old people things.

[Orionaut]

But alternating between full throttle and off is slightly different?

Not really, the heat loss from a hot boiler (IE one full of hot water at 60C, say) is the same whether it is on/off/modulating.

It makes sense to get the maximum output alongside this loss.

A boiler that has modulated to a low output and continued to run is likely to be woefully inefficient in practice, despite what the brochures say.

And you want to ensure that the pump stops operating when the boiler is off (Not all systems do)

 

[Werewolf]

Setting the boiler to turn on and off every 15 minutes is a great way to both waste huge amounts of gas, and to probably kill the boiler before it's time by massively increasing the number of times it is heating up and starting to cool down.

It's like bulbs, the most common time for them to die is when turning them on, as the old filament ones go from room temp to several hundred degrees in seconds and it's the change in temp that kills them.

Re thermostats you can usually these days add them to a central heating system very easily, as you basically change the timer for one that has the option for a thermostat input, or just add a thermostat input to the existing timer (with modern wireless thermostats you don't even have to run a wire to the stat).

 

[Demon]

so yesterday i changed the heating instead of being on from say 6-9 continuously i changed it to come on and off for 15 minutes at a time.

if it was going to break it wouldnt let you do it.

tell me i am wrong or why they say these things lol.

Whilst there is some truth that old people think everything will break, things are most certainly not always designed so you can't break them..

And turning your boiler on/off every 15 minutes sounds silly.. why not just lower the temperature and let it modulate?

 

[D1craig]

Setting the boiler to turn on and off every 15 minutes is a great way to both waste huge amounts of gas, and to probably kill the boiler before it's time by massively increasing the number of times it is heating up and starting to cool down.

It's like bulbs, the most common time for them to die is when turning them on, as the old filament ones go from room temp to several hundred degrees in seconds and it's the change in temp that kills them.

Re thermostats you can usually these days add them to a central heating system very easily, as you basically change the timer for one that has the option for a thermostat input, or just add a thermostat input to the existing timer (with modern wireless thermostats you don't even have to run a wire to the stat).

I i wasnt changing it to be on for the full 3 hours of being on so it would have been on for 6 hours essentially. what i did was - between 6 and 7 it would come on twice but also put it to come on at 30 minutes earlier so 530on 545off 600on 615off 630on 645off 700on 900off. instead of 600on 900off. i thought - it comes on everytime someone uses the hot water so what can the harm be?

 

[Maccapacca]

My father will turn all the electrical stuff off in his car before he switches it off including the a/c fan. He won't have his a/c on so he constantly is switching between demist and hot wet feet.

 

[Deleted member 66701]

And unplugging!

Actually quite a good idea.

Ever had expensive kit destroyed as a result of lighting strikes/****** stealing the earth bars from the local sub station?! :/

No - don't unplug stuff! If you do, electricity leaks out of the sockets!



At least that's what my nan used to tell me.

 

[peterwalkley]

Filling the kettle to the exact millilitre needed for 2 cups of tea.
Needing subtitles on the TV.
Refusing to believe you are going deaf.
At least 2 pairs of reading glasses in each room.
Doilies.

 

[Dis86]

My father will turn all the electrical stuff off in his car before he switches it off including the a/c fan

Your dad is a cool bloke! I do this too. Don't know why!

 

[LeeUK]

Never understood unplugging things from the wall after switching them off at the wall. The circuit is broken hence no power when it is off so what will unplugging it do.

 

[Diddums]

Your dad is a cool bloke! I do this too. Don't know why!

Me too

 

[Trifid]

Surely it's easier and cheaper to set a temperature and let the thermostat do it's job?

Anything but this is a very old fashioned way of thinking. Have a 'when in' temperature and an away temperature. Let the thermostat do the rest of the work and don't let the house get too cold.

Filling the kettle to the exact millilitre needed for 2 cups of tea.

That is just good sense. And if anything the opposite is true? Old people tend to literally fill the kettle and then have to wait ages for it to boil (don't they know how little time they have left?)

 

[Feek]

My father will turn all the electrical stuff off in his car before he switches it off including the a/c fan. He won't have his a/c on so he constantly is switching between demist and hot wet feet.

Your dad is a cool bloke! I do this too. Don't know why!

It makes you think you're flying an aeroplane or a rocket ship because you go through the startup and shutdown checklists

 

[Grimley]

Turning TV's off at the wall

Makes Sense TBH. I've had customers complain about burning/smoke coming from tellies before going pop when in standby. Imagine your telly doing that in standby when you're asleep in bed.


(disclaimer - this was almost 20 years ago in the days of stone age CRT tellies)

 

[Ryan-3]

Never understood unplugging things from the wall after switching them off at the wall.

You should always switch it off before yanking the plug out. My finger got zapped once doing this. Bloody painful.

 

[V F]

so yesterday i changed the heating instead of being on from say 6-9 continuously i changed it to come on and off for 15 minutes at a time. i then told my dad and he said " dont have it coming on and off every 15 minutes it ruins the timer, some guy told me".

other examples;
turning the light on and off
opening and closing the electric car window
they are just the two i can remember.

so why do old people say these things? if it was going to break it wouldnt let you do it.

tell me i am wrong or why they say these things lol.

I'm shocked a 30 year old doesn't know these basic things.

Turning TV's off at the wall (and everything else electrical)

Actually makes sense...

Makes Sense TBH. I've had customers complain about burning/smoke coming from tellies before going pop when in standby. Imagine your telly doing that in standby when you're asleep in bed.


(disclaimer - this was almost 20 years ago in the days of stone age CRT tellies)

If some people are that paranoid with their modern flat screens.... Why not press the power button around the side before bed?

 

[Uhtred]

My mum refuses to install updates because they are the spawn of the devil. Can't disagree when it comes to Windows updates tbh. She thinks me being able to control my hot water and heating using voice commands on my phone is pretty cool.

 

[Caged]

My mum refuses to install updates because they are the spawn of the devil. Can't disagree when it comes to Windows updates tbh. She thinks me being able to control my hot water and heating using voice commands on my phone is pretty cool.

All olds should be given a Chromebook/Chromebox.

 

[SexyGreyFox]

I i wasnt changing it to be on for the full 3 hours of being on so it would have been on for 6 hours essentially. what i did was - between 6 and 7 it would come on twice but also put it to come on at 30 minutes earlier so 530on 545off 600on 615off 630on 645off 700on 900off. instead of 600on 900off. i thought - it comes on everytime someone uses the hot water so what can the harm be?

Brilliant, I've sent this to my mate who fits boilers, at least he'll smile tonight.

 

[LeeUK]

You should always switch it off before yanking the plug out. My finger got zapped once doing this. Bloody painful.

What I mean is I switch off at the wall but I leave the plug in. Unless it is something I am moving e.g the vacuum cleaner.

 

[D1craig]

I'm shocked a 30 year old doesn't know these basic things.

tbh no excuse for my ignorance but i do still live with them hahaha.

would not really have suited me if i did leave it the way i change it as the boiler is in my room and it would wake me up turning on and off so often...

it is common sense but until i asked i thought it would be something like - what i did reduced the life of the timer from 20 years to 19 years and 8 months.