Heating in 1930's building

[rummage]

Hello all,

i'm new so be kind. lol, i also know nothing about heating systems. So be prepare for the lame terminology.

So my friend is moving into new place in a 1930's block of flats. I'm thinking it was quite common in those days that for big buildings like the one they are moving into to have a communal heating system. The hot water and heating is on a main system and there is no boiler in the flat. Any way they are going to redo the flat, i'm helping out with a few things and they are wondering if there is a system they can use which will allow them to control the radiators electronically.

They are huge radiators compared to modem ones, including big pipes. All they have is big taps (no thermostats) and most most them are behind radiator covers.

My question, is there a system out there for this sort of problem. They want a electronic thermostat (on the wall) in every room so they don't ever have to touch the radiator. But what would you put at the radiator end? Some sort of electronic value? 2 port valve or that does only work as open or closed, no in between like 50% open? Is what would like to do is control the rooms via iphone/smart device, i know it sounds crazy, there is a system out there but not currently released from what i can gather.

check it out, it's dam cool.

there called lightwaverf radiator valve
www.lightwaverf.com/products/thermostatic-radiator-valve

But this would not work as it's for modern central heating systems, the pipes are too big.

Any way don't shoot me down, details are minimal as i only went with them to see the flat. But i'm just seeing if any one has any idea's. But if you know the type of building i'm talking about, 1930's flats you will have a good idea about the type of system being used.

thanks

 

[SimonG]

Is this a real question or are you just flogging the lightwaves?

 

[diamondgas]

Hi rummage & :welcome:

Would something like this http://heating.danfoss.com/PCMPDF/Connect_VDFNS202_teamcent.pdf Be what you're looking for?

Don't ask me about them coz I haven't seen one in my life 🙂

 

[rummage]

LOL SimonG, no not trying to sell it. that stuff isn't out yet. it's genuine, i guess it more to converting the size of the pipe or using a electronic valve...

Is this a real question or are you just flogging the lightwaves?

 

[rummage]

Cheers diamondgas

Yeah that looks good, i still got the problem of the pipes. What do people do when they want to put normal thermostat on old systems? I guess that the issue. i don't think we could make the pipes to normal radiator sized ones (15mm?) because it comes off a huge system

Hi rummage & :welcome:

Would something like thi e what you're looking for?

Don't ask me about them coz I haven't seen one in my life 🙂

 

[Keefy]

1930's block of flats? Where are these flats and how many storeys are they?

 

[rummage]

Clapham, about 7..

1930's block of flats? Where are these flats and how many storeys are they?

 

[SimonG]

LOL SimonG, no not trying to sell it. that stuff isn't out yet. it's genuine, i guess it more to converting the size of the pipe or using a electronic valve...

No problem, oh and welcome to the forum. 🙂

Are there any legal issues about working on the heating system? What about costs of using it?

If there's nothing then it'll be adapt pipes to take whatever control system.

 

[rummage]

Cheers,

Well would need permission to change the taps (would also need to schedule a maintenance slot as it would effect every one on that level?), but ideally would want to put a variable electronic valve (if that exists) and then some way of controlling it. Then that way there wouldn't be too much interference with the system, keeping it simple and not re-jiging the pipe work.

hope that makes sense.

No problem, oh and welcome to the forum. 🙂

Are there any legal issues about working on the heating system? What about costs of using it?

If there's nothing then it'll be adapt pipes to take whatever control system.

 

[stevetheplumber]

its going to depend on the system you have and how big the existing pipework is its possibly a converted coal fired graity system which can be difficult to regulate do both sides of the rad tee into a common large puipe below the rad ?

 

[rummage]

Does that mean it's fed from both sides of the radiator? I have little info but they did say it was a modern gas fired boiler plant (but they must have left the original pipe work in, co's it's bigger than normal and looks real old). But if the tap turns the radiator off, can we just replace that with a electronic valve? Then control that valve with a electronic thermostat?

thanks

its going to depend on the system you have and how big the existing pipework is its possibly a converted coal fired graity system which can be difficult to regulate do both sides of the rad tee into a common large puipe below the rad ?

 

[rummage]

Do you mean like this?


How the does that work? (name might give it away, but still does not seem right) the hot water would never go in the radiator? But if a tap turns it off there's got to be some way of controlling it.

thanks steve for letting me know about gravity system.

its going to depend on the system you have and how big the existing pipework is its possibly a converted coal fired graity system which can be difficult to regulate do both sides of the rad tee into a common large puipe below the rad ?

 

[rummage]

Any one got any ideas? or is it too complicated? heeeellllllllpppp. cheers