Bypass Radiator messing up the heating in the house?

[Clearlynotaplumber]

Pardon my lack of explanation skills, I would try to summarise and make it comprehensive as much as I can. I hope someone can help or advice.

I have a CH system with a combi boiler and a bypass radiator in the hallway.

However the problem is the house is quite cold. I am in an end of terrace and the room on the side of the house where there is no neighbours is freezing. So in that room I need the radiator on and I put the TRV at the maximum level, but the boiler itself would not turn on UNLESS the thermostat downstairs is at 24 - 25 degrees. Because basically if it detects that the bypass radiator has reached a decent heat level (let's say 20 degrees) then it doesn't bother getting on for any other room, despite using the TRV individually in the rooms. Is this normal? How do I fix it? The boiler was installed only a year ago, but the bypass radiator system was there before I moved in.

I really only need the heater on in that room where there is no neighbours, no party walls. And by doing so I am currently spending £4 to £5 a day of gas according to my smart meter. It is not sustainable, having only one room warm (and of course the hallway because, bypass radiator).

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Remove the trv head off that room and shut / close the bypass rad on the valves

 

[Clearlynotaplumber]

Remove the trv head off that room and shut / close the bypass rad on the valves

Thank you Shaun.

Is it safe to close the bypass rad on the valves? Like, why is there a bypass radiator in the first place? this is the first property I live in that has one, no other place I was in had it. And last question, if I close the bypass radiator, why do I need to remove the TRV from the room where I need the heat in?

Thank you again

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Yes if you turn the bypass valve off you will need to remove a trv head so that’s the new bypass rad

 

[Chuck]

Like, why is there a bypass radiator in the first place?

It's there to ensure that there is always enough flow water around the system to prevent damage to heat exchanger and pump.

 

[Clearlynotaplumber]

Yes if you turn the bypass valve off you will need to remove a trv head so that’s the new bypass rad

Thank you. I see, so it's not really changing from a non bypass central heating system but rather to still bypass central heating, but swapping the bypass heater itself from hallway to room?

In this case, if I remove the TRV from the room's heater, do I need to add it to the heater in the hallway instead? and would the thermostat instead control the new bypass heater in the bedroom rather than the one in the hallway?

 

[Clearlynotaplumber]

It's there to ensure that there is always enough flow water around the system to prevent damage to heat exchanger and pump.

Thank you So following what Shaun said, by 'exchanging' the bypass radiator from the hallway to the room that is actually freezing do I need to instead put the TRV in the hallway to monitor it, and would the thermostat in the hallway next to that radiator now control the new bypass radiator in the room? Cause if that is the case it is more than perfect! Cause I only need that room heated really.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

If your happy you can just use that one manually eg open the valve if you ever want heat in that room etc