Simon wrote: Thu May 07, 2026 1:36 pm
Maybe your piano is on fire. Have you checked?
He's used an Italian naming regime - its actually a whole floor that's on fire
We are going to need to get a grip (by which I mean automate and zone ideally) of the heating situation at our new place before next winter though I think its going to be a challenge...
It is over 4 floors so currently there seem to be two Honeywell controllers in the boiler room which have three heating zones, 1 being ground/lower ground, another being first floor and another second... I think. Then one side of one controller for hot water but it heats a Megaflow cylinder so we have just set it to "continuous" - no idea if that's ruinously wasteful or what we should be doing as I've only ever had combi boilers before. Ironically we now have a +1hr button for the heating but have to go down two flights of stairs from the bedrooms to put it on.
The old owners also said something about the heating not being effective if you just heat certain floors "because of something to do with a pump". We also seem to have a combination of radiators in some places water underfloor heating in others and electric underfloor in the bathroom but with towel rails that do not seem to be electric but are red hot 24/7 so F knows what is going on there...
British Gas also sent through a closing bill (we've moved to EDF) saying on the basis of last year's usage the gas should be £3,800 p.a.
Mega flow should be fine ran in continuous- try using a “once” setting if you have the option, it’ll come in morning and off evening so it’s not running overnight, and the thermostat will take control, if you switch everything off it’ll keep water for for a few days so it’s not a bad way to use it. I’d definitely get someone in to check over everything, ideally someone whose worked on the system before as it can be a pain working out what’s going on with existing systems- you don’t have X-ray vision and neither do we as for the pumping it shouldn’t be struggling away, if it is it may need to be replaced with one that has a higher head. As for the towel warmers it used to be common to run them off the circs to the cylinder so they may come on with the hot water- helps keep towels dry when you don’t use the heating in the summer months
Simon wrote: Thu May 07, 2026 1:36 pm
Maybe your piano is on fire. Have you checked?
He's used an Italian naming regime - its actually a whole floor that's on fire
We are going to need to get a grip (by which I mean automate and zone ideally) of the heating situation at our new place before next winter though I think its going to be a challenge...
It is over 4 floors so currently there seem to be two Honeywell controllers in the boiler room which have three heating zones, 1 being ground/lower ground, another being first floor and another second... I think. Then one side of one controller for hot water but it heats a Megaflow cylinder so we have just set it to "continuous" - no idea if that's ruinously wasteful or what we should be doing as I've only ever had combi boilers before. Ironically we now have a +1hr button for the heating but have to go down two flights of stairs from the bedrooms to put it on.
The old owners also said something about the heating not being effective if you just heat certain floors "because of something to do with a pump". We also seem to have a combination of radiators in some places water underfloor heating in others and electric underfloor in the bathroom but with towel rails that do not seem to be electric but are red hot 24/7 so F knows what is going on there...
British Gas also sent through a closing bill (we've moved to EDF) saying on the basis of last year's usage the gas should be £3,800 p.a.
Mega flow should be fine ran in continuous- try using a “once” setting if you have the option, it’ll come in morning and off evening so it’s not running overnight, and the thermostat will take control, if you switch everything off it’ll keep water for for a few days so it’s not a bad way to use it. I’d definitely get someone in to check over everything, ideally someone whose worked on the system before as it can be a pain working out what’s going on with existing systems- you don’t have X-ray vision and neither do we as for the pumping it shouldn’t be struggling away, if it is it may need to be replaced with one that has a higher head. As for the towel warmers it used to be common to run them off the circs to the cylinder so they may come on with the hot water- helps keep towels dry when you don’t use the heating in the summer months
Thanks very much - I do have the name of the plumber that "knows the system" so I'll get in touch with him.
That's also what I guessed might by the case with the towel rails.
Am I correct in thinking the Megaflow is basically electrically powered (i.e. doesn't actually have anything to do with the boiler?) If so then I probably don't need to be too concerned about switching off continuous as the smart meter isn't showing too much in the way of worrying readings on the electricity side of things.
If you have a boiler then the Mega flow should be working from your boiler rather than electric. It may have an immersion backup, make sure you only use it as a backup or in conjunction with a solar pv controller, as it’s a 3kw electric element so gets a bit spendy to run long term
GG. wrote: Thu May 07, 2026 7:28 pm
Ok so I could be burning through gas keeping it fully hot at all times then. I'll look into it.
They’re not like old copper cylinders- It’ll stay hot for days at a time if you don’t use any water, the thermostat will kick the boiler in to top it up as and when you use water. You could time the water for a couple of hours a day, but as you’re used to the convenience of combi boilers the once setting will give you that without costing too much
