The benefits of installing heating control systems and heating zones in the home

For the last decade, the trends of home automation systems have been on an ever-increasing rise, with more people becoming accustomed to having smart technology in their homes. With demand for new innovations increasing, heating control systems are becoming more sophisticated.

Whether in a new build or an older home, energy efficiency is achievable, with even traditional heating methods open to accessible adaptations, such as heating control systems. A clear strategy is needed during the design process to ensure that zones are both efficient and, more importantly, compatible to the surrounding environment.

One way to look at heating control is through comparison to the way we light our homes. If homes or buildings had one light switch to universally control the lighting across the building, to essentially switch the system on or off, it would seem out of the ordinary and contribute to an expensive energy bill. Yet this is how the majority of households control heating in the UK, resulting in people both spending unnecessary money and contributing to high energy usage.

4 steps

Planning a building or home to have a good heating control system allows each room to have its heating turned on or off at different times, much like the way we switch our lights on and off. This allows heat to only be distributed as and when it is needed, meaning heating patterns can be dictated by the householder's lifestyle.

The benefits of controlling the heating specific zones means that the householder can instantly reduce energy usage. To achieve this, heating control systems can be broken down into four steps: zones, time, temperature and interlock to design in an energy efficient, cost-effective home.

When considering which zones to include in the system lifestyle choices need to be considered. For example, some bedrooms may not need to be heated in the same way when unoccupied as when they are used every day, while retirement may mean that heat is required for longer periods throughout the day, but not necessarily in every room around the home.

Areas to be heated in a home are generally broken up into zones and the temperature and heating duration of each controlled. However, there may be instances where there are two areas combined into one, such as an open plannedkitchen and dining area, leading the the industry using the term 'zone' to describe an area to be heated and controlled by one thermostat.

Deciding when the zones should be heated and setting the desired temperatures are the next steps for the design stage of heating control systems. Providing householders with this controlled system helps bring peace of mind as the user knows exactly which rooms are being heating at specific times and at what temperature, making the design stage crucial in ensuring that the full benefits have been sought.

Heating controls in themselves do not save money. It is only when they are used in a way that changes the traditional ways rooms are heated that energy costs are significantly reduced. This means the design stage can help reduce these heating times, including strategically planning which rooms fit into which zone. At what times of the day and to what temperature each zone is heated also need to be taken into account. Once this is completed, the homeowner will begin to see the rewards of having controlled heating systems.

The interlock stage is the final of the four design stages nd is the physical action needed to switch the boier on and off. Considering these four stages will help the householder understand the key benefits that heating control systems deliver to the home as they can start to see where the benefist will be provided.

The benefits of carefully designed heating control systems are clear on many levels. The energy savings contribute to reduced impact on the environment, while the controlled use of heating helps provide greater cost savings. Heating control systems also increase the response times through the boiler as it is not required to heat up all the radiators at the same time, which can help when using low temperature surces such as air source heat pump and ground source heat pump technology.

TRVs are no substitute

When recommending or installing new systems, there are always misconceptions that people have and installing heating control systems is no different. Many people argue convenitional thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) systems can mimic the energy savings that heating control systems deliver.

While TRV systems can indeed be turned up and down, this process has to be manually undertaken meaning that the householder would have to adjust each radiator valve throughout the day to achieve different temperatures at different times. The practicalities of changing the heating patterns using TRV systems is questionable as conventional TRVs have no means of turning the boiler on or off, meaning the boiler is left running for long periods of time.

User-friendly applications

Systems provide easy to install and user-friendly applications that can transform homes into smarter, more advanced buildings and provide the end user with total control over their heating. Flexible systems bring a range of applications to the householder, such as bringing a range of thermostats that can be set up as either wireless or in groups with central control.

The possibilities of control, which is the end goal of systems like these, are growing with systems having the ability to control underfloor heating, groups of radiators, single room packs and boilers. Combinations of what can be controlled are available, and it is vital all of these options are understood during the design stage to produce the best outcome for the householder.

Delving into the future already? We offer radiators that can be powered through the up-and-coming renewables, such as radiators that are powered by air source heat pumps.

These radiators use geothermal heating to bring warmth to your home through an efficient and sustainable source, so if you are passionate about the environment, these are the radiators for you.

The range of energy-efficient radiators here at Trade Radiators offers homes practical and cost-effective heating. As an industry leader in the UK, we provide an extensive selection to choose from for all rooms in the home.