Author: Lucy

What are smart controls?

Post author By Lucy
Post date October 24, 2022

If you currently control your central heating by using a simple timer and thermostat; the time might have come for you to get smart – smart controls, that is.

With heating accounting for as much as 60% of the energy used in your home; having smart heating controls can potentially save you money; as well as helping to keep your home warm and comfortable.

In this blog, we look at what you stand to gain from investing in smart controls; and give you an overview of the different options available.

Do I need smart controls?

To determine whether you would benefit from smart controls, you should ask yourself these questions:

Do you find that it’s difficult to get the temperature in your home just right?

Are you constantly turning the thermostat up and down to get the temperature setting perfect?

Do you argue with family members about the temperature because they’re cold, when you think it’s warm enough?

Are you frustrated with paying to heat up rooms that you aren’t even using?

Have you found yourself paying for heating that has come on at home; when you’re still at work, or stuck in traffic?

Do you wish you could turn the heating on from the comfort of your sofa; or in the car; so that your house is warm when you get home?

Would you like to save money on your energy bills?

Are you interested in reducing your carbon footprint, without compromising your comfort?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, it might be time to look at smart control options.

These would give you greater control, and more advanced features that allow your heating system to be more effective and prevent wasted energy.

And the good news is that you don’t necessarily need to upgrade your boiler to do this (although that’s often a good idea).

And the bonus? You may even save energy (and therefore money) because smart controls aim to save energy by increasing and decreasing the temperature of your home as quickly as possible.

What are smart controls?

‘Smart’ stands for “Self-Monitoring Analysis & Reporting Technology”, and covers a large group of controls.

Smart controls can often connect to the internet and can be controlled remotely through a tablet or smartphone.

This means that you have much greater control over your heating, from wherever you are, at any time of day. There are a huge variety of options available with smart controls, such as zoning, geo-fencing and intelligent learning systems.

This gives you smarter control of your heating, remote access, and the promise from manufacturers of energy savings of between 20-30% (more on this later).

With a smart control, you won’t have to go over to the boiler and physically turn the dial hoping that you find the perfect setting.

You simply operate the heating, in any room of your home, with the touch of a button in an app on your phone, from wherever you happen to be.

Smart thermostats try to avoid going above the target temperature by learning how your home heats up, so that the boiler switches off at the right moment.

If I get smart controls, will I always have to use an app to adjust my heating?

No, most smart controls allow you to adjust your heating manually too.

Some smart controls are so clever they know when you’re using rooms within your home and adjust temperatures automatically, without you having to do anything.

This type of smart heating system lowers the heating automatically when you are not at home and raises the temperature ready for your return home, all without the need for an app.

Will smart controls still work if I lose internet connection?

Yes, don’t worry! Although smart controls need the internet to use all of their functions, they will still work as a standard control if your internet fails.

Can smart controls work with my current system?

If you like the sound of smart controls, but are worried about disrupting your existing heating system, fear not – you don’t need whole scale changes to your home. Most heating systems will allow a smart control to be fitted without any need to replace your boiler or your existing system, and you don’t need to switch energy providers either.

Will smart controls save me money on my energy bills?

This is a tricky question because there are lots of factors that affect whether installing smart controls will save you money. It depends on:

What type of smart control you opt for (more on this later);
Whether you use your smart control efficiently or not;
What sort of boiler you have;
How many people live at home;
How well insulated your home is.

Nonetheless, manufacturers of smart controls make bold claims about how much money you could potentially save after installing their products.

Tado says that its smart thermostat ‘will pay for itself within a year’ by reducing your heating bills by up to 31%.

Netatmo claims that its smart thermostat will reduce the energy you use by 37%.

According to Ofgem, a smart thermostat can bring savings of around £150 per year.

Ofgem (2014) estimates that a multi zoned heating system could save up to £400 on the annual dual fuel bill of £1385.

But all these estimates assume that you previously left your heating on all the time, to maintain a constant temperature. So, if you already turn off the heating when you leave your home, you’re unlikely to save as much as the manufacturers claim.

What are the advantages of smart controls over just a boiler with a timer?

With a boiler timer, you program your central heating to turn on when you’re getting up, to switch off whilst you’re at work, and to come on again when you get home.

This would be fine if your routine never changed, and you never got stuck in traffic, or stuck at work, or made any last-minute plans.

But the reality is, that unless you have smart controls which can allow you to control your heating remotely, you will inevitably end up paying to heat your home when you’re not even in it.

A further problem with a timer, is that unlike smart technology, it doesn’t know when your home is getting too hot, to switch off, and so it continues to waste energy.

What types of smart controls are available?

You’ve probably heard of some smart controls which are on the market, such as Nest and Hive, but there are a lot of options out there.

Deciding which smart control to choose will depend on your individual requirements, and how interactive you want to be with your heating system.

But The Heating People have put together a quick overview to some of the options available.

Smart thermostats

You’ve probably come across smart thermostats, but you might be wondering how they differ from conventional, or ‘traditional’ room thermostats.

A traditional room thermostat is a control used to regulate the temperature in your heating system. Once you have set a preferred temperature, your thermostat works to keep your rooms at this desired level.

A thermostat works by monitoring the ambient temperature in your room, and then turning your heating on or off to maintain your chosen temperature.

The key difference between this and a smart thermostat, is that a smart thermostat can be controlled by your smartphone or tablet.

These devices offer you total convenience, because you can control your heating without moving a muscle.

You can switch your heating on or off with just a couple of clicks on your mobile or tablet – from bed if you like!

There’s no need to come home to a cold house ever again because you can switch your heating on when you’re on your way home.

Are there different types of smart thermostats?

Yes! Within the category of smart thermostats, there are a huge array of options.

Some devices are more advanced than others. Here are just a few examples of the different types of technology that are available with different models of smart thermostats:

Programmable smart thermostats

Programmable smart thermostats allow you to program your heating temperature around your schedule and preferences.

Depending on the model, you may be able to set different temperature preferences for each day of the week. This is handy if you know you’re at home more on the weekends, for example.

Smart thermostats with learning capability

Some smart thermostats are so clever, they ‘learn’ exactly how long it takes to heat each room in your home and then check the weather report, to ensure they provide the most energy efficient heating for you.

Some of the smartest devices can also learn how you like your home heated, and over time know your patterns and preferences – such as the fact you like a lie-in on a Sunday!

Another great thing about a device that learns your habits, is that if your lifestyle changes, it will gradually adjust the heating to fit your new schedule. This means that you’ll not only enjoy increased comfort, but also savings on energy consumption.

Nest smart learning thermostat

The 3rd generation Nest is an example of a smart thermostat with learning capability.

Nest learns what temperature you like, turns itself down when you’re away and connects to your mobile phone, so that you can change the temperature from wherever you happen to be.

There’s no more programming involved, because you just turn the temperature up and down. The Auto-Schedule feature allows Nest to learn from you and program itself.

Zoning with smart thermostats

Zoned thermostats can control the temperature of individual rooms rather than just controlling the overall temperature of the whole house.

This means that the family member who’s always cold can have their room warmer than the others. It also allows you to save energy by heating or cooling just the rooms that are in use, not the entire home.

Drayton Wiser smart thermostat with zoning technology

Wiser is an example of a smart thermostat with zoning technology.

Wiser allows your heating engineer to create up to 16 individual heating zones, meaning that different temperatures can be set for each room in your home.

Wiser’s geo-fencing technology allows it to switch off the heating when you leave your home, so that you’re not wasting money heating an empty house.

Wiser has an ‘Eco Mode’, which combines optimum stop and weather compensation to adapt to the weather outside. It also has a ‘Comfort Mode’ which uses optimum start to learn how long your home takes to heat up, so that it switches on at the right time.

Smart thermostats with geofencing

Smart thermostats with geofencing technology are able to detect your presence through your smartphone and will turn your heating on and off accordingly. So no more wasting energy by forgetting to switch your heating off when you leave!

Smart thermostats with holiday mode

Some smart thermostats have a holiday mode that will keep your home just warm enough to prevent pipes freezing if you are away.

What are the advantages of smart thermostats over a traditional room thermostat?

Smart thermostats are convenient

The obvious advantage is that an internet connected smart thermostat can be controlled from wherever you are, whereas with a standard thermostat, you must be at home to control your heating.

The ability to adjust the heating remotely is convenient for people with unpredictable schedules, allowing their homes to be warm when they get home, without wasting energy heating an empty building.

Smart controls may be particularly helpful for those who have elderly relatives who may forget how to control their heating. Remote technology means that you can switch it on and off for them from your own home.

Remote heating control may also be useful for those with air BnB properties which they rent out to holidaymakers, because they can ensure the house is warm and cosy whilst in use, and double check that the heating is not running during periods of vacancy.

Smart thermostats offer flexibility and options

Standard room thermostats are quite limited, and don’t offer the same degree of flexibility as a smart control.

Smart thermostats help your boiler to be more efficient

Many smart controls use the open therm protocol which means they have an intelligent conversation with your compatible boiler allowing your boiler to work more efficiently more often.

Smart thermostats give you feedback on your energy usage

Smart thermostats can give you monthly feedback on the way you’ve used your heating. This includes information on how many hours you’ve spent heating your home, compared against previous months. This can help you to keep an eye on your spending and adjust your energy usage.

Smart thermostats help you to learn more energy efficient ways of heating your home

Some smart thermostats suggest more energy-efficient settings. For example, Nest uses a leaf symbol when you use a temperature that is more energy efficient.

Smart thermostats save you money on your energy bills

Smart controls will potentially save you money on your energy bills. Wolseley found that homeowners had a 20% decrease in their heating costs when using smart controls compared to the previous year with a standard thermostat.

How easy is it to install smart heating controls at home?

It is a straightforward job for The Heating People. How long installation takes will depend on what you’ve opted for and how large your heating system is, but as a guide it usually takes between 1-4 hours.

Do any boilers work better with heating controls than others?

ATAG has an advantage over other boiler manufacturers when it comes to communicating with third party controls such as Nest and Honeywell.

This is because all ATAG boilers feature OpenTherm technology. This means that they allow two-way communication with third party devices, as opposed to the simple on/off switch that other boilers use with third party controls.

This means that ATAG can offer greater levels of efficiency when paired with a smart control that isn’t their own.

I’m considering investing in a smart heating control system, what features should I be looking out for?

If you’re now convinced that you need smart controls, but are wondering what features you want – you could start by asking yourself these questions to narrow down your options:

Do you want a control that will learn your behaviour and habits at home so that you don’t have to program it?
Are you always rushing out the house so it would be useful to have geofencing technology that automatically recognises when you leave or return home?
Do you travel often and would therefore benefit from ‘Holiday’ or ‘Away’ modes?
Would you like your rooms to be different temperatures? If so, a zoned system would be useful.
Will you want a ‘boost’ or override feature?
Would you like feedback on your energy usage?
Do you want to connect your controls to Amazon Alexa?

If you would like to discuss upgrading your heating system, call one of our friendly team at The Heating People for advice.

Useful Links:

Energy Saving Trust article on thermostats and heating controls

Tado smart controls – savings

Which? reviews of smart thermostats

Drayton Wiser controls

Vaillant

Why choose a Vaillant boiler?

Post author By Lucy
Post date October 20, 2022

Why choose a Vaillant boiler?

If you’re reading this blog; chances are that you’re in the market for a new boiler but are feeling overwhelmed by all of your options.

If it’s been a while since your last boiler purchase (or if this is your first!); you might be surprised by just how many boiler manufacturers there are, each offering their own extensive ranges of boilers.

And choosing a new boiler is an important decision because it’s a big investment. And you’ll want it to last you and your family for the next ten to fifteen years.

But don’t worry – we’re here to help!

The Heating People aren’t tied to any particular manufacturer of boilers, we can work with all of them. That being said, we particularly rate: ATAG; Worcester Bosch; Viessmann; and Vaillant.

Each of these manufacturers have boilers in their ranges that we would highly recommend.

But under our spotlight today is Vaillant. We look at who Vaillant are; and why they’re a good choice for your next boiler.

How important is boiler brand?

Before we dive in, let’s start with a question that we get asked a lot; how important is the brand anyway?

Unfortunately, there’s no one brand that’s better than all the others – that would be too easy!

Each manufacturer has their own unique selling points; and all the top manufacturers will have a boiler that’s suitable for your needs.

But it is important that you choose a boiler from a reputable company; that makes reliable and efficient boilers that will stand the test of time.

That doesn’t mean that you should just pick the most popular brand though – the one that everyone seems to be getting.

ATAG are not as well-known as some of the other brands out there at the moment. But their engineering is outstanding, and they’re producing the most efficient boilers in Europe.

It’s important to do a bit of research on all of the brands that you’re interested in; so that you can see the benefits that each of them brings to the table.

Let’s take a look at what Vaillant has to offer…

Who is Vaillant?

If you’ve done a basic Google search for boilers, you’re bound to have come across Vaillant. After all, it was them that invented the combi boiler!

Vaillant has been combining the best of British manufacturing and German engineering for over 140 years.

And they don’t just produce gas and oil boilers. Their product range also includes hot water cylinders; and renewable technologies such as heat pumps; and solar water heating systems; as well as heating controls and accessories.

As one of Europe’s leading heating technology manufacturers, they sell their heating and cooling products in 80 countries.

Vaillant’s motto is: ‘thinking ahead’. A philosophy which is embraced in the high energy efficiency ratings and low emissions of their products.

Vaillant has a growing focus on products and systems that use renewable energy.

Many Vaillant products are based around the use of heat pumps taking heat from ambient air and the earth. Vaillant is expanding its UK manufacturing facility in Derbyshire to produce its aroTHERM plus heat pumps from 2022.

Vaillant’s motto

Vaillant is one of the only heating appliance manufacturers to produce both high efficiency gas boilers and heat pumps in the UK. The company has developed several eco-friendly hybrid systems, which blend renewable energies with heating appliances.

Vaillant has also invested in green initiatives, such as improving the recyclability of boiler components.

As a company, Vaillant has vowed to reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030, from around 60,000 tonnes per year in 2018 to less than 30,000 tonnes by 2030.

They are very much focused on addressing the goal of the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°C.

As well as being leaders in sustainability, Vaillant is also known for the outstanding performance, quality and reliability of their boilers.

Why should you consider a Vaillant boiler?

So, what is it about Vaillant, in particular, that makes them a good choice for your replacement boiler?

1. Energy efficient

Vaillant boilers are well known for their outstanding efficiency.

Efficient boilers are desirable because they save you money on your energy bills, as well as being better for the environment.

All Vaillant boilers are ErP (Energy-related Products) A-rated, which can be further boosted to A+-rated when combined with their vSMART heating controls.

Vaillant’s ecoTEC line is popular with consumers because they offer efficient performance alongside sleek design.

Vaillant’s flagship boiler is their ecoTEC Plus. It’s an efficient choice because its smart technology means that it knows when you don’t need as much heating power, and can drop to using 16% of its maximum power!

The ecoTEC Exclusive has what they call ‘Green iQ’ because it offers the ultimate in energy efficiency, the lowest fuel consumption and the lowest running costs.

The other nice ‘green’ credential of this boiler is that 85% of its parts are recyclable at the end of its life.

2. Large product range

Vaillant has a large range of gas boiler solutions to suit different lifestyles. So regardless of the size of your home; your budget; and your heating and hot water requirements; there will be an option for you.

There are three models of boiler within Vaillant’s ecoTEC line:

Pro
Plus
Exclusive

Vaillant’s gas boiler range includes combi, system, and heat-only boilers to suit your needs.

They also offer a storage combi – the ecoTEC plus combination store for larger homes, and a combi that’s compact enough to fit inside a kitchen cupboard – the ecoFIT pure combi.

But don’t worry if you don’t know what type of boiler you need, The Heating People are experts in matching you with your perfect boiler.

Two of our favourite combi boilers are the ecoTEC Plus and the ecoTEC Exclusive with Green iQ.

The Plus is flexible enough to meet the demands of a whole range of different homes and lifestyles.

The Exclusive is one of our favourites because it has built-in flue and has heat recovery (FGHRS) which means it has increased efficiency (which will save you money) and it is automatically compliant with Boiler Plus.

3. Highly rated by customers

Feedback from customers is consistently positive for Vaillant, indicating a high level of customer satisfaction. They have over 15,000 4.6 star reviews on Trustpilot.

YouGov (who collect independent public opinions on brands) have ranked Vaillant as the second most popular energy and utility product.

4. 10 year guarantees for your peace of mind

Vaillant boilers are also renowned for their reliability. Nonetheless, they come with substantial guarantees for your peace of mind.

When fitted by Vaillant Advance installers, such as The Heating People; Vaillant boilers come with guarantees of up to 10 years. This covers all aspects of the boiler, so should anything go wrong, it will be repaired free of charge.

Just remember that you’ll need to have your boiler serviced every year by a Gas Safe engineer to maintain its guarantee; whichever manufacturer you go with.

5. Quiet operation

Vaillant boilers are manufactured to run as quietly as possible, as well as to be very efficient.

They’re one of the few manufacturers to have boilers awarded with the Quiet Mark accreditation by the International Eco-Award Scheme to manufacturers of the quietest products.

6. Technological innovation

Alongside energy efficiency, Vaillant is well known for its technological innovation.

The Vaillant vSMART app-based heating control system integrates with Vaillant boilers; to give you total control of your heating, wherever you happen to be.

The app features self-learning technology and will even connect to your Amazon Alexa device. So that you can control your heating with your voice!

Not only is this technology convenient; it can also help you to become more energy-efficient, which will help to reduce your energy bills.

How much do Vaillant boilers cost?

The cost of Vaillant boilers varies depending on the type of system and particular model that you choose. As a rough guide, the typical price of a Vaillant EcoTec Plus 825 costs approximately £1000 – £1050.

Final thoughts…

When you choose Vaillant, you’ll have an excellent choice of boilers and controls to meet any heating requirements; from a highly reputable company.

You can rest assured that your boiler will be highly economical and will come with a hefty guarantee.

To find out if a Vaillant is right for you, call us today to book your free survey.

Useful Links:

Vaillant – who we are

Quiet Mark – Vaillant

Trust Pilot reviews for Vaillant

Advice

Leaking boiler?

Post author By Lucy
Post date October 17, 2022

Why is my boiler leaking?

If you’ve just discovered a puddle of water beneath your boiler, you need to act quickly. Ignoring a leak could lead to serious damage, so you should contact a Gas Safe engineer without delay.

But whilst a leaking boiler isn’t a good sign; it doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the road for your boiler. Your leak could be due to something as simple as a faulty seal.

In this guide, we look at some of the possible causes of your leaking boiler. And discuss possible fixes, so that you have a better idea about your boiler’s prognosis!

What are the signs of a leaking boiler?

Whilst this sounds like a daft question; there are actually a few signs that your boiler is leaking, aside from the obvious puddles of water!

Your boiler might also have a leak that you can’t see. Other clues that your boiler has a leak are a slower than usual heating process, and low water pressure.

Low water pressure is easy to identify on combi and system boilers that have a pressure gauge. The pressure in your boiler should generally be between 1 and 1.5 bar.

If your gauge shows pressure below this; or dropping pressure; it could indicate that you have a leak in your system.

Is a leaking boiler dangerous?

Whilst a leaking boiler is alarming and inconvenient, it isn’t usually dangerous.

But, that certainly doesn’t mean you should ignore the problem!

Even a slight leak has the potential to do irreparable damage to your boiler, as well as damaging your home.

So, you should get your boiler looked at by a heating engineer as soon as possible.

The quicker you act, the more likely you are to be able to minimise the damage to your boiler; and avoid the need for a full boiler replacement.

Can I use my boiler if it’s leaking?

If your boiler is leaking, or it’s pressure has suddenly dropped (suggesting a leak) then you shouldn’t use your boiler. Instead, you should follow the steps below.

My boiler is leaking, what should I do?

If you’ve spotted a leak, you should follow these simple steps to minimize any further water damage:

Turn off your water supply

To prevent a puddle from growing, it’s a good idea to stop the water supply to your boiler. To do this, you can turn off your stop tap, which is often located under your kitchen sink.

Switch off the heating

Next, you should switch off your central heating.

Clear up or collect any water

Try to find where the leak is coming from; and use a container to collect any dripping water that might damage your floor. Wipe up any water that’s already been spilled.

Contact a qualified engineer

Don’t attempt a DIY job on your boiler! Only Gas Safe registered engineers are able to work on gas appliances, so you should contact your engineer to take care of the problem.

Why is my boiler leaking water?

Now that you’ve contained the leak, you might be wondering what the possible cause is. And how expensive a repair is likely to be!

There are lots of possible causes of a leaking boiler; and the location of the leak often provides a clue as to what the problem is.

Here are some of the most common causes:

Possible cause of a leaking boiler: High pressure

Whilst low pressure is a possible sign of a leaking boiler; too much boiler pressure can be a cause of the leak.

High boiler pressure is one of the most common causes of a leaking boiler.

Modern boilers require constant water pressure to function properly. If the level of pressure rises too high; the boiler’s pressure release valve (PRV) will automatically release some of the water in the system to bring the pressure back down.

Excess pressure can also cause boiler parts to malfunction which can also create a leak.

It’s easy to check your boiler’s pressure, by looking at it’s pressure gauge. This is usually located on the front of your boiler.

If you have a digital gauge, it will often flash if there’s high pressure. It might also be showing a fault code.

If you have a hydraulic pressure gauge; the valve needle should be in the green zone between 1 and 1.5 bar.

If the needle is higher than this; or in the red zone; the pressure in your system is too high. And this is a likely cause of your leak – i.e. the PRV discharging the excess water, or internal parts failing under the pressure.

Whilst it’s possible to reduce boiler pressure yourself by bleeding your radiators; if you have a leak it’s better to get an engineer to take a look.

Possible cause of a leaking boiler: Corroded pipes

If you’ve noticed dripping water coming from underneath your boiler, corroded pipes could well be the culprit.

Over time, your pipes can break down, or ‘corrode’, causing small gaps where water can leak out from.

Corrosion happens as a result of your metal pipes reacting with the water; oxygen; dirt and debris within your heating system.

If the corrosion is limited to a single area; you may be able to replace the corroded part and resolve the issue. But if the corrosion is more widespread, it’s possible that a boiler replacement is on the cards.

While you wait for an engineer to look at your boiler; you should place a container bowl or underneath your boiler to catch any drips.

If you can see where the leak is coming from; you could also tie a cloth around the pipe to temporarily reduce the dripping.

Possible cause of a leaking boiler: Loose joints

If water seems to be dripping from the joints on your pipes, and the pipes themselves don’t look corroded; it could be that the joints have loosened and just need tightening up.

It’s possible for pipe connections or joints to loosen over time; due to the constant expanding and contracting of water during the heating process.

Possible cause of a leaking boiler: Poor installation

Another possible explanation of water dripping from pipe fittings is poor installation.

If your newly installed boiler is leaking water from the bottom; and there doesn’t appear to be another possible cause; it might be that pipe fittings and joints have not been fitted or tightened correctly.

To avoid this problem, you should only allow a Gas Safe registered engineer to work on your boiler.

Possible cause of a leaking boiler: Pump seal problems

A boiler pump’s job is to pump water around your home’s heating system. And as you can imagine, it’s put under constant pressure.

Over time, the seal on the pump can deteriorate or split; causing water to leak out; often at an alarming rate!

It may be possible to replace or reseal your pump. But if the damage is too great; and you have an older boiler, a boiler replacement might be the best option.

Possible cause of a leaking boiler: Temperature problems

Boilers are fitted with a temperature control valve (TCV) which monitors the temperature of the water within the boiler; and stops it from getting too high.

So, a leak from the TCV suggests that the boiler temperature is too high. And could lead to scalding water coming out of the taps. Obviously you need to deal with this as soon as possible to avoid possible injury.

Possible cause of a leaking boiler: Faulty heat exchanger

If your boiler is in its golden years; a leak from the bottom of the appliance could be caused by a corroded heat exchanger.

The heat exchanger is the part of your boiler which heats the cold water for your radiators and taps; so it’s a vital part of your boiler.

Unfortunately, a faulty heat exchanger usually means curtains for your boiler, because it’s the most expensive part to replace. If your boiler is old and out of warranty; it will probably make more sense to invest in a new boiler.

If you want to avoid future problems with your heat exchanger, we recommend ATAG boilers.

All ATAG boilers feature a revolutionary iCon heat exchanger, which has unrivalled performance and efficiency levels. It’s made from high grade stainless steel and, uniquely; it maintains 98% of its original efficiency levels throughout its lifetime. And best of all? It comes with a lifetime guarantee!

Possible cause of a leaking boiler: Wear and tear

Unfortunately, boilers don’t last forever and can wear out with time. If your boiler is older than 10 years, it’s probably time to consider installing a new one.

With a new boiler, you’ll benefit from increased comfort; energy efficiency; and will get a new guarantee. This gives you the peace of mind that should anything go wrong with your boiler in the future; it’ll be covered.

The Heating People can offer guarantees of up to 14 years on our boilers.

How to prevent your boiler from leaking

A leaking boiler is worrying, inconvenient and potentially costly. So, you’ll want to prevent it from happening again in the future. Here are some tips on avoiding a leaking boiler:

Prevent a leaking boiler: Get Repairs Done Quickly

Even if the leak is only slight, it’s important to deal with it quickly. A leak of any size is telling you that there’s a problem, and left untreated, it will only get worse.

What starts as a loose joint can become a much bigger (and more expensive) problem; because the escaping water will potentially damage other parts of your boiler.

To avoid a hefty repair bill; or the need to replace your boiler entirely; you should contact an engineer without delay.

Prevent a leaking boiler: Get your boiler serviced every year

As with anything, prevention is better than cure. The best way to prevent your boiler from springing a leak, is to maintain it with an annual service.

Boilers are the hardest working appliance in your home, and will wear down over time. They need regular maintenance and upkeep to enable them to run safely and smoothly for as long as possible.

Regular boiler servicing ensures that your boiler is running safely and any problems can be spotted and fixed early.

Failing to keep up with servicing will invalidate your boiler’s guarantee; which means that the cost of repairs won’t be covered.

Prevent a leaking boiler: Consider a Power flush

You could also ask your engineer for advice on whether your heating system would benefit from a power flush.

A Power flush is a cleansing process that removes dirt and debris from your heating system. This could help to reduce the risk of corrosion.

Conclusion

To summarise then…

Whatever the size and probable cause of the leak; you should always contact a Gas Safe engineer to investigate as soon as possible.

Ignoring a leak could damage the electrical components within your boiler, not to mention the potential damage to your home.

Whilst some leaks have an easy and cheap fix; other leaks might indicate the end of the road for your old boiler that has been heavily corroded and worn down over time.

If you’re trying to decide whether it’s time to replace your boiler; contact one of our friendly team to book your free survey.

Useful Links:

Vaillant: Why is my boiler leaking water

Advice

Should I leave my heating on?

Post author By Lucy
Post date October 13, 2022

Should I leave my heating on?…

As the price of wholesale gas soars; households will be looking at the best ways to save on their energy bills.

But there’s little point scouring the web for a cheaper energy deal right now because there aren’t any!

With thirty energy companies collapsing since last September; using less energy is the best way to save money at the moment.

Hopefully you already have an efficient boiler – if you don’t, it might be time to consider a boiler replacement.

But once you have an energy efficient boiler, what’s the most energy efficient way to use it?

Is it cheaper to leave your heating on low all day or turn it on only when you need it? This is a question we get asked a lot, and it’s a hotly debated one.

We’re always told to switch things off when we’re not using them; so it seems logical that the less time you keep your heating switched on; the less it will cost you.

But another school of thought says that leaving your heating on low all the time is more cost-effective. Because if you allow your house to get cold, it takes more energy to heat it back up again.

So, which is it? In this article we look at the arguments for and against leaving your heating on. And give you advice on which option is likely to be best for your home.

School of thought 1: You should turn your heating off when you’re not using it

How many times have you been told as a child (or maybe an adult!) to switch your appliances off; rather than leaving them on standby, to save energy?

Quite a few, we reckon.

And that’s certainly sage advice. Leaving an electronic device on standby for a prolonged period of time is a waste of energy. It’s much more energy efficient to power it down completely.

So, it seems logical that the same will apply to your heating. If you leave your heating on 24/7, you will end up using more energy.

Supporters of this argument: The Energy Saving Trust

According to experts at the Energy Saving Trust, you should only have the heating on when you need it. They’re clear that by doing this, you’ll save energy and therefore money on your heating bills.

The Energy Saving Trust strongly refutes the second school of thought on the matter. They say that the idea that it’s cheaper to leave your heating on low all of the time is a myth.

According to the EST, if you leave your heating on low all day; you’ll be losing energy all day, because of heat loss. So, it’s better to heat your home only when you need it.

School of thought 2: You should leave your heating on low all the time

Whilst the Energy Saving Trust’s argument sounds sensible, it’s not quite as clear-cut as that.

Some experts argue that it’s actually more energy efficient to leave your heating on at a low temperature constantly to save energy.

At first this sounds absurd – since when did leaving stuff on, actually save energy? But it starts to make sense if you think of it in another way.

Think of it as being like boiling a pan of water on a gas hob.

When you put cold water into the pan; you’ll need a high flame and a lot of gas to get the water to boil.

But once it’s boiling, you can turn the flame down low, and keep the water hot.

If you had turned the gas off completely; and let your water get cold again; you would have to turn the flame up high; and waste a lot more gas, than if you had just let it tick over at a lower temperature.

The same is true of your boiler. It takes much more energy to heat up an entire house from a very cold start; than to just maintain its temperature.

So, by keeping your heating on at a low level, you’ll save energy; because your boiler isn’t working hard to heat your house from a completely cold start once or twice a day.

Weather compensation and leaving your heating on

If you have weather compensating heating controls; you’re probably already familiar with the idea of maintaining a constant temperature rather than turning your heating on and off.

Weather compensators are one of the four additional energy saving devices recognised by the Boiler Plus regulations. They monitor both the temperature inside your home, and the temperature outside, and adjust your boiler’s operation accordingly.

A weather compensator tells your boiler to increase or decrease the temperature of your radiators; to match the heat loss caused by the weather.

This is because heat is lost more quickly on a cold day, than on a warm one.

So, instead of your boiler switching on or off depending on when your home gets too cold or too hot; weather compensation monitors and maintains your chosen temperature without having spikes of over and underheating.

This provides a more comfortable and consistent environment. And with the boiler flow temperature being kept as low as possible, around 55°C or less; the boiler can condense as it is designed to; running more efficiently, and saving you money.

Viessmann conducted research at Salford University and found that a simple weather compensation sensor typically saves the householder anything from 10-30% off their energy bills. Or a good £40-£100 or more per year.

A report by an environmental science consulting group; published similar estimated energy savings of 10-40% for electronic weather compensators in one-family houses.

So, despite it sounding a little counterintuitive, leaving your heating on low can save energy in some circumstances.

There is a ‘but’ coming…

Heat loss and leaving your heating on

Whilst leaving your heating on can work well if you’ve got decent insulation; it won’t if your home has high levels of heat loss.

To learn more about heat loss and why it’s important, you can read our related blog here. But in a nutshell, all buildings lose heat. The more they lose, the more energy it takes to heat them.

Buildings will have high levels of heat loss if they have poor to no insulation, single glazing, and poor airtightness.

So, if your home suffers from high levels of heat loss; you’ll need to use more energy to maintain the inside temperature – even at a low temperature.

This means that leaving your heating on all the time would be more expensive – it certainly wouldn’t save you money.

This leads us on to the advice from TheGreenAge. TheGreenage is the UK’s premier energy saving advice portal, covering heating, insulation and renewable technologies…

TheGreenage: it’s down to insulation

The Greenage say that whether you should leave your heating on all the time or not; depends entirely on how well insulated your home is.

They say that if your home is very well insulated; you’re better off leaving the heating on at a set temperature, because there is little heat loss occurring.

But, if your home is a Victorian property with high levels of heat loss; then you’re better off following The EST advice and just heating it up for the times when you need it.

This would probably be first thing in the morning, and in the evening before you go to bed.

This is because any heat you generate will be lost fairly quickly through the fabric of your building; so your boiler would have to work incredibly hard to maintain the temperature all day.

If you work during the day, it should make things a lot cheaper compared to leaving the boiler on.

Perhaps the reason that The EST has run with the blanket advice to switch our heating off; is because most homes in the UK suffer from high levels of heat loss.

A report by the Climate Change Committee (CCC) says that our housing stock is: “one of the oldest and worst insulated in Europe, with 38% of homes built before 1946 and only 15% since the 1990s.”

Can I test which method will work for me?

If you want to put the two theories to the test, you can.

If you think you have an energy efficient home; you can compare your energy usage when you leave your heating on; compared to programming your heating to come on at certain times of the day.

Over the course of two weeks, test each method and take gas readings. But do bear in mind that if there is a change in the weather, it won’t be a fair comparison!

And the winner is…

As is so often the case in life, the answer to whether or not you should leave your heating on or not; is – it depends!

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to heating. What’s right for your home will depend on many factors, such as:

the age and type of property you live in;
the amount of insulation you have;
whether you have double or single glazing;
your heating preferences – i.e. how warm or cool you like your home to be;
how often you’re at home during the day;
What heating controls you have;
how you use your heating;
the age of your boiler;
how many people live with you.

But if the two arguments in today’s debate make anything clear it’s this: heat loss is incredibly important when it comes to heating our homes.

If you want to improve your energy efficiency, save money, and reduce your carbon footprint, insulation is vital.

And the good news is, insulating your home can be something that’s fairly cheap and straightforward to improve.

By simply putting down some draught excluders or using heavy curtains you can start to reduce your home’s heat loss. And keep that heat for as long as possible – regardless of whether you leave your heating on, or turn it off.

Useful links

The Greenage: Is it cheaper to leave your heating on all the time?

The Energy Saving Trust: Take control of your heating at home

The Cliamte Change Committee Publication: UK housing – fit for the future?

Advice

Boiler cycling on and off?

Post author By Lucy
Post date October 10, 2022

Boiler cycling on and off?

If you’ve noticed that your boiler is turning itself off and on again every few minutes; you might be experiencing a problem called ‘boiler cycling’ or ‘boiler short-cycling.’

Whilst it’s common for a combi boiler to turn itself off every now and then; as part of it’s ‘pre-heat’ function; constant stop-starting for very short-durations isn’t normal.

If you suspect that your boiler is turning off and on too frequently; you should try and time its cycles for an hour, to get a better idea about what it’s doing.

If your boiler is turning off and on every few minutes or less, you may have a boiler cycling problem.

Boiler cycling prevents your boiler from overheating when heat can’t be dissipated quickly enough.

But it’s bad news because you’ll be paying over the odds on your inefficient system; and there’ll be unnecessary stress on your boiler, which can shorten its lifespan.

To find out everything you need to know about this pesky problem; and what to do about it, stay with us…

What is boiler cycling?

To understand what boiler cycling is, and why it happens; you need to understand a little bit about how your boiler works. And more specifically, what heat loss and boiler modulation is…

Heat Loss

At its simplest, your boiler’s job is to heat water to provide you with heating and hot water. How much power (heat) your boiler needs to output to meet your heating demands; is determined by the heat loss of your home.

Understanding heat loss is vital when it comes to understanding heating; because if it wasn’t for heat loss, we actually wouldn’t need heating!

To learn more about what heat loss is, you can read our blog on it here. But we’ll summarise here…

Why homes lose heat

Whether we like it or not, all buildings lose heat. It’s an inescapable fact of science!

The second rule of thermodynamics means that warm air always moves towards cooler air. If you think about your house; the warm air inside will want to move towards the colder air in the garden!

So, heat losses occur because the heat inside your home will be transferred through the fabric of your building. You can probably predict that this will happen more quickly if you have poor insulation; because the job of insulation is to make it more difficult for heat to escape.

But heat is also lost more quickly on a colder day, than on a warmer one. The bigger the difference in temperature between the inside and outside temperatures, the quicker heat will be lost.

To keep you warm, your boiler needs to match the heat loss of your building. This is why it’s crucial to get a heat loss calculation to choose the correct size of boiler for your needs.

Your boiler’s maximum power output should be able to match the heat loss of your home on the coldest day of the year. And ideally be able to modulate down to a lower output to match lower levels of heat loss on warmer days.

And this is where we need to understand boiler modulation…

Boiler modulation

Boiler modulation sounds very technical. But it just refers to the ability of a boiler to reduce or ‘turn down’ its output; to better match the heat demand.

If you have a 30kw boiler; you won’t always need it to be blasting out its full 30kw of power to heat your home. And you don’t want it to do that, because as you can imagine, it’s a waste of energy.

To give an example… Let’s say that you only need 15kw of heat from your 30kw boiler for the next couple of hours. If your boiler was just to output its maximum 30kw of power; the ‘excess’ heat that can’t be dissipated into your home (because it’s not needed); would cause the water returning to the boiler to become too hot. To prevent itself from overheating; your boiler would be forced to cycle, turning on for 5 minutes, and then off for 5 minutes repeatedly.

A modulating boiler could avoid this situation by simply turning down its flame by 50%; so that it was outputting 15kw of power, instead of its full 30 kw capacity. It wouldn’t need to stop-start to replicate the lower heat demand.

Ideally, your boiler will fire-up, and run continuously by modulating down as your home reaches your desired temperature.

Boiler modulation ratios

But not all boilers are created equal. How much a boiler can ‘dial down’ its output to, is stated by the manufacturer as a modulation ratio.

A boiler’s modulation ratio is its minimum output in relation to its maximum output, stated as a fraction.

To give a couple of examples:

Boiler A has a maximum output of 30kW and has a 5:1 ratio. This means that the maximum power it can output to heat your home is 30kW; and it can modulate this down to 6kW.

Boiler B has a maximum output of 30kW and an extremely impressive 17:1 ratio. This means that the maximum power it can output to your home is 30kW; and it can modulate this down to 1.7 kW, with a total of 17 different heat outputs!

Lower power output means less fuel burned; more money saved; and less boiler cycling putting unnecessary stress on your boiler.

Why is boiler cycling a problem?

A cycling boiler is a problem because it:

Wastes fuel;
Increases your carbon footprint;
Results in higher heating bills;
Increases the wear and tear on your boiler’s components;
Leads to increased faults and problems with your boiler;
Can shorten the lifespan of your boiler.

What causes boiler cycling?

Now that we have a better understanding of how boilers work. Let’s take a look at some of the possible causes of boiler cycling:

1. Boiler cycling caused by an oversized boiler

One of the main culprits of a cycling boiler is that it’s been oversized.

An oversized boiler means that its output is too high (or powerful) for your needs. When it comes to boilers, having too much power is a bad thing.

Whilst you (and some dodgy installers!) might be tempted to oversize your new boiler ‘just in case’; this would be a costly mistake.

And this shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise, now that we’ve seen that a boiler will cycle if it can’t modulate down low enough to meet a lower heat demand!

Suppose that your home has a 15kw heat loss, but you have an enormous 45kw boiler. The boiler would generate more power than your system can handle. It would heat up too quickly; run for a short time; and then turn off; before the cycle starts again. This is very inefficient, and would lead to excessive energy bills, as well as taking its toll on your boiler.

This is why it’s so important to have a heat loss calculation conducted to find the correct size of boiler for your needs. If an installer just wants to count your radiators, run for the hills!

Rest assured that The Heating People conduct heat loss calculations as standard as part of your free survey. We will calculate, recommend, and install the perfect boiler for your home and lifestyle.

2. Boiler cycling caused by poor system design

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again… Your boiler installer is the number one contributor to your heating system’s energy efficiency.

If you want to optimise the efficiency of your heating system, and avoid issues such as boiler cycling, you need an expert engineer who understands emitter sizing, pipe sizing, hydraulic layout and principles.

The Heating People are proud to be part of the Heat Geek Elite and will design and commission your heating system to get the very best out of it.

3. Boiler cycling caused by problems with the thermostat

Your thermostat’s job is to measure the temperature in your home and prompt your boiler to fire up when it drops below a certain temperature.

A faulty thermostat, or one placed in a cold location, may take inaccurate temperature readings, causing your boiler to cycle on and off more frequently.

4. Boiler cycling caused by a faulty water pump

If your boiler’s pump develops a fault, this could lead to boiler cycling if water isn’t being pumped away from the boiler effectively. An overheating boiler will cut out after firing up (short cycling).

How can I prevent boiler cycling?

As with all things, prevention is better than cure!

To avoid the problems associated with a cycling boiler, you should start by getting the correct size of boiler installed by an expert engineer you can trust.

Choosing a boiler with a good modulation ratio will help to maximise the energy efficiency of your heating system.

Final thoughts

If you think your boiler is cycling, you should talk to your heating engineer for advice.

And if you’ve decided that it’s time you replaced your old, struggling boiler, contact The Heating People to book your free survey.

Useful Links

Heat Geek: Find a Heat Geek

Advice

10 common boiler problems

Post author By Lucy
Post date October 6, 2022

10 common boiler problems…

Your boiler is one of the most important and hard-working appliances in your home, and you probably don’t give it a second’s thought until it’s on the blink.

Whilst it’s frustrating when your boiler runs into a problem, it’s not always a big deal.

And there’s not necessarily something wrong with the boiler itself, it could indicate problems with its fuel supply or a frozen or burst pipe.

One way you might be able to tell what’s wrong with your boiler, is if it’s displaying a fault code.

All boilers display error codes differently, so depending on your model, the error code itself will vary, so you’ll need to check your boiler’s operation manual.

If you’re in any doubt about what’s going on with your boiler, you should always contact a Gas Safe engineer for advice.

Remember that most problems can be avoided with proper boiler maintenance, including an annual service.

According to Which? an average of 18% of boilers in UK homes break down every year with the majority facing substantial repair costs due to not adequately maintaining their system.

We’ve put together this quick guide of some of the most common boiler problems and what needs to be done about them. Some small problems can be handled by yourself…

1. Common boiler problem: You have no heating or hot water

The dreaded no heating or hot water scenario is probably your biggest fear when it comes to boiler problems, and you’re not alone. Nobody wants to be without heating or hot water, particularly in the winter months.

There are three possible scenarios here:

You have no heating and no hot water at all

This is the worst-case scenario because you’ve got the double whammy of a cold house and cold water.

If you’ve got a system or a heat-only boiler and you have an additional immersion heater, you’ll be able to get hot water while the issue with your boiler is being fixed.

Unfortunately, you’ll have no such luck here if yours is a combi boiler.

There are lots of possible explanations for why your heating and hot water has gone off. The simplest things to check first are:

Is your boiler displaying a fault code?
Have you got an issue with your power; water; or fuel supply?
Is the condensate pipe frozen? (more on this later)
Is the pilot light on? (more on this later)
Is the boiler pressure too low? (more on this later)
Is your timer or thermostat working?

If none the above applies, it’s time to call out an engineer because there may be a component failure, such as a broken diaphragm or valve.

Your hot water’s working, but there’s no heating

If you can have a hot bath or shower, but your heating isn’t working, you should start by checking whether all your radiators are hot.

If some of your radiators are hot, or are hot in places, you might need to bleed them or get a power flush to rid them of sludge.

We look at this later. If all your radiators are cold, your boiler might have a broken diverter valve or pump.

Your heating is working, but there’s no hot water

If your home is warm and cosy, but you’re only getting cold water out of your taps, then you have an issue with your hot water supply.

The first thing to do is check that it’s not a problem with an individual showerhead or tap, by checking all your hot taps. If you get sputtering, there could be an airlock in the pipes.

Otherwise, the most likely cause is a broken diverter valve, in which case, you’ll need to call in an engineer.

2. Common boiler problem: Your radiators aren’t getting hot or have cold spots

If you’ve got cold radiators, this could indicate a need to bleed them, or that you need a power flush.

You need to bleed your radiators

If you’ve noticed that your radiators are cold or have cold spots; or are making funny noises; this might indicate that air is trapped inside them, and needs to be released.

The good news is that releasing the trapped air, or ‘bleeding’ your radiators is a relatively straightforward task that you can do yourself.

It’s usually easy to determine whether your radiators need bleeding. You just need to use your hand to check the temperature of your radiators, from the top to the bottom of each.

Since air rises, it is quite common for the top of a radiator to be cold, and the bottom to be hot, if it needs to be bled.

To bleed your radiators, you need to use your radiator key to open the bleed valve on your radiator. You should hear a hissing sound as the air escapes.

Keep releasing air from the valve until you can no longer hear air escaping and some water begins to trickle out.

You need a power flush

Another potential cause of your cold radiators is that they are being blocked by sludge.

Sludge is a muddy substance made up of rust, dirt and debris which collects over time in your pipes and radiators.

This plays havoc with the efficiency of your heating system, causing corrosion and blockages. This issue can be solved with a power flush.

A power flush is a cleansing process which cleans your entire central heating system, removing the sludge, which would otherwise cause damage and reduce efficiency.

So, if when you bleed your radiators, the water is discoloured, or no water escapes at all, this may signal the need for a power flush.

3. Common boiler problem: Your boiler is losing pressure

If you’ve been experiencing boiler problems such as a lack of hot water, it could be that low pressure in your boiler is to blame.

The good news is that low pressure is usually easy to spot, and, in some cases, you can address it yourself.

If you find that your pressure gauge is below one bar of pressure, adjusting this to 1.5 should solve your problem in the short term.

To top up the water pressure in your boiler you’ll need to switch off your boiler and allow it to cool.

Then, you’ll need to check that both ends of the filling loop are securely attached, before opening both valves.

Once the pressure gauge reads 1.5 bar, close both valves, one after the other. You can then switch the boiler back on and, if needed, press the reset button.

There are lots of possible reasons for your low-pressure fault.

If you notice your pressure gauge drops overnight, this could be caused by a leak in your system; a problem with the pressure relief valve; air in your radiators; or a problem with the expansion vessel.

Depending on what the cause is, you may need to talk to a Gas Safe engineer so that the issue doesn’t recur.

4. Common boiler problem: Your boiler’s condensate pipe has frozen

If your boiler has stopped working when it’s freezing outside, there’s a chance that your boiler’s condensate pipe has frozen.

Other telltale signs of this issue are if you hear a gurgling sound coming from your boiler or your boiler is displaying an error code “EA”.

All boilers have a condensate pipe. Its job is to take waste from your boiler out into a drain.

If it gets blocked with ice, your boiler will automatically shut down as a safety measure until it’s resolved. Luckily, this isn’t a big problem, and you can fix it yourself quite easily.

To find your condensate pipe, you need to look for a white plastic pipe that comes out of the wall directly behind your boiler.

Check that it runs from the boiler to an exterior drain. Once you’ve found it, and checked that it is indeed frozen, get your kettle on.

Once you’ve boiled your kettle, let the water cool for about 15 minutes, before pouring it down the length of the pipe until the ice has thawed. The final step is to reset your boiler and check that it is working properly.

5. Common boiler problem: Your boiler’s pilot light keeps going out

The pilot light in a boiler is crucial because it ignites the fuel (usually gas) that heats the water inside the boiler.

It needs to stay lit all the time so that your boiler can operate whenever heat or hot water is required. If it goes out, you’ll have no heating or hot water.

The good news is that you can relight your pilot light quite easily. But if it keeps going out – after you’ve eliminated draughts – there may be a bigger problem afoot.

To relight your pilot light, you’ll need to follow the instructions in your boiler’s operation manual.

Newer boilers will have an ignitor, whereas an older boiler pilot light may require you to light a match for ignition.

If the pilot light keeps going out on a boiler that could indicate that the thermocouple is faulty or broken and requires replacing.

6. Common boiler problem: You have leaks

Leaking or dripping water is a real pain because it can cause damage to your home, as well as causing problems with the electrical components of your boiler.

If you notice water coming from your system’s pipes, this could be caused by corrosion or by weakened seals on joints.

If the leak seems to be coming from the boiler itself, this could indicate a problem with an internal component, such as a pressure valve or pump seal. These problems can occur where the pressure in the system has become too high or the seal on the pump has worn out.

Regardless of the cause, a leak should be treated as a serious issue, and you should call a Gas Safe engineer to investigate.

7. Common boiler problem: Your boiler is making kettling sounds

If you’ve noticed that your boiler is making a strange noise a bit like a kettle boiling – a sort of whistling sound – it’s probably due to a common problem called ‘boiler kettling.’

Despite the rather misleading name, your ‘boiler’ doesn’t actually boil water – or it shouldn’t!

Boiler kettling occurs when the water is heated too quickly and reaches boiling point, causing steam to be generated and air to become trapped. The trapped air makes a whistling noise, like a kettle.

Boiler kettling can be caused by limescale build-up on the heat-exchanger, which slows down the flow of water, causing it to heat up excessively.

A faulty component could also be to blame, as well as the possibility of there being a build-up of sludge in the system. This isn’t a problem that you can fix yourself, you’ll need the help of a heating engineer for this one.

8. Common boiler problem: Your boiler is making strange noises

If it’s not whistling you’re hearing, but something else, this could indicate a different problem to boiler kettling.

Most modern boilers are whisper quiet, so anything above a low hum isn’t normal. Gurgling; banging; whooshing or droning sounds usually indicate there’s a problem.

Gurgling noises are often a sign of trapped air in the system. Bleeding the radiators might help with this issue. Droning noises are sometimes caused by a faulty pump. Whooshing noises sometimes occurs when debris or dust blocks the air intake pipe or air filters.

But whatever the cause, you’ll want to have your noisy boiler looked at by a Gas Safe engineer.

9. Common boiler problem: Your boiler isn’t responding to the thermostat

Most people use a thermostat to control their boiler’s heating schedule and the temperature of their central heating.

At its simplest, a thermostat is a control used to regulate the temperature in your heating system. Once you have set a preferred temperature, your thermostat works to keep your rooms at this desired level.

It works by monitoring the ambient temperature in your room, and then turning your heating on or off to maintain your chosen temperature.

Obviously, if your boiler stops responding to your thermostat, it can cause problems. It might be that your boiler and thermostat are not communicating with one another, or it could be that there’s a faulty component.

To get to the bottom of this issue, you should start with the obvious. Check that your boiler and thermostat have power. It could be as simple as the batteries in your thermostat need changing, or the clocks have recently changed.

Once you’ve eliminated those possibilities, consult the manufacturer instructions for your thermostat. Popular brands are likely to have useful FAQs and troubleshooting advice on their websites.

If your control is quite old, it might be time for a new one if advice from the manufacturer seems to suggest it’s on its last legs.

10. Common boiler problem: Your energy bills are creeping up with no explanation

If you’ve got an older boiler, and have noticed unexplained increases in your energy bills, it might be time to consider a replacement.

As well as older boilers tending to be less efficient to start with, their efficiency can also deteriorate further with age.

And at its simplest, a less efficient boiler will cost you more money to run because they use more energy to heat your home.

The efficiency of your boiler is rated using the ErP scale, running from the most efficient, at A, and least efficient at G.

An A rated boiler has an energy efficiency of 90% or more. The Boiler Plus regulations mean that new combi boilers are at least 92% efficient.

To put this in perspective, an older G rated boiler has an efficiency of 70% or less which means for every £1 you spend on your heating bill you are wasting 30p on lost energy.

So, if you have an old boiler, and ever increasing energy bills, it might be worth discussing whether a new boiler could save you money.

To find our about the gas crisis, and how to save money on your gas bill, read our related blog here.

Tips for preventing problems with your boiler

We hope that you’ve found this trouble shooting guide helpful.

Remember that prevention is better than cure, so the best way to avoid running into problems in the first place, is to have your boiler serviced annually.

An annual service will help you to:

Avoid breakdowns;
Maximise the lifespan of your boiler;
Maintain your boiler’s efficiency to help keep your energy bills low;
Ensure it is safe; and
Maintain your boiler’s guarantee.

But unfortunately, boilers don’t last forever.

If you’ve noticed your boiler is struggling to do what it used to do; or is breaking down regularly; or is not working at all, you might be wondering whether you should try to repair what you have, or whether the time has come for a replacement.

The Heating People are here to help you find what’s right for you, and your home. Call us today to discuss your options with a boiler replacement.

Useful Links:

Which? report on the cause of boiler breakdowns

Worcester Bosch support: Broken boiler

Boiler Guide – thermostat problems.

Vaillant: Most common boiler problems

Advice

The benefits of replacing your boiler

Post author By Lucy
Post date October 3, 2022

The benefits of replacing your boiler…

If your boiler’s on the blink; or you’re just planning for the future; you might be wondering what benefits you can expect from a boiler upgrade.

After all, a new boiler is a big investment. And you’ll want to be sure about precisely what you stand to gain.

In this blog, we look at some of the key advantages to saying out with the old; and in with the new.

1. The benefits of replacing your boiler: A warmer, more comfortable home

If you’ve been putting up with a heating system that takes ages to kick-in; or arguing with family members over who’s used all the hot water; then you’re bound to feel the benefits that a new; modern boiler can bring to your home.

With a boiler replacement, you don’t have to simply swap like-for-like. You can change to a different type of boiler system.

If you’ve outgrown your current combi boiler; and your large family is using loads of hot water; you should consider changing to a system or heat-only boiler.

Conversely, if you’ve got a smaller family; you might be producing more energy than you need – increasing your bills and generating unnecessary emissions. In this case, you might be better off with a combi boiler.

The Heating People are here to help you to decide what options are best for you; to ensure that your house is always warm, and your baths are always hot.

2. The benefits of replacing your boiler: More control

If you’re replacing an old boiler with a much newer one; chances are, your new model will give you much more control.

Whilst most installers already saw time and temperature controls on boilers to be an essential component of a heating system; Boiler Plus made this mandatory.

Boiler Plus also requires that new combi boilers have another energy efficiency measure to be in place; one of which could be smart controls featuring automation and optimisation functions.

Smart controls

‘Smart’ stands for “Self-Monitoring Analysis & Reporting Technology” and covers a large group of controls.

Smart controls can often connect to the internet and can be controlled remotely through a tablet or smartphone. This means that you have much greater control over your heating, from wherever you are, at any time of day.

Optimisers are convenient because they work out how long it takes your house to heat up; and turn the heating on at the right time; so your house will be up to temperature just in time for when you need it.

For example, if you get up at 7.30am in the morning, you can set your programmer to 7.30am; and your thermostat to whatever you choose. And the optimiser will work out when to fire up the boiler; so the house is up to the temperature you set by 7.30am.

In colder weather, it will fire up earlier and in milder weather it will wait, saving you energy and money.

So, as well as being convenient and improving your comfort; smart controls will potentially save you money on your energy bills.

Wolseley found that homeowners had a 20% decrease in their heating costs; when using smart controls compared to the previous year with a standard thermostat.

3. The benefits of replacing your boiler: Reduced energy bills

With gas prices on the rise, chances are you’re hoping to reduce your energy bills.

Having an energy efficient boiler will reduce the amount of money you’re spending on energy. This is because an efficient boiler needs to burn less fuel than an inefficient boiler to do the same job.

Old boilers burn their fuel inefficiently. Because they don’t have the condensing technology and other energy saving devices that we have today.

And many homes still have these old inefficient boilers, which also become even more inefficient with age.

All new boilers must be ErP A-rated for efficiency. This means that they’re more than 90% efficient. But, if you’ve got an old G-rated boiler, this could be less than 70% efficient.

To put this into context, with a G-rated boiler; for every £1 you spend on your heating bill; you are wasting 30p on lost energy.

According to The Energy Saving Trust; you could save £340 a year on your gas bill; by trading in an old-non-condensing boiler for a new condensing one.

4. The benefits of replacing your boiler: Reduced carbon footprint

We’re all starting to appreciate our own social responsibility in finding cleaner and smarter ways of heating our homes. Not just to save money on energy bills, but to reduce carbon emissions.

In 2015 in Paris, the government committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, by signing the Paris Agreement.

This made the UK the first major economy in the world to legislate for a Net Zero target for greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

As manufacturers understand more about the technology and its impact on the environment, they make improvements to how it runs.

The gas boilers we use today are much more efficient than the boilers of just a few years ago.

We now use smart controls; weather compensation; load compensation; flue gas heat recovery systems; and a whole host of other energy saving devices alongside our boilers.

So, by installing a new, more efficient boiler, you are also helping the environment. It’s estimated that by moving to an A-rated boiler, you could save the environment 1,500kg of carbon dioxide per year.

5. The benefits of replacing your boiler: Peace of mind

If your old boiler has been temperamental and has been breaking down; you’ll love the peace of mind a new boiler will bring.

You’ll end all the stress and inconvenience of having to arrange frequent last-minute call-outs and repairs with a heating engineer.

A new boiler should work better for longer; and you might benefit from the reassurance of a manufacturer’s guarantee on your new model. This means that should anything go wrong; your repairs will be paid for.

All new boilers installed by The Heating People come with a guarantee of up to 14 years.

6. The benefits of replacing your boiler: Reduced repair costs

If you’ve been forking out on frequent repairs for your old boiler; often with expensive obsolete parts; you’ll be saving money with a new boiler.

A new boiler should run smoothly for a long time; and this will often be backed up by a manufacturer’s guarantee.

7. The benefits of replacing your boiler: Quieter boiler operation

If your old boiler was noisy, you might well notice how much you don’t notice your new one!

Due to improved design, new boilers can be significantly quieter than older ones. Many of Vaillant’s boilers have been awarded the Quiet Mark, which identifies the quietest home appliances and technology.

8. The benefits of replacing your boiler: Space saving

If you switch from a heat-only or a system boiler to a combi boiler; you’ll save space in your home, because combis don’t need external tanks or cylinders.

So, this could free up cupboard space for you, which can be particularly beneficial in smaller homes.

9. The benefits of replacing your boiler: Hot water on demand

If you switch from a heat-only boiler to a combi boiler; you’ll have hot water on demand because combi’s don’t have a water tank to heat up.

This means that you won’t have to wait for your water to get hot enough for a bath. And it’s ideal in busy homes where showers may be used back-to-back each morning.

10. Meet high demands for hot water

Conversely, if you currently have a combi boiler that is struggling because you have a large demand for hot water at the same time (say for multiple showers at once). You might benefit from replacing it with a heat-only boiler system; which can supply multiple outlets at the same time because of their hot water stores.

11. The benefits of replacing your boiler: Make your home more attractive to buyers

If you’re planning on moving home soon, a new A-rated boiler can make your property more attractive to prospective buyers.

Although you might think it’s a waste of money to invest in a new heating system that you won’t benefit from; research has found that a new boiler could add at least £8,000 to the price of your property.

Final thoughts…

We hope you’ve found this useful.

You might like our related blogs: 6 Top tips for buying a new boiler and The best combi boilers 2022.

So, if you’re interested in finding out more about what you stand to gain, why not book your free survey with The Heating People today?

Useful Links:

Fact sheet on Boiler Plus

Consultation response on Boiler Plus

Government report: ‘The Ten Point Plan for a Green Revolution.’

The Energy Saving Trust advice on boilers

Advice

5 Benefits of your annual service

Post author By Lucy
Post date September 29, 2022

5 benefits of your annual service…

Regular boiler servicing can keep you and your family safe, save you money and keep your guarantee valid.

But despite this; a survey by the Gas Safe Register found that a worrying 24% of homeowners have either never had their boiler serviced; or haven’t had it serviced once a year as recommended.

Although easily overlooked, an annual boiler service has many benefits. We’ve put together this handy guide of the top 5 reasons why you should put booking a boiler service on your to-do list.

1. Your annual service keeps you and your family safe

First and foremost, an annual service is vital in keeping you and your family safe.

Your boiler could produce poisonous carbon monoxide (CO) if it’s not working properly. This can happen if your boiler was improperly fitted; improperly repaired or maintained; or if its vents, flues or chimneys have become blocked with dirt and debris.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a highly poisonous gas that can be especially deadly because you can’t see; taste; or smell it.

According to the NHS, carbon monoxide poisoning kills 60 people in the UK every year. So don’t take the risk!

In addition to the risk of gas leaks and carbon monoxide poisoning; a faulty boiler can also cause fires and explosions.

So, if you have any gas appliances in your home; it’s essential to have them checked once a year by a Gas Safe engineer to ensure that they are safe.

Only Gas Safe registered engineers can legally fit, fix, and service gas appliances. This requirement ensures that engineers who are working on gas hold valid and current qualifications.

2. Your annual service maintains your guarantee

Want to keep that nice long guarantee that came with your shiny new boiler?

If so, you’ll need to have your boiler serviced annually.

All boilers supplied by The Heating People come with a manufacturer’s guarantee of up to 14 years.

This gives you the peace of mind that any faults will be repaired free of charge if they develop within that time.

But whichever manufacturer you go with; your guarantee will only remain valid if you keep up to date with regular servicing.

If you don’t have your boiler serviced, it will invalidate your guarantee. Resulting in expensive repair bills, should your boiler break down.

Regular servicing maintains your boiler cover protection

Another thing to consider here is whether you have boiler cover.

If you do, then your home insurance policy will require you to keep up to date with your boiler service. And be able to evidence this with your service records.

Your insurance will be invalid if you don’t. And your insurance company won’t pay out should you need to make a claim.

3. Your annual service results in fewer breakdowns

Nobody wants to be left without heating and hot water. But it’s often not until misfortune strikes in the form of a breakdown; that you realise how much you rely on your boiler!

Getting your boiler serviced annually helps to avoid a breakdown.

Just like with your car’s MOT, when you have your boiler serviced; all the main components are checked for wear and tear, and any required maintenance can be carried out proactively.

This means that your boiler is less likely to breakdown when you need it the most.

A survey in 2021 by Which? found that only around three in ten boilers that are serviced annually; have needed a repair in their first six years. This doubles to around six in ten boilers if the boiler is only serviced every two to five years.

Regular servicing identifies small problems early

As well as avoiding breakdowns, an annual service will identify any small problems early; before they turn into larger more expensive ones!

Identifying a potential problem before it leads to a complete breakdown; can save you from expensive repairs or the need to replace your boiler entirely.

During your service, your engineer will spot any problems before they escalate. This will save you money on repairs, and the inconvenience of being without heating and hot water.

Regular servicing extends the lifespan of your boiler

Replacing a boiler can be costly. So you’ll want to make sure that you get the most out of your investment. To keep your boiler running smoothly for the next 10-15 years, you’ll need to look after it.

Regular servicing maximises the lifespan of your boiler. It ensures that it runs as efficiently as possible, for as long as possible.

4. Your annual service maintains your boiler’s efficiency

A well-maintained and regularly serviced boiler will work more efficiently than a neglected one.

An efficient boiler will help you to save money on your heating bills; as well as being better for the environment.

During a service, your engineer will clean up any deposits that have built up in the boiler.

Ensuring that the internal combustion areas are free of dirt and debris will improve the heat transfer. This allows your boiler to light more easily and burn efficiently, which leads to lower heating bills.

Regular servicing helps your boiler run optimally, using only as much energy as is necessary to heat your home. Again, saving you money.

5. An annual service is a legal requirement for landlords

Landlords are under a legal duty to have an annual safety check on all gas appliances and flues.

It’s also a legal requirement to maintain gas appliances, flues/chimneys and pipework in a safe condition. You need to make sure that both checks and servicing are carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

In the UK all landlords must ensure the following in relation to gas safety in properties they rent out:

Pipework, appliances and flues provided for tenants are maintained in a safe condition.
Appliances and flues are checked for safety by a Gas Safe registered engineer annually.
All gas appliances are maintained by a Gas Safe registered engineer (this can be accomplished by following the manufacturers recommended maintenance for their appliances/equipment). And all gas equipment (including any appliance left by a previous tenant) is safe or otherwise removed before re-letting.
A documented record of safety checks, known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is made available to the tenant within 28 days of completing the check or to any new tenant before they move in.
A copy of safety check documents is kept for a specified period.

What is the difference between a gas safety check and a service?

We’ve mentioned gas safety checks. So, what’s the difference between a gas safety check and a service?

Gas safety check

A gas safety check assesses the basic safety of gas appliances in your home. Its purpose is to ensure everything is working correctly and is safe.

A safety check includes:

Checking gas appliances are burning correctly with the correct operating pressure
Ensuring harmful gases are removed from the appliance safely
Checking ventilation routes are clear and adequate
Making sure that any safety devices are working properly

Boiler service

A service consists of a full check of a gas appliance. And alongside the gas safety checks listed above your engineer from The Heating People will:

Conduct a visual inspection of your boiler and flue to ensure that your boiler still meets current standards.

Remove the boiler casingto check the functioning of the main component parts, such as the burner; heat exchanger; main injector; and spark/sensor probe.

Conduct a flue check to ensure that the flue is not obstructed in any way. And the flue components are sealed correctly to make sure that there are no unsafe emissions being released.

Conduct a gas pressure test to ensure that your boiler is operating at the right gas pressure.

Adjust the gas valve to check the burner is combusing efficiently and correctly (using a flue gas analyser).

Conduct a gas tightness test to ensure there are no leaks.

Conduct combustion analysis using aflue gas analyser to make sure the boiler is burning as the manufacturer intended it to.

Cleaning of thecondensate trap and where necessary, cleaning of: the burner; heat exchanger; electrodes; and magnetic system filter; will also be cleaned.

Check the expansion vesselto ensure that it still has water pressure to the manufacturer’s requirements. This will be topped up if required.

Provide you with a service report/checklist which includes all of the information about the safety of your boiler. Our installers will also fill in the service record in your boiler’s manual. Which is important to maintain the validity of your boiler guarantee.

Who should perform my annual service?

To keep your boiler operating safely and efficiently; it’s critical that you have it regularly serviced by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

To check that your engineer is Gas Safe registered, you can ask to see their ID card.

You can verify their details with the Gas Safe Register . We’ve linked to their website at the end of this article.

At The Heating People, our team of Gas Safe engineers have the experience and expertise to keep your boiler running smoothly and efficiently; and minimise the risk of any problems developing in the future.

When should I get my annual service?

Although we only tend to only think about our boilers during the winter, when the weather turns colder; you rely on your boiler all year round.

To keep your boiler running smoothly, you should have it serviced once a year.

The best time to book in for a service is during the summer when your heating demand is lower. Because this helps to find and fix any faults before the cold weather hits, and your boiler is working much harder.

Will I get any documentation?

It’s useful to know what documentation you will receive when your boiler is serviced:

What is a Gas Safety Record?

A Gas Safety Record is a document that may be given to you by a gas engineer after they’ve done gas work at your property. But it’s only a legal requirement to provide one to a landlord.

What is a landlord Gas Safety Record?

It’s a legal requirement for landlords to have their gas appliances serviced every year by a Gas Safe engineer.

Because this is a legal requirement, landlords will receive a Landlord Gas Safety Record when they have their boiler serviced.

This document will include:

A description and location of each appliance or flue that was checked
The name, registration number and signature of the engineer who made the checks
The date the checks were carried out
The address of the property where the appliances or flues are installed
Your name and address (or an agent’s where applicable)
Information on any safety defects and actions needed or taken to fix them
The results of all operational safety checks carried out on the appliances
Undertake any necessary remedial work (your engineer will inform you of any additional costs)
Alert you to any issues found during the service

Final thoughts

To sum up… you wouldn’t dream of driving a car without a valid MOT, and the same is true of your boiler.

Whilst there are many reasons for having your boiler serviced annually by a Gas Safe engineer; the safety of you and your family is the most important. Don’t leave it to chance, book that service!

Useful links

Gas Safe Register

Which? article on boiler servicing

Advice

What is a storage combi?

Post author By Lucy
Post date September 26, 2022

What is a storage combi? … So, you’ve read our previous blogs on the three different types of boiler system, and you think you’ve got it sussed.

You understand the differences between the three different types of boiler, and the pros and cons of each.

And then, we go and throw a spanner in the works, by telling you that there’s another variety of combi boiler – the storage combi.

Yes, you heard us right. Although a ‘combination’ boiler gets its name from the fact that it doesn’t need storage tanks or cylinders, everything it needs is in one compact unit, we’re now introducing you to the storage combi.

A storage combi has a hot water cylinder housed within the boiler unit itself, which means it is better suited to larger homes with multiple bathrooms.

If you want to understand the difference between combi and storage combis, read on!

What is a combi boiler?

Before looking at the ins and outs of the storage combi, it’s a good idea to start with a quick refresher on what a ‘normal’ combi is, so that you can see the differences between the two.

‘Combi’ is short for ‘combination’ boiler because it provides both your heating and hot water from one all-in-one (combined) unit; without the need for a separate cold water storage tank or an external hot water cylinder.

It’s important to point out that whilst combi boilers provide both heating and hot water, they can only perform one of these tasks at a time, and they always prioritise hot water.

A combi works by using two heat exchangers, one for your heating (radiators) and the other for your hot water supply.

The primary heat exchanger focuses on your radiators and carries hot water around your home. The secondary exchanger is for heating the water that comes out of your taps.

Combis can heat water directly from the mains when you turn on a hot tap so they don’t need to store hot water (unlike heat-only and system boilers), because they heat it instantaneously, on demand.

What are the advantages of a combi boiler?

The main advantages of combi boilers are that they:

are space-saving because the boiler itself is the only component part.
never run out of hot water because they make it on demand.
can be more efficient due to not having stored water and being compatible with low temperature systems.
have fewer third party components required.
have more control options than a heat-only system.

What are the disadvantages of a combi boiler?

The main disdavantages of combi boilers are that they:

have a slower delivery of hot water, so it takes longer to fill a bath.
are generally unsuitable for larger homes.
can be difficult to integrate with renewable energy.
can’t be fitted with a back-up immersion heater in the event of a breakdown.
are not suitable in low pressure water areas.

Read our blog on the pros and cons of combi boilers here.

What is a storage combi?

A storage combi is similar to a standard combi boiler; however it has a hot water cylinder housed within the boiler unit itself.

In this way, storage combi boilers combine the benefits of a combi boiler and system boiler all in one, whilst generally still being much smaller than a system boiler.

Storage combi boilers can be wall-hung or floor standing.

What sort of properties are best suited to storage combi boilers?

A storage combi is best suited to properties with a high demand for hot water but that lack space for an open vent or system boiler.

Storage combi boilers allow multiple outlets to be used at the same time, whilst still being space-saving.

Storage combi or ‘normal’ combi?

Combi boilers are generally a great choice in most situations, even in larger homes, and that’s why they’re the most popular choice of boiler in the UK.

Whilst there are many benefits to having a combi boiler, they’re not right for everyone. Combis are best suited to homes with relatively small hot water demands at any one time.

If you’re a household where everyone wants showers at the same time, then a combi won’t be suitable.

If you have very high hot water demands, you might wish to consider a storage combi as well as a heat-only or system boiler.

When thinking about how much hot water you need from your central heating system, a good starting point is looking at how many bathrooms you have.

Generally, homes with multiple bathrooms have a higher hot water demand.

What is your hot water demand?

If you have two or more bathrooms, and want to have two showers running at the same time, a standard combi will struggle to meet your needs.

This is because they don’t store hot water and so the hot water that they are generating on demand is having to be split to two outlets, lowering the flow rate.

This won’t be an issue if your household takes it in turn to shower though because a combi has no problem supplying unlimited hot water to one outlet at a time.

Combi boilers will never run out of hot water because they heat water instantly on demand; unlike heat-only and system boilers, that might run out of hot water for a short time while the cylinder refills.

So, this is where it’s important to consider how you use the hot water in your home.

If you want to have more than one shower running at the same time in the morning, then you need a boiler that stores hot water, because they can supply multiple outlets at the same time.

If you don’t have the space for a heat-only or a system boiler, a storage combi might be a good option for you.

What are the advantages of a storage combi boiler?

Space-saving

Because storage combis have a hot water cylinder within the unit itself; you won’t need extra space in a cupboard and/or your loft to house any additional tanks and cylinders.

Can supply hot water to multiple outlets at the same time

If a combi boiler appeals to you, but you have a high demand for hot water, a storage combi could be a good option.

Since storage combis store hot water, they are able to supply multiple hot taps at the same time, which is perfect for larger families who all want to be using the hot water at the same time in the morning.

Storage combis are cheaper than system boilers

Storage combi boilers are generally cheaper to purchase and install than system boilers. This is because there is less pipework required and because the system itself is generally smaller.

Storage combis are compatible with solar thermal options

Unlike standard combi boilers, storage combis are compatible with solar thermal options, which helps you to save money on utility bills, whilst reducing your carbon emissions.

What are the disadvantages of storage combi boilers?

As with all things, there are drawbacks too:

More expensive than standard combi boilers

Storage combi boilers are generally more expensive than standard combi boilers because they have the added feature of the internal hot water storage cylinder.

Bigger than standard combi boilers

Although storage combi boilers are smaller than system boilers, they are larger than standard combi boilers. This is due to the fact that they need to house a hot water cylinder within the unit itself.

Different models of storage combi boilers have a different hot water capacity

As you would expect, the size of the hot water cylinder determines the capacity of the boiler, and how much hot water it will be able to supply your multiple outlets with before it needs to refill.

Each model of storage combi varies in cylinder size, so you need to check that you choose one that will meet your hot water demands.

Storage combis can sometimes have a reduction in flow rate

A storage combi can comfortably supply a larger home with multiple bathrooms with up to 25 litres per minute of hot water.

However, if you have three or four people all using hot water at the same time, you might notice a reduction in flow rate. If this is an issue for you, you might be better considering a system boiler – more on this below.

Will I need extra storage space for a storage combi?

Although bigger than a standard combi boiler, the main benefits of a storage combi is that it doesn’t require an external hot water cylinder.

They are relatively compact and generally much smaller than system boilers. You can install a storage boiler in your home, without the need for extra storage space in cupboards or your attic.

Would a system boiler be a better option than a storage combi?

If you’re considering a storage combi, you should also look at whether a system boiler is a good option for you.

System boilers feature aspects of both a conventional or ‘heat-only’ boiler and a combi boiler.

Like a conventional boiler, a system boiler needs a hot water storage cylinder to heat and store hot water for your taps. But it doesn’t need a tank in the attic because, like a combi, it takes its water supply directly from the mains.

System boilers are high-pressure systems which can provide all the heating and hot water your home will ever need, direct from the mains, with no reduction in flow rate.

What are the advantages of a system boiler?

System boilers…

work well in large households with multiple bathrooms.
can supply large amounts of hot water to multiple outlets at the same time.
don’t require as much space as conventional boilers.
can be fitted with an additional electrical immersion heater to provide you with back-up hot water in case your boiler ever suffers a breakdown.
are easy to integrate with renewable heating systems such as solar.
have a wider range of control options available, compared to conventional boilers.
can be installed to low temperature, high efficiency heating systems.

What are the disadvantages of a system boiler?

System boilers:

require more space than a combi boiler.
have a lack of instant hot water – takes time to heat, although this can be minimised with the correct controllers.
can run out of hot water if controls are not set up properly.

You can read more on the pros and cons of system boilers here.

The Heating People generally use ATAG system boilers due to the advanced control options available; high build quality; and relatively low cost.

Final thoughts…

If you have a high demand for hot water and are struggling with choosing between a storage combi and a system boiler, contact one of our experts at The Heating People, who can give you tailored advice.

You might also like to read our related blog: 6 Top tips for buying a new boiler.

Useful Links:

Vaillant ecoTEC Plus combi store

Worcester Bosch Greenstar CDi Highflow

ATAG Heating system boilers

Energy efficiency

7 ways to improve your boiler’s energy efficiency

Post author By Lucy
Post date September 22, 2022

7 ways to improve the your boiler’s energy efficiency…

If you want to reduce the money you’re spending on your fuel bills – and frankly, who doesn’t?! – improving the efficiency of your boiler is the answer.

This is because an efficient boiler gets the maximum heat energy out of the fuel it burns (usually gas), helping to reduce your fuel bills and lower your carbon emissions.

So, you can feel good that you’re not only saving money, but you’re helping the planet too!

And if you’re thinking that you already have an efficient boiler, stay with us – because unfortunately many ‘efficient’ boilers run 10-25% under their A-label efficiencies.

This is often because they’re the wrong size; haven’t been set-up properly; or they’re being used in an inefficient way.

In this blog, we’ll look at 7 ways you can improve your boiler’s efficiency, and hopefully save money.

What is boiler efficiency?

To start with, what do we mean by ‘boiler efficiency?’ Unfortunately, no boiler is 100% efficient.

A boiler’s ‘energy efficiency’ refers to the percentage of the total energy (fuel) used by the boiler to provide heating and hot water.

You can think of boilers as being a bit like cars. You know that if you put the same amount of petrol into two different models of car, you probably wouldn’t be able to drive the exact same distance in each.

One may be less energy efficient, or a ‘gas guzzler’!

Old boilers are generally gas guzzlers. They need to burn lots more fuel to produce the same amount of useful heat as their modern counterparts.

How do we measure boiler efficiency?

Since 2015, boilers have been given a rating from A-G under the European energy label ‘ErP’, which stands for ‘Energy-related Products’.

Under this scale, boilers are rated from A-G, with A being the most efficient, and G being the least efficient.

All new boilers must be A-rated for energy efficiency under the Boiler Plus regulations.

So that we can better understand what boiler efficiency is, and how it’s measured, let’s compare two different boilers.

Our first boiler is a modern a-rated model with an impressive 92% efficiency. Our second is an old G-rated boiler with 60% efficiency.

With our A-rated model, 92% of the energy (or fuel) used by the boiler produces useful heat for the home, and only 8% is wasted.

But with our ‘gas guzzling’ G-rated model, only 60% of the energy used produces useful heat for the home, and a staggering 40% is wasted.

So, you can see how important the energy efficiency of your boiler is when you’re trying to save money on your fuel bills!

Why are older boilers less efficient than modern ones?

If you were surprised by our comparison of the A-rated versus the G-rated boiler, you might be wondering why it is that older boilers are so much less efficient than their modern counterparts.

The reason for this is that all modern boilers now have condensing technology.

A condensing boiler works by recycling the wasted exhaust gas that is created during a boiler’s normal operation.

By re-using the exhausted gas, water vapour and steam back through the system, some of the heat and water is retained making the boiler’s operation more efficient.

A condensing boiler can typically extract 90-92% of heat from fuel, compared to 50-80% that a non-condensing boiler can.

If I buy a new boiler, will I definitely make savings?

Unfortunately, the answer to this is – it depends.

If you’re swapping a G-rated boiler for an A-rated one, you’ll certainly see a huge difference on your fuel bills.

According to the energy saving trust, you could save as much as £340 a year on your gas bill if you’re trading in an old-style non-condensing boiler for a new condensing one.

If you’re replacing a boiler that’s not quite as old as a G-rated non-condensing boiler, you obviously won’t see as much of a difference.

And what you also need to understand here is that just because your shiny new boiler is A-rated on the box, doesn’t necessarily mean that it will achieve this maximum efficiency potential.

It’s a sad fact that many new boilers run 10-15% below their efficiency capability.

The main reason that new boilers are failing to meet their potential is because they’re not able to run at the lower temperatures that they need to hit what you could describe as their ‘sweet-spot’ in condensing mode.

There are a number of reasons why boilers are prevented from getting into their condensing stride which enables them to save energy for you.

7 Ways to improve your boiler’s energy efficiency

Now we know why the energy efficiency of your boiler is important; let’s look at how we can improve it…

1. Improve your boiler’s energy efficiency with an expert installer

The first (and most important way) to maximise the energy efficiency of your boiler is to have it installed by an expert to begin with.

Unfortunately, lots of installers oversize boilers for their customer’s homes; configure them poorly; and provide sub-standard controls.

It doesn’t matter how efficient your boiler is on the box, if it’s thrown on the wall by a Charleton.

To go back to a car analogy, if the best race car in the world is fine-tuned by a complete novice, and then put on the wrong track, it’s not going to perform as it should. And that wouldn’t be the car’s fault!

The same is true for a boiler.

How boilers should be sized

It really grinds our gears to see installers just using the physical size of your property and the number of radiators you have, to determine boiler size. This is completely inaccurate and isn’t following industry standards.

These installers will frequently choose a bigger than you actually need, ‘just in case’. This is a big problem when it comes to energy efficiency.

Oversized boilers heat up too quickly; run for a short time; and then will turn off; before the cycle starts again.

This constant stop-starting, or ‘boiler cycling’ uses more fuel, and prevents your boiler from getting into condensing mode.

So, your big boiler will have cost more for the initial purchase; will cost you more in fuel; and will potentially cost you on repairs and replacements, because this cycling will inevitably take its toll on your boiler.

Thankfully, you won’t find any of our engineers counting radiators or oversizing boilers.

We install boilers the right way, following the industry standard under Part L of the Energy Efficiency Regulations. This means that you’ll get the correct size boiler for your needs, that is able to perform to its A-rated efficiency potential.

To find out more about how to get the correct size of boiler for your needs, check out our related blog here.

2. Improve your boiler’s energy efficiency with heating controls

You can have a very efficient boiler, but if it’s poorly programmed or has limited to no controls, you’ll be wasting lots of energy.

According to the energy saving trust, investing in a programmer, room thermostat and thermostatic radiator valves could save you £75 per year and 320kg of carbon dioxide.

Even the location of your controls can make a difference to the efficiency of your heating system.

For example, if you only have one thermostat in your home, which is in a room that is quite cool; it will be telling your boiler to generate more heat, when you’re already warm enough.

Smart controls

Smart controls offer even bigger energy efficiency savings, with some manufacturers promising energy savings of between 20-30%.

Tado says that its smart thermostat ‘will pay for itself within a year’ by reducing your heating bills by up to 31%.

Netatmo claims that its smart thermostat will reduce the energy you use by 37%.

According to Ofgem, a smart thermostat can bring savings of around £150 per year. Ofgem (2014) estimates that a multi zoned heating system could save up to £400 on the annual dual fuel bill of £1385.

But all of these estimates assume that you previously left your heating on all the time, to maintain a constant temperature.

So if you already turn off the heating when you leave your home, you’re unlikely to save as much as the manufacturers claim.

Think about how you use your controls

As well as investing in heating controls (smart or otherwise) you should think about how you’re actually using them.

If you just turn your heating up to full blast in the winter, hoping for the best, this will waste energy because you don’t need the heating to be on full blast 24/7 to be comfortable, and you probably don’t need all your rooms to be at the same temperature at all times.

Government research has shown that turning down your thermostat by just 1 degree can save up to 10% on your heating bills.

So, if you want to be comfortable and save money, resist the temptation to turn your thermostat higher than your comfort level, and put an extra jumper on until your room gets to your desired temperature.

3. Improve your boiler’s energy efficiency with an annual service

You wouldn’t dream of driving a car without having a valid MOT, and car manufacturers also provide a recommended process for car servicing too.

So, it shouldn’t be surprising that something as hard-working as your boiler also requires some upkeep.

An annual service by a Gas Safe engineer is vital to not only keep your boiler safe, by avoiding the risks of gas leaks; fires; and carbon monoxide poisoning; but in keeping it running smoothly too.

Over time your boiler will accumulate dirt and deposits making it less efficient and a breakdown more likely.

By having your boiler correctly serviced it will be fully inspected and any required maintenance can be carried out proactively, so you can detect any minor issues before they become major problems.

During your service, your engineer will ensure that the internal combustion areas are free of dirt and debris will improve the heat transfer, allowing your boiler to light more easily and burn efficiently, which can lead to lower heating bills.

4. Improve your boiler’s energy efficiency by bleeding your radiators

This is a nice simple task that you can do yourself, which can help to improve your boiler’s efficiency.

Although they’re often overlooked, your radiators are just as important as your boiler in keeping you warm.

If you’ve noticed that your radiators are cold or have cold spots; or are making funny noises; this might indicate that air is trapped inside them, and needs to be released.

Otherwise, your radiators won’t heat up properly, and your boiler will be working much harder to warm up your home.

To bleed your radiators, you should start by switching your heating off and allowing the radiators to cool. While they’re cooling, prepare the area by putting a towel under the radiator and placing a container underneath the bleed valve on your radiator.

You can then fit your radiator bleed key to the bleed valve, which is found inside a round nut, usually at the top of your radiator.

Once you have fitted your radiator key to the bleed valve, slowly turn it anti-clockwise to release air. You should hear a hissing sound as the air escapes.

Keep releasing air from the valve until you can no longer hear air escaping and some water begins to trickle out.

Once you have released the trapped air from your radiator, you need to close the valve quickly.

You should repeat these steps for all of your radiators that need bleeding.

You should finish by checking the water pressure gauge or indicator, which is usually on the front of your boiler. For most boilers, this should be set around the 1 bar.

5. Improve your boiler’s energy efficiency with a power flush

If you’ve bled your radiators, and they’re still not getting hot as they should, your heating system may need a power flush to cleanse a build-up of ‘sludge’ from your pipes.

‘Sludge’ is the delightful term used to refer to all of the dirt and deposits which accumulate in your radiators and pipes over time.

This gunk prevents the hot water from circulating through your system as it should and prevents your boiler from heating your home efficiently.

You can’t really install a shiny new efficient boiler into a system of dirty and blocked pipes and expect it to do an efficient job of heating your home. So it’s a very good idea to get a power flush when you have a new boiler installed.

During a power flush, your engineer will connect a power flushing unit to your heating system. This sends water through your central heating system at high speed, dislodging any build-ups of sludge, rust and debris.

Your boiler and central heating will be far more efficient afterwards and it should help to avoid bigger issues down the line.

6. Improve your boiler’s energy efficiency by topping up the water pressure (if it’s low)

Modern boilers require constant water pressure to function properly. A pressure drop will under your boiler’s efficiency, and if left untreated can cause problems, such as the dreaded, no hot water, situation.

Topping up the water pressure is a straightforward task that you can do yourself to improve your boiler’s efficiency.

To check your boiler pressure, you need to look for the pressure gauge or indicator which will usually be on the front of your boiler.

If you have a digital gauge, you should see a flashing pressure reading, if there’s a low (or high) pressure warning.

If you have a hydraulic pressure gauge, the correct boiler pressure will be indicated with a green zone, and the maximum safe operating pressure with a red zone.

As a rule of thumb, the normal boiler pressure is between 1.0 and 1.5 bars. If the pressure in your heating system has fallen below 1 bar, it needs to be topped up.

Boiler pressure systems differ, so it’s always best to check your manual, to see if you can re-pressurise it yourself.

Re-pressurising your boiler means allowing more water to enter the system, from the water mains supply, through something called the filling loop. If in doubt, you should consult a professional.

7. Improve your boiler’s energy efficiency by upgrading other parts of your home

Even if your boiler is working at its full efficiency potential, you may be losing heat through old windows or poorly insulated lofts and walls.

If your heat is escaping from your draughty home, you’ll need to burn more fuel to keep your home warm and comfortable.

Although this isn’t your boiler’s fault, because it’s running efficiently, it’ll still be costing you money on your energy bills.

By making some home improvements, you can enhance your home’s overall efficiency.

According to the energy saving trust, an average semi-detached house that has no insulation, can see the following average savings on energy bills by making these simple changes:

£225 per year savings by insulating your walls;
£150 per year savings by adding 270mm of loft insulation;
£75-£85 per year savings by installing double-glazed windows;
£15 per year savings by draught proofing your chimney with a chimney balloon;
£20 per year savings by installing a letterbox cover on your front door;
£20 per year savings by installing an insulating jacket on your hot water cylinder.

Read our related blog: How to reduce heat loss at home.

Final thoughts…

We hope that you’ve found these tips helpful. You might like to read: 6 Top Tips for Buying a New Boiler.

If you’re looking to upgrade your heating system, call us today to book your free survey.

Useful Links:

Tado article about smart control savings

Which? Reviews on smart thermostats

Google comparison of smart thermostats

Government report on savings by making small changes

Government report on improving the efficiency of heating

Energy Saving Trust advice on reducing heat loss

Energy Saving Trust article on draught proofing.

0151 792 6245

Do I need smart controls?

What are smart controls?

If I get smart controls, will I always have to use an app to adjust my heating?

Will smart controls still work if I lose internet connection?

Can smart controls work with my current system?

Will smart controls save me money on my energy bills?

What are the advantages of smart controls over just a boiler with a timer?

What types of smart controls are available?

Smart thermostats

Are there different types of smart thermostats?

Programmable smart thermostats

Smart thermostats with learning capability

Nest smart learning thermostat

Zoning with smart thermostats

Drayton Wiser smart thermostat with zoning technology

Smart thermostats with geofencing

Smart thermostats with holiday mode

What are the advantages of smart thermostats over a traditional room thermostat?

Smart thermostats are convenient

Smart thermostats offer flexibility and options

Smart thermostats help your boiler to be more efficient

Smart thermostats give you feedback on your energy usage

Smart thermostats help you to learn more energy efficient ways of heating your home

Smart thermostats save you money on your energy bills

How easy is it to install smart heating controls at home?

Do any boilers work better with heating controls than others?

I’m considering investing in a smart heating control system, what features should I be looking out for?

Useful Links:

How important is boiler brand?

Who is Vaillant?

Vaillant’s motto

Why should you consider a Vaillant boiler?

1. Energy efficient

2. Large product range

3. Highly rated by customers

4. 10 year guarantees for your peace of mind

5. Quiet operation

6. Technological innovation

How much do Vaillant boilers cost?

Final thoughts…

Useful Links:

What are the signs of a leaking boiler?

Is a leaking boiler dangerous?

Can I use my boiler if it’s leaking?

My boiler is leaking, what should I do?

Why is my boiler leaking water?

Possible cause of a leaking boiler: High pressure

Possible cause of a leaking boiler: Corroded pipes

Possible cause of a leaking boiler: Loose joints

Possible cause of a leaking boiler: Poor installation

Possible cause of a leaking boiler: Pump seal problems

Possible cause of a leaking boiler: Temperature problems

Possible cause of a leaking boiler: Faulty heat exchanger

Possible cause of a leaking boiler: Wear and tear

How to prevent your boiler from leaking

Prevent a leaking boiler: Get Repairs Done Quickly

Prevent a leaking boiler: Get your boiler serviced every year

Prevent a leaking boiler: Consider a Power flush

Conclusion

Useful Links:

School of thought 1: You should turn your heating off when you’re not using it

Supporters of this argument: The Energy Saving Trust

School of thought 2: You should leave your heating on low all the time

Weather compensation and leaving your heating on

Heat loss and leaving your heating on

TheGreenage: it’s down to insulation

Can I test which method will work for me?

And the winner is…

Useful links

What is boiler cycling?

Heat Loss

Why homes lose heat

Boiler modulation

Boiler modulation ratios

Why is boiler cycling a problem?

What causes boiler cycling?

1. Boiler cycling caused by an oversized boiler

2. Boiler cycling caused by poor system design

3. Boiler cycling caused by problems with the thermostat