Hot water programming and True Radiant

[Mountain-goat]

I have True Radiant set to ON and it works fine to get the central heating up to temperature by 6am when its set to come on. It also shows on the Nest 'PRE HEATING' in the time it's on prior to 6am. I also have hot water controlled by the system and it's also set to come on from 6am (to 11.30am). Can anyone tell me if True Radiant set to ON will also affect the hot water coming on early i.e. will it come on at the same time the heating comes on or earlier than 6am or will it only come on at 6am?

I have found that the hot water is heating up prior to 6am but the app shows hot water as OFF and I don't know if I have a connectivity problem, and/a physical problem with the three way valve or it's pre-heating like the central heating.

[Paul_R]

Hi there, thanks for reaching out! The True Radiant feature shouldn't affect the hot water at all, as it's meant only for heating. Could you please tell me hoe much earlier is your hot water starting, and also how you've observed it? And last thing, could you please send me a picture of the Hot Water Schedule from the Thermostat, and one from the Nest App? 

[Paul_R]

Hi there! Have you managed to check my last message?

[Mountain-goat]

Yes, I tried to reply but the email was undeliverable. If this gets through I will try again.

[Paul_R]

You pressed on the "Insert Photos" button but it won't let you send the message here on the thread?

[Mountain-goat]

You asked for photos so how do I send them?

The situation has changed since I first posted. I have traced the wiring and I think it's correct. I also tried a number of on/off operations to see if the water and heating would come on separately and together and all seemed in order.

To try and isolate the issue I turned OFF True Radiant last night. The heating is still set to come on at 6am but the water is now set to come on at 7am. I observed at 6am the heating coming on and as expected it started at 6am and I felt the heating and hot water pipes around 6.10am and the heating was on and the water was off. I went back to observe what happened at 7am and the Nest clicked, the mid-position valve motor operated, I could hear it, but the water was already on and feeling the pipes felt like no change i.e. both heating and water were on. Unfortunately I don't know when between around 6.10am and 7am the water came on or what triggered it. I am wondering if the mid-position valve is not operating correctly i.e. the valve mechanism in the pipe work is faulty. I changed the Powerhead for the valve only 5-6 weeks ago so that should be working OK and I can hear the motor working when the it's called by heat or water as appropriate.

[Paul_R]

On the top of the text box, where you write the messages, you should see a camera icon that says "Insert Photos" if you put the click on it. Select it and upload the required photo please.

If you want to double check, you could also send me a picture of the wiring, but from what you told me, there shouldn't be anything wrong there.

[Mountain-goat]

Pictures included although these refer to an earlier day but the settings haven't changed. There's no point in sending you a picture of the wiring because it's a birds nest and you wouldn't be able to follow the wires to their source.

[Vladut]

Thank you so much for all the pictures. In this situation i would believe that the 3 way valve is not operating appropriately. As you mentioned the motorised valve might not operate properly. As you already changed the powerhead of it, next step would be to have a look at the inside mechanism (if you have the means). and the wiring just to be sure. And for all of that you will need an installer. Do you have the means to contact one?

[Mountain-goat]

Hi, yes I had my Nest installed by a google recommended installer so I can contact them. However, firstly I'm going to check the voltages on the tank stat and mid-position valve when the water is ON when it shouldn't be and that should give me a very good indication if its the physical valve or not. If the water setting is not being powered ON but it's actually On then I think it's QED!

Would you like me to let you know the outcome? May not be a few days though.

[Mountain-goat]

PS How come you have changed from Paul_R to Vladut?

[Mountain-goat]

PS How come you have changed from Paul_R to Vladut?

[Vladut]

Thank you so much for the reply. Please do contact us with the outcome whenever you have time. Paul_R and myself are 2 different people, but feel free to post it on this thread and we'll both have access to it.

[OannaCG]

Hi there! Just checking in, how's everything going with the thermostat? 

[AlexD]

Hey there, I haven't heard from you in a while so I'll be locking this thread. If you have any new issues, updates or just a discussion topic, feel free to start a new thread in the community. Thanks, AlexD.