23 December 2017

Cut the Cost of Your Energy Bills
As the seasons change and the temperature drops, it is now more important than ever to make sure that you are getting an efficient and beneficial amount of heat from your radiators and heating system. In the UK, on average, 50% of the money spent on fuel bills is on heating and hot water. With the average household spending £1344 a year on gas and electricity, the price of these amenities has definitely risen and it’s a trend that looks like it will continue. Due to tightening international gas markets, transmission costs, social levies and environmental programs, customers have seen their energy bills rise by a shocking 140% in the last decade. There are a number of factors which have contributed to the downward trend in energy usage. Advances in engineering means that new homes are better insulated while older ones are being encouraged to improve their insulation methods. Combine this with rising energy prices and the warmer winters means that in general, people are using less energy to heat their homes. As a result, without stating the obvious, there are a number of steps you can take to counter the increase in costs. i.e. control your heating, insulate where necessary, monitor your electricity use with a timer, embrace low energy light bulbs, compare energy providers and pay by direct debit. So, with all this in mind, it has become imperative that you have an efficient heating system which will help you save money and boost your green credentials. Basic overview of a heating system A heating system is most commonly made up of a boiler and radiators. We all know that the radiators are heat distributors for this system and that these days, they are available in all kinds of shapes and sizes – from standard panel to ultra-chic designer models or from mild steel to cast iron heaters – the possibilities are endless. Basically, a radiator works by allowing hot water from your heating system to be circulated through it. Hot water enters through the flow side of the radiator. From here the hot water is circulated throughout the radiator causing the material of the radiator to heat up, this heat is then transferred into the room via the process of convection.
Power Flushing and caring for your central heating system This may require getting a heating engineer in, it is not a complicated process although it is quite time-consuming as you will have to fully drain and then refill your heating system again. Unless you have just installed a brand spanking new heating system, it is more than likely that debris and a build-up of sludge will be circulating in the system along with the hot water. The purpose of a power flush is remove all this debris and sludge from the system thus allowing the warm water to easily pass through the pipe work, radiators and boiler. Expected gains of such a process should be that your radiators have a more rapid response to the hot water passing through them i.e. Heating up quicker. All this leads to less stress on the heating system, increasing the reliability and hence longevity but the greatest gain will be seen on your wallet. Once you have had your power flush done, your system should be in good shape. Adding chemical inhibitor Things you can do to help maintain the health of your system include using chemical inhibitor and also fitting a magnate filter. A chemical inhibitor slows down the reaction of the water to the metal inside your heating system, which can cause the sludge, ultimately leading to a lower performance. Also fitting a Magna-clean filter will help capture and eradicate any of this metal ferro debris i.e. rust, which is travelling around your system. Alternatively, as a quick last resort option, if only one radiator is not heating up at the bottom, it may be possible to isolate the radiator by removing it, taking it outside and flushing it through using a hosepipe. Cold spots on my radiators - How do you balance radiators? What is balancing radiators and why would I need to do it? Put simply, balancing your radiators entails creating an equilibrium between all your radiators so that they heat up at the same rate and at the same time. If for example, one of your radiators on the system is too cool it needs more hot water flowing through it and conversely if another is too hot it needs the flow restricting. This is done by adjusting your radiator valves, in particular, the lock shield valve – the lock shield valve should be connected to the return end of the radiator - the opposite end to the main on/off wheel valve or TRV. This is a simple process and can easily be done by a home enthusiast with minimal tools. To do a proper job we recommend having a digital thermometer but it's not completely necessary. Firstly, ensure all the radiators in the house have been bled; see earlier in the article if you require instructions on how to do this. Turn off your central heating system and let all the radiators cool down. While the heating system is cooling remove the plastic caps off the lockshields, this should expose a half moon shaped brass spindle. Ensure all the valves are in the fully open position, this applies to both the TRV & lock shield. The TRV will just turn the lock shield may require a spanner or adjustable spanner. Turn the heating back on and make a note of the sequence in which the radiators heat up. Best place to start is with the radiators closest to the boiler and work back from there. Once done turn the heating back off and allow the radiators to cool. Turn the heating back on. Starting with the first radiator on your list, close the lock shield by turning the brass spindle clockwise. When fully closed, turn the spindle anti-clockwise a quarter turn to open. With the radiator fully warm, use your digital thermometer to take a temperature reading of the flow pipe leading to the TRV, note it down. Take your thermometer to the opposite pipe, after the lockshield. Keep slowly opening the lockshield valve by turning anti-clockwise, allowing a couple of minutes for the temperature to fully adjust, constantly monitoring the temperature until you get a reading that is 11-12 degrees less than the temperature reading of the water coming into the radiator. Repeat going through all the other radiators on your radiators on your list.
How can I make my heating system more efficient? There are ways and means of being more efficient with your home heating system but it is no secret that at best, there are only a handful of practical tips that can help, ranging from bleeding radiators and installing radiator boosters, through to something as simple as regularly maintaining the boiler. It should be noted though that the first point of call, is to check that you are on the cheapest energy tariff by using a comparison site and switching if necessary. Radiator Boosters & Foil Liners Whether you prefer the DIY approach or hiring a heat engineer, a simple measure like using a radiator booster or foil liner will help to reduce your outgoings and operating costs. If installing a foil liner behind the radiator, fit only on external walls, not internal walls and do use proper hard backed foil liners not simply fitting a layer of foil. Fitting Thermostatic Valves to your radiators Another money saving option, if you are experienced and wish to follow an instructional video, is to fit thermostatic valves to the radiator. To control your spending, you have to control your radiators. A thermostatic valve works by adjusting the hot water flow into the radiator in relation to the temperature of the air in the room. It is a common misconception that the valve regulates from the temperature of the radiator - it does not. The valve is operated by turning the head. The numbers relate to the ambient room temperature the valve will try to maintain. These will be printed in the instructions with the valve. A loose rule of thumb is: • 1 regulates to 13C-16C • 2 regulates 17C-19C • 3 regulates to 20C – 23C • 4 regulates to 24C – 27C • 5 regulates to 28C – 29C

