Help, Can i create a new controllable heating zone!

[glowboy77]

Hi all,

I want to know if i can add (not personally of course) a seperate zone to my CH system. It would be great if i could control the new extension without having to have heating on everywhere else in house.

My boiler is downstairs, with the pump, 2 x 2 port valves, cylinder, expansion tank etc on first floor landing in airing cupboard. The part of the house i would like to be on a different zone is directly to the side of the utility (boiler site), is it possible to just T joint off the flow and return immediately from boiler to feed rads in new extension and using a valve and seperate thermostat just heat this part without heating rest of house??

Or, would i need seperate pump also as pump is on first floor??

Or, am i barking up the wrong tree and it can't be done without major cost and hassle!!

Any info much appreciated,

 

[muggles]

Yes you can, look at the Honeywell CM Zone System http://www.cm-zone.com/application.php?language=en

 

[electronicsuk]

What you want to do will be a pretty easy job for a heating engineer who is also competent with the controls side of things - a 3 channel programmer and a new room stat in the extension are all that is really required.

It's just personal opinion as I haven't used or seen it in action, but I would avoid that Honeywell system. The valves are wireless and battery powered, which are two things that do not sit well with me. That said, if you'd happily install a wireless alarm, you'd probably be quite pleased with this system too. It strikes me as something better suited to retrofits when it's not possible to re-pipe and fit proper zone valves into the system.

 

[Whitespirit66]

Yes, as said, not a problem. Just tee off the flow to the new extension, with its own 2 port valve where it tees. Also, add return to system for new extension.

Then 3 channel programmer ( hw, existing rads, new extension rads) and a room stat for the extension to give independent temp. control.

 

[glowboy77]

Thanks for your help guys,

Would the wiring from this 3 channel programmer and thermostat feed back to the existing programmer by boiler?

Also, is pump being in the airing cupboard on 1st floor an issue or not?

And, excuse me for being stupid but would the hot water from flow fill existing flow pipe to valve and also go off down new T off, and vice versa, with return? What i am trying to say is, would there be an issue with return if water tracked back up pipe rather than flow into boiler due to angle of T off?

 

[D_Hailsham]

Also, is pump being in the airing cupboard on 1st floor an issue or not?

You would have to tee off after the pump or there would be no circulation through the new zone. Teeing off before the pump and fitting a second pump for the extension is not recommended.

 

[glowboy77]

So if i have to T off after pump, i can't do what i want without great hassle ie laying new pipework from airing cupboard to extension at great cost and inconvenience??

Is there no way around this at all??

I only want the two radiators to work independently in extension, not interested in making rest of grd floor it's own zone just what's been added to system.

 

[D_Hailsham]

I only want the two radiators to work independently in extension, not interested in making rest of grd floor it's own zone just what's been added to system.

I you want to be able to heat the extension on its own without heating the rest of the house, then the extension and the rest of the house have to be two separate zones, each with its own zone valve.

You might be able to do it by teeing off before the main pump and fitting a second pump running on the lowest setting. You would need to fit a gate valve in the circuit to limit the flow through the extension circuit, otherwise it could grab all the flow.

 

[electronicsuk]

So if i have to T off after pump, i can't do what i want without great hassle ie laying new pipework from airing cupboard to extension at great cost and inconvenience??

Is there no way around this at all??

I only want the two radiators to work independently in extension, not interested in making rest of grd floor it's own zone just what's been added to system.

Depends if you'd prefer the hassle now or later. A single pump running the entire system is going to be the most trouble free option - there isn't much to go wrong. Having multiple pumps may cause you headaches trying to commission everything properly.

 

[glowboy77]

Cheers guys, nothings straightforward is it.

You might be able to do it by teeing off before the main pump and fitting a second pump running on the lowest setting. You would need to fit a gate valve in the circuit to limit the flow through the extension circuit, otherwise it could grab all the flow

So how about smaller diameter pipe for T off?? Would that restrict possibility of all flow being grabbed by new zone.

And/Or, valve directly on flow from boiler so i can have all rads on or just those for extension?

Is there not some manifold type thing for these purposes ie can you only have one flow pipe from boiler and one return??

 

[Alfredo]

If its only two rads in an extension then you could do a lot worse than just fit two programmable TRVs like Pegler I temps. They are about £30 each, no pipework. They say batteries last two years.....but i've heard that could be a low as 6 months....so somewhere between six months an 2 years you will have to change the batteries.

Its not perfect, but its simple and practical and low cost.

Alfredo

 

[glowboy77]

Cheers Alfredo,

I want extension to heat though when rest of house isn't, so these TRV's are no good?? ie they call for heat, all other rads will be heated so v. expensive to put them on all rads.

Or am i confused with their operation?