DIY Project To Zone My House

[Richard at Home]

Good evening and a happy new year to you all

I welcome any comments and feedback to my project I am looking at starting in 2013

now I know all this sort of thing can be done with many of the costly out of the box solutions that probably cost more than the boiler itself

What I am looking at doing is to create a heating system that has at least 3 Zones

I believe I could do this with some changes to the main Pipe work and 3 motorised zone valves and an additional time clock


Reason for project

During the day one member of my family is at home and requires heating to be on for 4 rads in part of the house.

Currently I am heating all the house all day when only part of the house needs to be heated

My daughter-in-law is also at home some times when not at Uni and may need her front room heating.

Now my logic is to have the secondary time clock switching the water flow between parts of the house during the day and in the evenings opening all valves to heat the complete house

Now I know this could also be done with the new wireless digital TVRs but this expense would be significant


I will add to this post as the project develops

If you have any questions or would like to bounce ideas or comments please reply and this may become an interesting post.


Thank you for your time

Best regards

Richard

 

[TBServices]

This would make a good movie, probably starring Steve Martin, or someone else who can play the archetypal over confident bumbling fool.

The pitch - "Professional DIYer" rips up all of his floors, much to the displeasure of his missus who knows he's not up to the task, hilarity ensues! The guy pays a "professional professional" to rectify the situation with his bum on show, more hilarity ensues! Do you think it could get the green light?

Good luck buddy.

P.s. I imagine by vanes, you meant Veins, although you'll have to fit the zone valves to the Arteries.

 

[Richard at Home]

No problem i will settle for a Good Job to a high standard

i am happy with that

Thanks

 

[lame plumber]

The 3rd valve is for scope as i may want to control another room or 2 dependant if the room is empty or in use

This is just for flexability more then anything.

you would be better off and save money if you planned what you were doing before you start, like professionals do.

 

[Howsie]

The hot water would be unaffected as it is on the y Plan currently. MY zone project will just switch the zone valves on and off throughout the day regardless of what the boiler is doing

This will hopefully reduce the complexity of control system requirements

Hope you follow what i am saying

And there is your first mistake.

 

[jase158]

u need the boiler to fire up to give you heat? there is no need to have the zone valves open if boiler and pump aint running!

Just so you know,
went to a property the other day, someone had an extension done, they had done the plumbing "on the cheap" and I spent 3 days getting it up and running as it should be, new pump, powerflush, a day of finding pipework and the problems and finnally a day to fit magnaclean and change a couple trv's and add inhibitor.

Nearly £1,000 spent all for saving about £100 on fittings and pipework.

 

[SimonG]

Lads, lets give the guy a break.

He's come on for advice, once he has the details of what's involved then it is for him to decide on wether he believes he has the skills to complete or bring in the pro.

 

[Howsie]

Why not design your system on paper and get it ratified/validated by a pro. Best of both worlds then.

If you're good on the tools then at least you'll know what your doing will work.

 

[dancinplumba]

Why not design your system on paper and get it ratified/validated by a pro. Best of both worlds then.

If you're good on the tools then at least you'll know what your doing will work.

will he pay the pro ? or get the 'ok' off this forum ?

 

[TBServices]

Why not design your system on paper and get it ratified/validated by a pro. Best of both worlds then.

If you're good on the tools then at least you'll know what your doing will work.

Would you give free advice?

 

[Howsie]

I'm sure he would or someone on here might do it for him.

IMHO this warrants a face to face discussion as its not just about connecting pipes.

 

[Howsie]

Would you give free advice?

To a point, yes.

 

[TBServices]

To a point, yes.

In the hope when it goes to the dogs you'll be brought in to rectify? Lol

 

[Richard at Home]

I have drawn up the current layout of the Heating and Hot water system and i am going to use this as my basis for my modification for the project
I have not drawn up the proposed layout yet

But my idea is to take the 2 main 22mm flow and return pipes and add 2 more runs making a total of 3 Main Zones
Connect the desired Radiators to them and join them all up with the Zone valves to create one system full system.
Hope that makes sense

 

[Howsie]

In the hope when it goes to the dogs you'll be brought in to rectify? Lol

Lol - nope. I rarely take on jobs like this. You always uncover too much crap and people never want to pay coz its only some pipes.

No offense to OP btw.

 

[Richard at Home]

Sorry for the delay i was trying to upload the layout pictures

I do not expecting anyone to do this for me in any way it is my project and i want to do it.

Would i give free advise 100% i always do i love sharing my experiences and hopefully it helps others i have a webpage dedicated to sharing information

I have set this post up for everyone to look at like all internet information take it at face value and do your research.

Thanks everyone for your comments its all good.

Regards

Richard