Filling Webasto central heating for first time

[LadyG]

On 23/01/2025 at 14:15, GUMPY said:

Don't worry about it. And don't fit a thermostat, they break diesel heaters by short cycling them.

My thermostat is the only controller i use, I no longer use the timer.and it seems to work OK,  it is three metres from the biggest radiator. It's bern used like that for several years. I do have a solid fuel stove which essentially keeps the saloon between 17C and 27C, the Webasto kicks in when the temp drops to 17C at the thermostat.  It usually stays on a for a while.

 

Edited February 5 by LadyG

[David Mack]

6 hours ago, Grassman said:

My multifuel stove has come to end of it's life and I'm considering not replacing it and just using our Webasto, because I'm getting to the age when humping about bags of coal is becomming difficult, even with the smaller bags. This would mean during really cold spells it might be running it for around 20 hours a day. I'm a liveaboard (60ft boat) and it's a 5kw Thermotop with 4 rads plus the towel rad.

 

But I've been told that it's not good to run them for those lengths of time on a regular basis, and that it can cause the burner or heat exchanger to bust (or other components to fail).

 

Might this be true or should it be able to cope with that sort of regular use?

Why not replace the multifuel stove with the same/similar model, but use the webasto as your main heating, and keep the stove as a backup? Lowest cost of any of the replacement options and you have something to fall back on if/when the webasto fails.

[cuthound]

11 hours ago, GUMPY said:

It will die a slow horrid death and cost you a fortune to keep fixing it.

 

You could look at fitting a drip feed diesel stove in place if the solid fuel stove, this would require no humping of bags.

Looks like even these are getting thin on the ground these days as many manufacturers seem to have dropped them from their ranges.

 

 

 

 

Hopefully this post passes the @LadyG test of usefulness 🤔

 

Lockgate are still selling Reflecks diesel drip stoves. Not cheap though. 

 

https://lockgate.com/

 

 

 

 

Edited February 5 by cuthound
To remove a duplicate post.

[Bobbybass]

I put several manually operated bleed valves in my system....notably at the furthest point and one spot where the pipework had a more acute turn.

 

I found this a great help as the heating system pumps aren't that strong to overcome air locks..

[LadyG]

I take my boat to a towpath-sde road, as found at the Services, and the (Ace Energy) company send a man with a truck loaded with coal, logs, firewood and firelighters. He puts them on the boat.  I may offer a small tip.

I have recently converted to 20kg Readyburn which are low ash. Ten sacks sit in the well deck.  I've never lifted one.

The stove makes everything dirty, other than that it's ideal.

Edited February 6 by LadyG

[Kipper 2]

On initial filling of system why not just connect the pump to a 12v supply. You can find the plug you need on eBay. Then pump the water round and ensure all the air is out before running the system normally.