Just can't quite grasp the concept of my boiler!

martin2345uk
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Posts: 2

Just can't quite grasp the concept of my boiler! Sept 9, 2013 13:11:41 GMT -5

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Post by martin2345uk on Sept 9, 2013 13:11:41 GMT -5

Hello,

firstly, wow, I cannot believe there is a site and a forum dedicated to my scarily complicated make of boiler! I'm so glad I found it!

Ok so here's the thing - I've read the manual, and the very helpful guide on this site, but I think i'm still having trouble getting my head round the Powermax...

I was hoping someone would be able to answer some basic questions, I'm trying to phrase them in a way that means I will understand the replies!

1. When the HW is on, and I am don't have any hot water taps on, is it still burning and using lots of gas?

2. How much water is in the thermal store? It seems a bit random when it's off - sometimes I can get hot water from the taps and sometimes not.

3. The manual recommends HW to be set to "All day" and CH to be "Timed". Now if the HW is on "all day" does that mean I'm using gas all day? Surely that can't be economic?

4. If the gas is burning while the HW is on "all day", then what happens during the periods that the CH comes on? Does it burn more gas for that hour/2 hours, then go back to burning a bit less gas when the CH goes off but the HW stays on?

5. Does it work with a thermostat so that when the room reaches a certain temperature, the heating goes off for a bit? Or when the CH is on does it just keep heating and heating til you have to go and hit "Advance" to cycle to the next OFF period?

Sorry if these are really silly questions, I just want to know how to get the most efficient and economic use out of this beast!

Martin

Last Edit: Sept 9, 2013 13:14:33 GMT -5 by martin2345uk

Mike the Boilerman
Administrator

Posts: 114

Just can't quite grasp the concept of my boiler! Sept 10, 2013 2:51:21 GMT -5

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Post by Mike the Boilerman on Sept 10, 2013 2:51:21 GMT -5

Welcome Martin!

1) No

2) Depends which Powermax you have, you don't seem to say. But typically about 100 litres or so.

3) No, it turns itself OFF when hot enough so even though the timer is set to HW ON, you only burn gas to replace any hot water you actually draw off from a tap, and to replace minor heat losses.

4 The gas does not burn when the HW is set to 'all day'. See above. It will burn whatever gas is needed to heat the rads when you have them hot, but no more than necessary. It is self-regulating and only burns gas when heat is needed.

5) It should, yes, provided the installer fitted one! You ought to have a room thermostat on the wall somewhere. This turns the boiler and rads ON and OFF in response to falls and rises in air temp, but only while the timer is set to CH ON. There will be a significant time delay between the rads coming ON and OFF, and the gas burner turning itself ON and OFF. Don't let this fool you into thinking it is not working properly.

Hope that helps,
Mike

Last Edit: Sept 10, 2013 2:54:36 GMT -5 by Mike the Boilerman

martin2345uk
New Member

Posts: 2

Just can't quite grasp the concept of my boiler! Sept 10, 2013 17:06:56 GMT -5

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Post by martin2345uk on Sept 10, 2013 17:06:56 GMT -5

It certainly does Mike thanks!

Regarding the thermostat - we have one on the wall, but it's in the entrance hall by the front door... which is a place we never want to heat! Does this mean it's basically useless? You'd think they would have installed it in the lounge or somewhere useful!

So as it is, I guess we will just have to have very short periods of CH activity, as it gets very warm very quickly!

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Just can't quite grasp the concept of my boiler!

Post by martin2345uk on Sept 9, 2013 13:11:41 GMT -5

Post by Mike the Boilerman on Sept 10, 2013 2:51:21 GMT -5

Post by martin2345uk on Sept 10, 2013 17:06:56 GMT -5

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