Thermostats (Central Heating)

[route:oxford]

My room thermostat is now 16 years old. It's never been terribly accurate, but is steadily getting worse.

If it's set at 20C, the thermostat will "cut in" when the room temperature reaches 14C, and "cut-out" when the room temperature hits 26C.

Now, I've had British Gas out and they have made it absolutely clear that a +-6C tolerance is absolutely normal and it's not a fault.

It seems a bit bizarre to me that the greenies constantly encourage people to turn down their thermostat by 1C, when it's acceptable to heat a room to 6C higher than desired.

I'll probably just get myself a digital one and install myself...

 

[185]

Good move. On older ones, the 'bimetallic strip' (two thin bendy strips of metal stuck together) beyond a certain temperature changes shape, closes an electrical circuit and switches the heating on. It's a simple device, really.

Over time, these things break as the metal becomes worn out, and the only remedy is a similar replacement which will cost around £16 at B&Q... you should get another 15-20 years out of it.

No surprise that scrounging British Gas don't want to pay for a new one. BBC Watchdog's most featured company.

 

[Eagle]

Good move. On older ones, the 'bimetallic strip' (two thin bendy strips of metal stuck together) beyond a certain temperature changes shape, closes an electrical circuit and switches the heating on. It's a simple device, really.

It's the device used in toasters. Even down to the point that turning the dial just moves the contact the strip has to bend to reach closer or further away.

 

[snail]

Get a digital one. Never regretted forking out for a Drayton Digistat, lets me set different temperatures through the day and night, I just the leave the boiler on continuous and let the stat do all the work.

 

[jon0844]

I second that. A digital one will let you do loads of clever things and don't cost much more (if you buy yourself and fit). Some now have colour screens and wizards to set up based on you answering questions about when you get up, go to work etc.

They also allow portable sensors (wireless) to monitor other rooms and outdoor sensors that can turn the heating on sooner when it's really cold so it will reach the chosen temperature on time.

Going on holiday, no problems; enter the number of days the heating will be off until you return (so no returning to a freezing house!).