Linking Heating and Water settings for old system in app

rus167

I have an old conventional oil boiler Gerkos GEM with a separate hot water tank. The previous programmer was an ancient Flash one, with options for central heating + hot water / hot water only ie: not just CH.

This must be a feature of the old system, but it would be nice to be able to link in the app rather than have to match schedules exactly in each setting. Also, the simple boost function doesn't work well, as need to remember to switch HW off again in app.

I have enclosed pictures of the previous programmer, and the boiler setup. System looks ancient, but recently serviced and works fine.

Thanks for any tips!

policywonk

This seems to be a very simple oil fired boiler with an excellent new burner and a reliable thermal exchange unit still in place. What can be seen from the photos is one pump, without any discernable motorised valves, which means that this may be a gravity fed control system. It isnt clear.

Suggest you look at this site first and determine what you've presently got: Central Heating Controls and Zoning - DIYWiki. It will help you discern whether you have a C Plan, or W Plan, or Y plan. Once you've determined that, if you have some spare money you would find it financially worthwhile to add control valves to upgrade your plumbing so that it operates as a Y plan or S plan, removing a lot of the instabilities that come with a C Plan or W plan. It isnt critical but it will help.

Next, if you are willing, would strongly recommend you arrange to have a wiring centre installed, to reflect the structured wiring you will need to maintain the system you have, or have chosen- using that same DIYwiki page as the reference. You can buy these wiring centres from Screwfix or most plumber's merchants. The logic is simple to put in place, and if you arent comfortable with doing it yourself, get an electrician to do it for you. It may take about 3 hours but it will make things simple.

Once done, you'll have clarity to take the next step, which is to write to Tado sales, set out the plan you have explaining how many rooms, radiators, whether you have TRVs already, etc. Ask for their advice on how their products are to be added in. They will respond. If you give them a plan with a C Plan, S Plan or Y plan, they will likely recommend you install

• An Extension kit, which will give you direct control over hot water and central heating, with the app serving as your programmer
• One or more thermostats to trigger the central heating,
• whilst maintaining your hot water thermostat controls.

Once this is organised. Populate the app, identifying the type of central heating system plan you have, the wireless receiver you have installed, and the thermostats you want in place.

rus167

Thanks very much policywonk for the comprehensive answer. Food for thought, I’ll work through your suggestions

policywonk

Another thing @rus167 . If you have access to rockwool which has aluminium foil on one side, strap those to the top, side and front of the boiler, just leaving the burner with space to be serviced and the boiler's thermostat not buried.

It will actually save about 16% of the oil you burn and reduce the build up of damp around the boiler! Guess how I learned this!

Good luck.