the valve was replaced in the summer after the tank sprung a leak, ill call the plumber and get him to have a look as it will be under
waranty
cheers peeps
who cares who wins
pass the pork pies
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