Heating engineer that understands single pipe systems, Birmingham UK

[Jonnyh88]

I have inherited a single pipe central heating system in a large old victorian house, powered by a Worcster Greenstar 8000 and controlled by Honeywell Total Connect.

The installer will not return my calls, and the system is not working efficiently. I need someone that can come and help sort it out, without telling me to just replace it for a two piped system.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

You won’t get a single pipe running efficiently there designed to run hot

 

[SimonG]

To get the maximum benefit you need to convert to a 2 pipe.

 

[Jonnyh88]

To get the maximum benefit you need to convert to a 2 pipe.

Yes I know. But that would mean ripping up a lot of hardwood and tiled flooring. I haven't even began to cost that but I can't imagine it's going to be feasible right now. THe best I can do is get the current setup working as it should.

 

[Last Plumber]

Scrap that post, just seen you have started another one with more information in it. The Devil is in the detail.

 

[Jonnyh88]

Scrap that post, just seen you have started another one with more information in it. The Devil is in the detail.

Some of the radiators perform brilliantly, but others seem to be suffering from poor flow. I know this issue can be addressed but I've got no idea how to do it, and the two plumbers I've had out have not had a clue either.

It's not a case of the water cooling on the last radiators, but the water just not getting through the radiator.

I can live with an expensive system if it performs as intended.

 

[SimonG]

Some of the radiators perform brilliantly, but others seem to be suffering from poor flow. I know this issue can be addressed but I've got no idea how to do it, and the two plumbers I've had out have not had a clue either.

I can live with an expensive system if it performs as intended.

The radiators don't have a flow as such. The one pipe powers the hot water around and then you get a gravity circulation from the pipe through the rad.
Have the radiators that heat up poorly been moved or pipes modified? That could cause additional resistance to the gravity flow.

How are the rads piped, TBOE or BBOE?

 

[Last Plumber]

On the other thread the one with 'smart' valves:
Are those designed for a one pipe system?

 

[SimonG]

On the other thread the one with 'smart' valves:
Are those designed for a one pipe system?

I may be wrong but I don't know of any smart valves for a one piper. The smart choice is to convert.

 

[Basher]

Just to say that the Honeywell 'smart' valve heads (that the OP has) are designed to fit a myriad of plunger operated valves. They are not the valve part, just equivalent to the knob on a trv.
So as long as the valve bodies are suitable for the system, the 'smartness' has no bearing on suitable-ness.
I have an 18 rad one-pipe system, the TRV's fitted when the boiler was changed a few years back worked fine, and the honeywell heads I have now changed over to work just as well, in fact better as far as temp. control is concerned.