Help me decode my new home heating controls (Ed.)

[ajayuk90]

Hi All,

I'm new to this flat in London and the letting agent isn't very helpful. The home has communal heating, and there's a boiler and a set of switches and equipment in the storage room. Please let me know how to use these?

1. What is this white unit with 1 to 5 settings? It also shows a temperature reading! So, guessing it's a room heater?


2. What is this black Brit Therm unit? What should be the usual setting?


3.There's this Danfoss selection unit as well.

4.Finally, there are two switches, one labeled as 'Heating' and the other as 'Immersion'.


P.S.: This flat has no gas connection and is all electric. As mentioned, there's a communal heating system in place.

 

[ajayuk90]

Heating and Immersion switch.

 

[JohnD]

there's a boiler

do you mean a hot-water cylinder with an immersion heater inside it?

 

[ajayuk90]

No, So I'm not sure about what should be the settings in the Brittherm unit ? The Danfoss switch and the ESI temperature selector ?

I'm not sure which of these are for room heaters and for hot water ? Also, during winters what should be the setting ? Plus, I'm confused if I'm currently using the communal hot water or ending up heating through my own electricity.

 

[JohnD]

please show a photo of this boiler

 

[ajayuk90]

Sure, here it is.

 

[JohnD]

the large round white cylindrical thing?

It's a hot water cylinder with an immersion heater inside.

the small round red thing is a pressure vessel to absorb expansion of the heating or radiator water when it is heated

the small round white thing is a pressure vessel to absorb expansion of the hot tap water in the cylinder when it is heated. It is white to show it is made of stainless steel so will not pollute the tapwater

 

[ajayuk90]

Yes, That's the cylinder. So, how do I confirm if it's using the communal heating and not my electricity? Also, what should be setting in each of these devices?

 

[JohnD]

The cylinder looks like it can also be heated by the central boiler in the building, which is probably gas, but might be oil or even solar powered.

Energy from gas is about a quarter the price of electricity so unless the building owner overcharges you, that will be more economical than using the electric immersion hater.

 

[JohnD]

Photo 2 looks like a thermostat. It indicates 34 degrees, which would be unbearably hot for room heating, and unusually cool for hot water. You need to follow its wires and see where they go.

Photo 4 is a circulating pump. You will have to follow the pipes to see where they go, but it is the type usually used to draw water from a gas boiler and send it round radiators and to heat the cylinder. I'd expect the building owner to meter your usage and charge according to amount used, unless you are charged a flat rate. There is no reason for you to touch it.

Photo 5 I can't read the display, but it looks like a timer programmer used to set the times that your radiators and your cylinder are heated.

I can't see what photo 3 is.

Photo 1 looks like it is a switch that can be used to turn your heating completely off, for example in summer, or during maintenance

 

[ajayuk90]

Thanks, the wires are concealed, so I'm unable to trace where they lead to.

So, the Immersion switch in the pic, should be always off ?

You're right , I have 2 meters, one for electricity and other is for communal heating.

 

[JohnD]

your lease or tenancy agreement ought to say what the charges are for heating. I would hope they will be reasonable, but you never know. You ought to record and report the meter readings at the start and end of your tenancy in case you are overcharged.