Anyone know about central heating timers/electrics?

Evening all.

In our house, we have an old fashioned mechanical central heating timer. You know the kind, the rotary clockwork ones with two blue and two red plastic pegs that you use to switch the heating on and off as the dial ticks round throughout the day.

The trouble is, apart from generally not liking such timers (and them being extremely inefficient), ours is extremely noisy. It ticks so loud that it keeps us awake, even though its in a different room.

So I plan to replace it with a nice new digital programmable one.

Does anyone know if this is something that is DIY doable?

Also, we've never used the central heating yet (even through the harsh winter). I'd like to get it tested but I don't want to get ripped off. Does anyone know what I should be asking an engineer, and what he might try to sell me that I don't need?

 

Thanks for the info John.

Our system is an old back boiler behind the gas fire in the living room, and a typical hot water tank in the airing cupboard upstairs. There is a pump upstairs next to the hot water tank, which I heard switch on on the one occassion when I switched the heating on for about 10 seconds when we first moved in, just to see what everything did

We didn't putting the heating on during winter partly because I was reluctant to use it until I knew it was all sound, but mostly because we were lucky to discover that our house is very, very well insulated. A man came round one day with ID and everything (which I checked out before letting him in) saying that our neighbourhood had been given an energy efficiency grant so he was here to do a survey to see what we needed. He was surprised to see we already had cavity wall insulation, good double glazing, loft insulation, and something to do with the foundations. His team came back later and stuck a bit of extra loft insulation in which I think made a difference. The net result was that the gas fire in the living room was plenty to keep us cosy. We were cold as soon as we stepped out of the living room, but it wasn't too bad.

I'd just like the central heating put right just so i know its there if we do feel we need it, and to keep the chill of in winter to help prevent pipes freezing and then bursting.

 

Sharp intake of breath through teeth

First of
You can DIY the timer providing you are electrical comptetent
As in turn off the electic supply before fiddling with electics, then it is really a one for one wire exchange following the digaram
Power in, power out for boiler and power out for pump

Servicing, preferable to find someone known locally who is respected

I have just had mine serviced by a NATIONAL company
The system is two years old

Arrived sharp intake of breath through teeth, thats out of production mate
Suitable handfull of recomended new boilers in hand from £3k

Scratched head, and could not get the front off, So I showed him how to do it
More scratching of head, so I gave him the HOW TO SERVICE THE BOILER MANUAL
Twenty minutes later and a light dusting with a paint brush declared job done
So I advised that if he removed the other panel he would have access to the boiler MATRIX which needs cleaned out with a bottle brush to remove the carbon build up
Off he goes to phone his boss, said he could use my phone but he prefered to go out to the van
Came back and said they had me booked as a fire clean not central heating boiler
PICTURIZED him
He then hopelessly completed the job, and presented a bill for £98
Advised him that I had a contract that included annual service and clean

He then told me he had four more jobs to do and had been held back an hour
He had to travel 300 miles to be at a training day commencing at 08:00 the next day then travel home again in the evening ready for an 08:00 start the following day (no overnight hotel, no lunch allowance)

This is a VERY WELL KNOWN Company

Go for someone local who can be recommended
I have cancelled my annual breakdown contract Only glad I was there as it was my day off

Jack McHammocklashing

 

Hi Clueless.
Myself and several of my friends have used Koziwarm up here.
I believe they cover the North-East so, from your location info, you may be in their patch.
I've found them fair, but recommending anyone is always difficult.

If nothing better comes up, its worth a thought.

 

Thanks all. You've given me plenty to ponder.