Identifying Heating Controls, Meters and Flues.

Identifying Heating Controls, Meters and Flues.

Identifying Heating controls and Flues Gas and Electric meters Programmers Room Thermostats TRVs HWC Thermostats Flues Emitters TOP TIPS IN IDENTIFYING THE USUAL/UNUSUAL;

GAS AND ELECTRIC METERS Gas and electric meters can cause confusion due to the many types fitted over the years and to their labelling. Some old Duel Rate meters have been converted to Single Rate meters. Look for any Servicing Documents attached to the meter or a fuel bill.

Old and new type of Single Rate Meter

Single Phase does NOT mean Single Rate.

Single Rate.

The simple Duel Rate Meter.

Some types of meters can be Single or Duel Rate. This meter requires you to watch the display as it cycles to determine its Rate. These meters require you to press the blue button to cycle the display.

Top Tip... For Duel Rate meters, take your photo when the display shows the other Rate. Evidence that it is NOT a Single Rate Meter.

Pre Paid meters can be Single or Duel Rate. There is usually a label showing the rate. Payment Key.

Two Gas Meters. One is Mains Gas and the other Calor Gas (LPG). Which is the Calor Gas meter?

Take a closer look.

Look for this Red Cap as a clue. Or even this on the flap door?.

LPG BULK STORAGE Bulk Storage supplying more than one house.

The LPG metered houses can be found on housing estates and clusters of houses that have a bulk storage tank supplying the whole estate/development. Therefore the Energy Assessor could be caught out by not seeing any LPG cylinders or LPG storage tanks at that one particular property. Entering the RdSAP data as Mains Gas and not LPG will result in a gross error. i.e. A 2006 build property could show an Energy Rating of; On Mains Gas Band C On LPG Band F A BIG difference!

Programmers and Room Thermostats A combined Programmer and Room Stat For DHW and Heating. Programmer Room Stat Control.

Programmer for DHW and Heating.

Top Tip... If the property has a programmer, such as this... AND has this old type Programmer/Room Stat... Be aware that this old unit, although not now used as the programmer, can be wired to still act as a Room Thermostat.

Integral Programmers on a Boiler.

Integral Programmer on the Boilermate type systems.

A Heating Management System

Multi Channel Programmer for Zone Control

THE ROOM THERMOSTAT Old and New Room Thermostats.

The elusive Wireless Programmer/Room Stat. These can be anywhere, even hidden behind a Birthday Card!

Or hidden amongst ornaments.

And this very small Wireless Room Stat could be missed...

And even the older Room Stat may not be where you would expect it!

And another unexpected place! Note: Under floor Heating Thermostats can be found at this height also..

Under floor Heating The Thermostat is normally close to the floor. Each room, with under floor heating, will have such a Thermostat.

Top Tip... Having found the Room Thermostat down stairs, always check upstairs for a second thermostat... ZONE CONTROL?

Zone Control Time and Temperature Zone Control. To enter this system, there must be a programmer and room thermostat for every zone.

Top Tip... Be aware that some Programmers are now Multi Channel and as such constitute Zone Control

Thermostatic Radiator Valves(TRVs)

A Thermostatic Radiator Valve (TRV) is added to each individual radiator to permit different room temperatures around the home. The TRV controls the room temperature by reading the current air temperature and appropriately opening or closing the inlet valve to the radiator to achieve the preset temperature.

These are NOT a TRVs. These valves ONLY maintain the temperature of THAT radiator, regardless of the room temperature.

The unusual...

The Water filled, Wall Fixed, Stand Alone Radiator. Electrically heated. Each radiator can be controlled by a timer. Radiators of this type also allows the setting of the desired room temperature. (i.e. TRV).

Hot Water Cylinder Thermostats

Typical Thermostats.

Thermostats can be easily missed... Is there a Thermostat on this tank?..

The Factory Set Thermostat. Found at the bottom of the HWC.

And the unusual...

Connected to this temperature control unit to the boiler. ( Hidden on the reverse wall). A Thermo Sensor.

This type of valve can be found attached to the in pipe of the HWC from the boiler. The thin silver wire is a heat sensor attached from the HWC to the valve. This is NOT classed as a HWC Thermostat

This type of system is not classed as a Cylinder Stat as it does not DIRECTLY shut the boiler off once the HWC has reached the required set temperature. Hot water from the boiler goes through the valve and then through the coiled pipe in the HWC, heating the DHW (Indirect Heating). Once the DHW has reached the required temperature, the valve shuts off the heated water from the boiler. However this does not shut off the boiler. The boiler will continue to run until the boiler s own thermostat shuts it down.

Top Tip... As an Energy Assessor you may not think to take a photo of this, as it is not a cylinder stat. Although you know this is NOT a Cylinder Thermostat, the present occupier may think it is a cylinder thermostat. Explain this to the home owner. Take photos of this system to back up your EPC Report.

Flues

The Fan Assisted Flue.......one with a Twist......and a Stubby one

Fan Assisted Flue, Proud of the wall.

Fan Assisted Flue.

The Balanced Flue (Gas).

Balanced flue for a Floor mounted oil boiler.

Balanced flue for a wall mounted oil boiler.

Flue Terminal for Back boiler. This would be attached to the back boiler via a flue liner.

Clay pot for an open fire.

Terraced properties with a mixture of Back boiler and open fires.

Oil Boiler Flue Terminal (Open).

Vertex Flues (Fan Assisted). Gas.

Wallstar Oil Boiler Flue.

The Ridge Terminal Flue. Look for this flue liner in the Loft Space.

Oil Boiler Flue. Fan Assisted.

Fan Assisted Oil Boiler Flue (Condensing). Note the Condensing Pipe (Plastic).

Top Tip... The Condensing Pipe from a Condensing Boiler is made of plastic. This is because the condensed water is very acidic and so would corrode through a copper pipe. It is not unusual to find that the Condensing Pipe to be made of copper. Installed by a unqualified Plummer? Inform the home owner of this, as they could have leakage in the future!