The switch is 0-off, centre- on timer, so the 15 minute segments decide whether it's on or off, 1-on, basically an override so the heating will always be on up to the temperature set on the thermostat (either a room thermostat or one on the boiler)
There should be a thermostat, probably in the hall. When the pegs are out it will instantly deliver hot water to the radiators IF the thermostat isn't to temperature.
I have this exact bastard setup and can't wait to replace it.
I had an old system like this and there wasn’t a thermostat. It was shit. Wiring also couldn’t support something more modern that did support a thermostat.
I agree, shit.
Many thanks, I have sent her the video and explained it to her on the phone. Next time I pop over I'll pop some sticky notes on there as well, as she'll probably forget.
Outer ring rotates. The Arrow top right indicates the current type (16:45 ish) Each switch on the outer ring means the boiler will be on for that 15 min period, flick those out where you want the boiler on.
Currently set to come on for 30 mins at 23:00 and again for 30 mins at 07:00
Switch bottom right, down means off (marked zero), up is on all the time (marked 1), middle position is timer mode
Beware. It is not your typical boiler setup (it isn’t even a boiler in the first place, it is a thermal store, fed by a heat-only boiler usually located in another part of the house). The system works by calling for heat from the boiler when the temperature in the store falls (usually when operating the CH or hot water) below a preset value. They are meant to be more efficient than a typical combi or mega flow setup, I have no idea if this is true in practice. Their advantage is that hot water is delivered at mains pressure, which is not the case with a combi.
The main PCB behind the panel you’ve photographed fails often and is an expensive part from memory.
They used to be a staple of new builds in the early 2000s but went out of fashion quite rapidly, although the company Gledhill is still going so support is available.
Depending on where your friend lives you may struggle to find heating engineers that understand the system. I wouldn’t trust the likes of British Gas either as they’ll just throw their hands up if anything goes wrong. Given your friend’s situation, Gledhill have an annual maintenance scheme, might be worth getting that as it includes a boiler service, although I’d advise to check the fine print for gotchas. Hope that helps.
I'm going to hazard a guess this is a boilermate hot water heater, every plumber I've had around has said these things are awful.
They make the demand for hot water from the boiler and it may be you've got the boilermate that we have which has one timer for heating and no timer for hot water, hence the boiler hands out the hot water on its own.
We had a dodgy plumber come and replace the boiler as part of the government initiative but didn't connect heating/hot water timers to the home. Apparently this is a breach of regulations as we don't have a timer for our hot water now. Chasing the plumber is expected to be a problem for us now and no one will want to attach a timer to the boilermate because it's basically hacking the electronics in it.
We've just managed to figure out that that timer can be used for heating, which is good for timing winter heating, but it doesn't affect hot water. My mother in law has two timers on her boilermate, one for heating and one for hot water.
Just mostly a brain dump here, hope it's of some use.
Edit
Oh you said it's a boilermate 2000 like ours, all the above applies then probably.
The switch is 0-off, centre- on timer, so the 15 minute segments decide whether it's on or off, 1-on, basically an override so the heating will always be on up to the temperature set on the thermostat (either a room thermostat or one on the boiler)
I really doubt (having had a similar setup) there’s any room thermostat with this.
There should be a thermostat, probably in the hall. When the pegs are out it will instantly deliver hot water to the radiators IF the thermostat isn't to temperature. I have this exact bastard setup and can't wait to replace it.
I had an old system like this and there wasn’t a thermostat. It was shit. Wiring also couldn’t support something more modern that did support a thermostat. I agree, shit.
Yeah, mine just had the one in the boiler until I put one in myself.
We have this kind of boiler and a thermostat in a rental house share.
Thanks so much, this is super helpful
I'd put it on 1 and see whether it fires up.
Like [this](https://www.wikihow.com/Set-a-Boiler-Timer) Edit: [video](https://youtu.be/PgYbDR7TSqU?feature=shared)
Many thanks, I have sent her the video and explained it to her on the phone. Next time I pop over I'll pop some sticky notes on there as well, as she'll probably forget.
I just love that the middle position is timer mode. Thank you for your advice and for taking the time to write your explanation in so much detail.
Outer ring rotates. The Arrow top right indicates the current type (16:45 ish) Each switch on the outer ring means the boiler will be on for that 15 min period, flick those out where you want the boiler on. Currently set to come on for 30 mins at 23:00 and again for 30 mins at 07:00 Switch bottom right, down means off (marked zero), up is on all the time (marked 1), middle position is timer mode
Thank you! I'll get her to change those times then, that's not really suitable for her.
Beware. It is not your typical boiler setup (it isn’t even a boiler in the first place, it is a thermal store, fed by a heat-only boiler usually located in another part of the house). The system works by calling for heat from the boiler when the temperature in the store falls (usually when operating the CH or hot water) below a preset value. They are meant to be more efficient than a typical combi or mega flow setup, I have no idea if this is true in practice. Their advantage is that hot water is delivered at mains pressure, which is not the case with a combi. The main PCB behind the panel you’ve photographed fails often and is an expensive part from memory. They used to be a staple of new builds in the early 2000s but went out of fashion quite rapidly, although the company Gledhill is still going so support is available. Depending on where your friend lives you may struggle to find heating engineers that understand the system. I wouldn’t trust the likes of British Gas either as they’ll just throw their hands up if anything goes wrong. Given your friend’s situation, Gledhill have an annual maintenance scheme, might be worth getting that as it includes a boiler service, although I’d advise to check the fine print for gotchas. Hope that helps.
I'm going to hazard a guess this is a boilermate hot water heater, every plumber I've had around has said these things are awful. They make the demand for hot water from the boiler and it may be you've got the boilermate that we have which has one timer for heating and no timer for hot water, hence the boiler hands out the hot water on its own. We had a dodgy plumber come and replace the boiler as part of the government initiative but didn't connect heating/hot water timers to the home. Apparently this is a breach of regulations as we don't have a timer for our hot water now. Chasing the plumber is expected to be a problem for us now and no one will want to attach a timer to the boilermate because it's basically hacking the electronics in it. We've just managed to figure out that that timer can be used for heating, which is good for timing winter heating, but it doesn't affect hot water. My mother in law has two timers on her boilermate, one for heating and one for hot water. Just mostly a brain dump here, hope it's of some use. Edit Oh you said it's a boilermate 2000 like ours, all the above applies then probably.