Category: Energy efficiency

How to make your central heating more efficient

Post author By Lucy
Post date January 12, 2023
No Comments on How to make your central heating more efficient

How to make your central heating more efficient…

Looking for some heating and energy saving tips that will help you to save money on your fuel bills?

Then you’ve come to the right place!

We’ve put together this list of 10 tips on how to make your central heating system more efficient.

A more efficient heating system means that you’ll be forking out less money on your energy bills. And will be reducing your carbon footprint too.

In this blog we’ll look at 10 energy saving tips. Ranging from making small changes around the house, to bigger renovation works.

All these tips can help you to make savings whilst still keeping your family cozy.

1. Make your central heating more efficient with a power flush

Have you been neglecting your heating system?

Although we understand that most things need to be cleaned and maintained in order to perform at their best; (just think about how grim your hoover filter looks, when it’s overdue a clean!); – we don’t often think about cleaning our heating systems. But we should.

Your boiler is working hard for you every day of the year, pumping water all around your house.

But inevitably, over time, this water will deposit unwanted by-products like rust and dirt. This gathers to become a gunky substance, known as ‘sludge’.

Having sludge in your pipes and radiators wreaks havoc with the efficiency of your heating system.

A radiator can’t get hot if it’s full of gunk, and your boiler will be working overtime trying to compensate.

Not only is this likely to increase your energy bills; but it can damage parts of your heating system; leading to breakdowns; and possibly the need for a full boiler replacement.

What is power flushing?

But there is a simple solution – 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 your radiators haven’t been warming up like they used to (and they don’t need bleeding); it might be worth asking your heating engineer about getting a power flush.

During a power flush your engineer will connect a pump to your central heating system. This pump will push chemicals and a descaler through the pipes, boiler and radiators at a high pressure.

These chemicals remove sludge, rust, and limescale.

They will also use a corrosion inhibitor to help prevent future rust from forming. Your Gas Safe engineer will collect and dispose of any contaminated water; debris; or particles that they remove from the system.

Depending on the condition of the system; your engineer may also use special tools on the exterior of the radiator to dislodge stubborn blockages.

They should be able to measure the temperature of your radiators before they have started work; and then show you the improvement after the power flush.

2. Make your central heating more efficient with a new boiler

If your boiler is on-the-blink; or is coming to the end of its lifespan; and a power flush just won’t cut it – you should consider replacing it with a new efficient model.

Boilers are much more efficient than they used to be. And a more efficient boiler will save you money on your energy bills.

To find out how efficient your boiler is; look for a sticker showing where it sits on the ErP (Energy-related Products) scale.

Boilers are rated on a scale of A to G, with A being the most energy efficient.

The Boiler Plus Regulations require that new combi boilers are A rated for efficiency; and are at least 92% efficient. Older Grated boilers can have an efficiency of 70% or less.

If your boiler is at the lower end of the scale; your boiler could be wasting more than 30p in every £1 that you spend on fuel. So the savings can be big!

Not only that, it’s also a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. Because boilers account for 60% of the carbon dioxide emissions in a gas heated home.

You might like our related blogs: 6 signs you need a new boiler; and 6 Top tips for buying a new boiler.

3. Make your central heating more efficient by replacing your radiators

It’s not just boilers that have become more efficient, radiators have come a long way too.

According to Chris Harvey at Stelrad Radiators; radiators manufactured after 2000 can be up to 50% more efficient than older ones. This is due to the increased surface area of newer radiators and the improved convection fins.

People often fall into the trap of thinking that bigger radiators must be better at warming your home; because they have more area to ‘radiate’ heat from. This is an understandable mistake.

But the name ‘radiator’ is misleading. Only 20% of the heat generated by a standard radiator is radiant heat – 80% is caused by convection.

And radiators that are sized to run at a cooler temperature, while still heating your room; allow your boiler to work more efficiently.

This is because modern gas condensing boilers are more efficient at lower temperatures. And are only fully condensing when the flow temperature is below 55℃.

So, if you’re upgrading your boiler, it’s well worth looking at your radiators too.

4. Make your central heating more efficient with insulation

When your central heating’s on, you want it to be warming you up, and not your garden!

But if your loft hasn’t been insulated, you’ll have lots of heat loss.

Lofts are one of the most common places in the home for warmth to escape from. All homes lose heat, but adding insulation will slow this process down.

Insulating your loft, or thickening any insulation that’s already there; is an effective way to retain heat where you want it. The same is true of filling your cavity walls with insulation.

According to the Energy Saving Trust, with decent loft insulation, you could save between £120 and £225 a year. And filling your cavity walls could save you between £70 and £255 a year.

5. Make your central heating more efficient by replacing your windows

Can you feel a draft coming in through your windows? That means your heat is getting out, too – and you don’t want that!

Heat loss through windows can be reduced by using double or triple glazing.

These windows have air or a vacuum between two or three panes of glass; which are then sealed in a frame.

Just like how a vacuum flask works for keeping your tea warm; creating a vacuum between the panes of glass, will reduce the heat loss through your windows.

If you’re looking to install double glazing in your home; but are confused by all of the choices available; look for the British Federation Rating Council (BFRC) rating.

Similarly, to how boilers are rated for their efficiency, windows are too. Window manufacturers can show the energy efficiency of their products using an energy-rating scale from A++ to E.

Whilst there will be a cost to fitting double glazing; the annual savings on your energy bills for an average semi-detached house, is between £75-80, according to the EST.

But if you can’t quite stretch to secondary glazing right now, even some heavy curtains will help!

6. Make your central heating more efficient with programmable heating controls

If your heating system is poorly programmed or has limited to no controls, you’ll be wasting lots of energy.

Updating your heating controls can make a big difference to how much energy your home uses.

Heating controls are really important for two main reasons. Firstly, they keep you in control of your comfort and your energy bills; and secondly, they help you to reduce your carbon footprint.

Heating controls allow you to keep your home warm and cosy when you need it to be; whilst simultaneously keeping your energy bills as low as possible.

According to the Energy Saving Trust (EST), you can save £75 a year if you install and correctly use a programmer; room thermostat; and thermostatic radiator valves.

Another advantage of updating your heating controls is the added comfort and convenience that they bring.

Heating controls make your heating work for you and your schedule. They allow you to schedule your heating and hot water to go on and off when needed. And smart controls allow you to control your heating from wherever you are.

You’ll have the peace of mind in knowing that your home will be nice and cozy when you get home from work; without wasting energy heating an empty home.

7. Make your central heating more efficient by turning your thermostat down by one degree

Lots of people mistakenly believe that if they crank their thermostat up when the cold weather hits; their home will warm up faster. But this is a mistake!

Thermostats have no control over the speed at which your home heats up. They simply set the desired temperature of your heating.

So, if you fall into this trap, you won’t get warmer any quicker. And chances are, you’ll just heat your home past your desired temperature, wasting more energy and money.

What you should be doing, is turning your thermostat down by one degree. Let’s be honest, you probably won’t even notice one degree difference in your room temperature. But you will on your heating bills!

According to the Energy Saving Trust, this one simple tip could reduce your energy bills by around £80 a year.

Maybe you’d still be comfortable turning it down by more than one degree?

Why not try turning your heating controls down until you find the best temperature for your comfort levels; and your wallet!

8. Make your central heating more efficient by spending less time in the shower and fitting a water saving showerhead

Showers are the greener option to taking a bath, right? Not necessarily.

According to a study by Unilever, the average person takes an eight-minute shower. Which uses 62 litres of hot water, compared with an average bath’s 80 litres.

The study also suggested that if you use a power shower; then an eight-minute shower would require twice as much water and energy as a bath.

So, if you’re spending twenty minutes or more in the shower, you’re probably using much more energy than you think!

There are a couple of simple tricks to try here. One option is to fit a water saving showerhead; because this will help you to cut back on the amount of water and energy you use.

Secondly, if you cut the length of your shower by just two minutes; you could save £20 a year, according to Which.

9. Make your central heating more efficient by requesting an energy monitor

Do you know how much energy you waste? You can find out by investing in an energy monitor.

These little devices let you know how much electricity you’re using; so you can cut back where you need to, and save money on your energy bills.

They cost around £25 to £40 but some gas and electricity companies give them to customers for free.

So, if you want to be able to keep a closer eye on the amount of electricity you’re using at home; you could ask your energy supplier for an energy monitor.

10. Make your central heating more efficient with weather compensation

Weather compensation controls are one of the energy saving devices listed in the Boiler Plus regulations.

We prefer weather compensation devices over the other options; because they offer the biggest efficiency gain and are a simple technology to integrate.

Weather compensators allow your boiler to automatically adapt to how warm or cold it is outside.

This sounds a bit strange, but the speed at which we lose the heat from our homes (through the fabric of the building) depends on the outdoor temperature.

On a cold day, the heat will be lost more quickly than on a warm day.

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 means you won’t be wasting energy heating a home when it’s already nice and warm; or having to worry about it coming on when it’s cold.

ATAG boilers come with weather compensation as standard, which is one of the many reasons we rate them.

Final thoughts…

We hope you’ve found these tips helpful. You might like our related blog: How to choose an energy efficient boiler.

To discuss any upgrades to your central heating system that you’re thinking of making, contact The Heating People today.

Useful Links:

Energy Saving Trust information on insulation

Which? reviews of energy saving shower heads

Which? article on saving water at home

BBC news article on Britain’s showering habits

Article on radiator efficiency

Energy efficiency

7 ways to improve your boiler’s energy efficiency

Post author By Lucy
Post date September 22, 2022
No Comments on 7 ways to improve your boiler’s energy efficiency

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.

Energy efficiency

How to choose an energy efficient boiler

Post author By Lucy
Post date May 9, 2022
No Comments on How to choose an energy efficient boiler

With Ofgem recently announcing a 54% rise in energy bills from April for 22 million households; it’s never been more important to have an energy efficient boiler.

So, if your current boiler is knocking on a bit; it might be time to consider investing in a new, more efficient model. You’ll benefit from increased comfort, cheaper energy bills and a smaller carbon footprint – so it’s win-win.

But how do you choose an energy efficient boiler?

With all the innovations in the heating market, it can be daunting to know where to start!

But spending a little bit of time researching your new heating system can pay off enormously. If you choose your new boiler correctly; you’ll end up with a reliable system that’s cheaper to run and easier to use.

In this guide we help you to understand how you can make energy savings with an efficient new boiler. And explain how to select a boiler with the most efficiency potential.

You might like our related blogs: Your options with a boiler replacement and 6 Top tips for buying a new boiler.

Why do I want an energy efficient boiler?

It seems like everyone’s talking about improving energy efficiency at the moment – but do you know why?

Let’s look at why choosing an energy efficient boiler is so important:

Energy efficient boilers save you money

In simple terms, efficiency is the amount of fuel your boiler needs; to burn to do its job of heating up your home and your hot water.

Inefficient boilers are gas guzzlers. They need to burn much more fuel than an efficient boiler does, to do the same job.

And with the wholesale price of gas skyrocketing by up to 400%; we simply can’t afford to be burning more gas than we need to!

The 54% increase in energy bills from April; will result in an annual increase of £693 to £1,791 for the average user. While homes on prepayment meters will see costs go up by £708 to £2,017.

By getting an energy efficient boiler; you’ll be able to create more heat from less fuel and minimise what you’re paying out.

Energy efficient boilers are better for the environment

In addition to saving you money, an efficient boiler will reduce your carbon footprint. If you followed COP26 last year, you’ll understand how important it is!

What do the energy efficiency percentages mean?

So, you understand why it’s important to have an efficient boiler, but what do the energy efficiency percentages mean?

We should start by saying that whilst it would be lovely if boilers were 100% efficient, they’re not. No boiler is 100% efficient. Some heat will always be ‘lost’ or used by the boiler during the heating process.

Let’s say your boiler is ’92% efficient’. The percentage refers to the total energy (fuel) used by the boiler to provide useful heating and hot water.

A boiler with 92% efficiency will use 92% of the energy to heat your home and hot water. And 8% is ‘lost’ in the process.

You might also have heard the energy efficiency of boilers being described with a letter from A-G. This is the Energy Related Products or ErP scale.

Boilers, like other appliances in your home; have to be rated on this scale to help us to identify more energy efficient products:

A – 90% and above

B – 86-90%

C – 82-86%

D – 78-82%

E – 74-78%

F – 70-74%

G – below 70%

Why are modern boilers more energy efficient?

Modern boilers are much more efficient than they used to be. Because they have condensing technology as standard, and have to follow the Boiler Plus Regulations on energy efficiency.

All new boilers must be A-rated for efficiency with a minimum ErP rating of 92%.

All gas and oil boilers must now have appropriate time and temperature controls fitted. And combi boilers must also have one of four additional energy saving devices fitted.

But if you have an older; non-condensing boiler; which pre-dates the rules on energy efficiency; it will be much less efficient.

For example, if you have an old G-rated boiler with 60% efficiency; only 60% of the fuel burned by your boiler will actually go into heating your home. The other 40% will be wasted by the boiler!

In this situation, investing in a new boiler is a no-brainer. It will save you a significant sum on your energy 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.

But this figure is likely to be significantly higher now, given the sky-rocketing price of gas!

How do I choose the most energy efficient boiler?

If you’ve decided you want to replace your boiler for a more energy efficient one; your next question is likely to be: which boiler is the best?

This is a tricky question to answer because what’s right for you, won’t be right for everyone. It will depend on your home, lifestyle, and budget.

But you might like to read our list of our top combi boilers for 2022 here.

But whilst we can’t give you a one-size-fits-all boiler for everyone to install and immediately save energy; we can advise you on the things you need to consider to find the most energy efficient option for you:

Choose the right installer

The first and most important step in getting your perfect heating system is finding an expert installer.

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again… your boiler is only going to be as good as the engineer who installs it!

Just because your boiler says 94% efficient on the box, doesn’t mean it’ll run this way for you. If it’s been set up by someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing; you won’t get the best out of it.

The Heating Hub explains that there’s a worrying skills gap amongst gas engineers.

According to them, a staggering 99% of installers haven’t received the training to know how to set up condensing boilers to run at their full potential efficiency.

There’s no point in buying an all-singing-all-dancing efficient boiler and then having it installed by a charlatan. You need to choose your installer carefully.

The Heating People are proud to be part of the Heat Geek Elite; because we understand that as engineers; we’re the number one contributor to heating system efficiency, far more than the products selected.

Rest assured that engineers at The Heating People understand emitter sizing; pipe sizing; hydraulic layout and principles; so that we can obtain the highest efficiencies possible.

Choose the right type of boiler for your needs

Once you have an expert installer; the next step towards choosing your energy efficient boiler; is deciding what type of boiler is best for your home and lifestyle.

There are three choices here: a heat-only boiler; a system boiler; or a combi boiler.

And don’t assume that because you currently have a particular type of boiler; it will still be the right one for you.

There’s a good chance that your lifestyle may have changed since your last boiler was installed. And you might have even inherited it with your house!

Choosing the wrong type of boiler can lead to unnecessarily high bills.

We go into detail about each of the different types of boiler in other blogs. But to in a nutshell, your choices here are:

Combi boilers

A combi (or combination) boiler takes up very little space in your home. Because it heats water on demand, eliminating the need for any external tanks or cylinders.

Since combi boilers don’t store hot water, they can be efficient because you only ever pay for what you use.

However, combi boilers might struggle if you have a high demand for hot water. Because they are only designed to support one outlet at a time.

Heat-only boilers

A heat-only boiler is sometimes called a ‘conventional’ or a ‘regular’ boiler. These boilers provide your heating and hot water with the use of an additional hot water cylinder; and two cold water tanks in your loft.

Heat-only boilers are ideal for larger homes with high demands for hot water; because they store large quantities of hot water in a cylinder.

Unfortunately, heat-only boilers are generally the least efficient type of boiler; because they have the fewest control options; and they can be wasteful if you don’t use a lot of hot water.

System boilers

A system boiler supplies your heating and hot water with the use of an additional hot water cylinder. But unlike a heat-only boiler; they don’t need any additional cold water tanks in the loft. They take their cold water supply directly from the mains supply (like a combi).

Similarly to heat-only boilers, system boilers are ideal for larger homes with high demands for hot water; because they too store hot water in an external cylinder.

In terms of efficiency, system boilers are compatible with renewable technologies, such as solar. And they can be installed to low temperature, high efficiency heating – which we get into later on.

Choose the right size of boiler

In addition to choosing the correct type of boiler for your needs; you need to choose the correct size to optimise your energy efficiency.

Boiler size doesn’t mean the physical size of the appliance. But rather how much energy is output by the boiler in terms of heat, measured in kilowatts (kW).

For example, a 35kW boiler uses 35,000 watts (35 kW) of power per hour; to heat the water for your central heating.

People often underestimate the importance that boiler size plays in creating an efficient heating system.

And the key here is that your boiler needs to be ‘just right’. Too big, and you’ll be wasting energy; but too small, and your boiler will struggle to meet your needs.

Although it was never good practice, it used to be quite common for boilers to be oversized; rather than finding the precise size needed. But this is bad news for energy efficiency.

If you choose a boiler that’s too big; the excess power will cause your boiler to cycle on and off, which wastes energy and money.

Think of it as being a bit like stop-starting in your car. Stop-starting in traffic will use more fuel and will put more stress on your car’s components; than driving at a nice steady speed on a dual carriageway would.

It’s the same for your boiler. Not only that, but the constant stop-starting also prevents your boiler from getting into condensing mode; when it’s at its most efficient.

To find the perfect size of boiler for your home; you need to get a Gas Safe engineer to conduct a heat loss calculation.

For more on what heat loss is, and why it’s important, you might like to read our related blog here.

Choose a boiler with a low minimum output

Related to choosing the correct size of boiler, you should choose a boiler with a low minimum output.

For example, if you have a 30 kW boiler, the maximum energy output is 30kW; but your boiler will operate within a range up to this, such as 3-30 kW.

The lower the minimum end of the range, the more efficiently the boiler can operate all year round.

Improving the energy efficiency of your heating system

All modern boilers are A-rated for efficiency (although they all offer different features). But there are other things you can do to improve the efficiency of your heating system:

Use heating controls

If you don’t use heating controls alongside your boiler, you’ll be wasting energy.

Research by BEAMA found that having the right heating controls; could save you up to 40% per cent on your energy bills.

According to The Energy Saving Trust (May 2020), based on a typical three-bed semi-detached house; there is a potential saving of £75 a year by installing a thermostat, programmer and thermostatic radiator valves.

And if you’ve read our guide on saving money on your energy bills; you’ll know that simply turning your heating down by 1°C could save you around £80 a year.

But again, what to choose?!

As with boilers, heating controls have advanced significantly in recent years, and there’s a vast array of choices out there.

In the past we largely relied on simple mechanical thermostats in the hallway. But now we can operate our heating from our smartphones. And our thermostats can actually learn our habits, and do everything for us!

We can use intelligent zoning controls, so that we don’t have to waste money heating rooms that we don’t use.

We have weather compensation, load compensation, and flue gas heat recovery. The list goes on…

But what all of these different technologies have in common; is that they are designed to improve our home comfort, whilst saving energy. This not only helps our wallets, but the environment too.

The Heating People will provide you with advice on what heating options would work well with your new boiler; as part of your free survey.

You might also like our blog: Does smart heating save money?

Balance your system

When having your boiler installed, your heating engineer can balance your system to make it more efficient.

Balancing your heating system means optimising the flow of water in the system. So that all of your radiators heat up evenly and give off the right amount of heat.

The idea is to get the water returning to your boiler to be 50 degrees or lower. This allows your boiler to operate in its efficient condensing mode.

If your system isn’t balanced, some radiators (probably the ones closest to your boiler); will take the bulk of the hot water flow, leaving other radiators with less.

This can reduce your boiler’s efficiency and leave you with some rooms that feel warmer than others.

So, by balancing your system, you’ll improve your home comfort as well as improving your energy efficiency.

Ask your engineer about low temperature heating

We mentioned earlier that system boilers can be installed to low temperature heating systems… Now don’t panic here – we’re not suggesting that you should ask your engineer to make your house cold!

Low temperature heating means that the water flowing around your heating system runs at a lower temperature than usual; whilst still keeping your home at a comfortable temperature.

Generally, the water flowing around your radiators is between 70 °C and 85 °C. But with a low temperature heating system, the water could be as low as 25 °C to 50 °C whilst still keeping your rooms warm

Low temperature heating is much more efficient; because the cooler water allows your boiler to condense properly – as we saw this above with balancing your heating system.

If this is something you’re interested in, you should contact The Heating People today!

Conclusion

With home energy bills set to rise to eye-watering levels, improving the efficiency of your heating system is a must. Choosing an energy efficient boiler and following the tips in this guide can lead to serious money saved.

For tailored advice on finding the best system for your needs, contact The Heating People today.

Useful links

The Heating Hub: Energy saving tips

BEAMA research on heating controls

Energy efficiency

TRVs

Post author By Lucy
Post date December 27, 2021
No Comments on TRVs

If you’re wondering what TRVs or ‘thermostatic radiator valves’ are, then this blog’s for you!

Thermostatic radiator valves, more commonly known as ‘TRVs’; are handy little heating controls that fit on the side of your radiator.

They allow you to control how much heat your radiator emits, and therefore the temperature of your room.

This is great because it means that you can enjoy different heats across different rooms; which is perfect if you don’t see eye to eye with your family members when it comes to warmth!

Not only that, but you can also switch off a radiator completely with a TRV.

So, if you’ve got a room that barely gets used; such as a spare bedroom; you can save money by not heating it as often as your other rooms.

TRVs let you keep your home at a comfortable temperature without wasting fuel or heat.

As a result, uptake of TRVs has grown rapidly in recent years.

According to BEIS, nearly half a million TRVs were sold across the UK in 2016. A report by BEAMA says that the average home can save 18% on the energy bills, by using TRVs.

What is the difference between a manual radiator valve and a TRV?

The radiators in your home will come with either manual valves or TRVs. Both manual valves and TRVs help to control the available heat the radiator can produce.

A manual valve works a bit like a tap. When you open the valve, more water enters the radiator, increasing its ability to heat the room. Conversely, when you close the valve; the amount of water entering the radiator is reduced, decreasing the radiator’s ability to heat.

A TRV is a smarter radiator valve because it self-regulates; meaning it automatically adjusts the flow of water into your radiator depending on the setting.

How do TRVs work?

TRVs are radiator valves that adjust the flow of hot water into your radiator; depending on the setting you choose, and the temperature of the room.

TRVs self-regulate by detecting the temperature in your room and adjusting the amount of hot water into the radiator accordingly.

The temperature is detected by a thermostatic valve head on top of the valve body. As the room temperature changes; the valve head expands, adjusting a pin in the valve body so that it opens or closes.

As the room gets warmer; expansion blocks the valve body to receive less hot water into the radiator to maintain the temperature.

If the room is cold; or the temperature begins to drop; contraction opens the valve body to receive more hot water into the radiator… and so on.

What do the numbers mean on a TRV?

There’s a common misconception that the numbers on a TRV refer to the temperature of the radiator. However, they actually refer to the temperature of the room.

TRVs work by detecting the temperature in the room; and using this information to allow more or less hot water into the room accordingly.

The numbers on the valve roughly correlate to the room temperature. When the room drops below these temperatures; the TRV will allow hot water to flow into the radiator to heat the room.

It’s important to recognise that the numbers or scales on your TRVs do not correspond to a precise temperature; but rather to a level of comfort.

How do I set a TRV?

The numbers or scales on your TRV don’t convert precisely to degrees Celsius.

This is because manufacturers of TRVs can’t guarantee the temperature in the room. This will be effected by other factors such as the level of insulation in your home; if the radiator is by a window; and how well your boiler is performing.

However, an approximate conversion can be made:

Valve position	Reference temperature	Recommended for
*	6℃	Frost protection
0-1	12℃	Cellar, stairs
1	15℃	Unoccupied room, laundry, recess
2	17℃	Entrance hall, corridor
2-3	18℃	Bedroom
3	19-20℃	Kitchen
3-4	20-21℃	Lounge, child’s bedroom
4	22℃	Bathroom
5	Max	Valve completely open

Table showing the recommended valve positions for a TRV in different rooms of the home.

How do I find the right temperature with a TRV?

Finding the right temperature setting for you and your home is a personal choice; which will also depend on what size radiators and rooms you have.

Some rooms in your home may need the valve to be set higher; to get an adequate temperature in the room. Whilst in smaller rooms, the valve may be able to be set lower.

It’s a matter of playing about until you’re happy with the results. When starting out, it’s a good idea to set the valve in the middle setting. And then adjust accordingly depending on your own comfort levels.

It’s important to understand that turning a TRV to a higher setting won’t make the room heat up any faster. How quickly the room heats up depends on the boiler size and setting, and the radiator size.

Turning a TRV to a lower setting; will result in the room being controlled at a lower temperature and saves energy.

If your heating is set below 20°C; reducing the temperature by a single degree can save as much as 6% in energy use. And with gas prices set to rise, this can only be a good thing!

How much energy do TRVs save?

There’s a lot of variation in the figures given for energy savings from TRV’s.

This is unsurprising when you factor in all of the different types of housing; and central heating systems in the UK.

How much you stand to save will depend on factors such as the size of your home; the amount of insulation it has; and your current central heating system.

As we said earlier, BEIS state that TRVs save around 3% on average energy usage.

Tests carried out at The Energy House at Salford University; by The BEAMA heating controls association; found that savings of 40% can be achieved in a standard terraced house.

They also calculated that, at 2013 energy prices; this would save a householder £409.46 per year (if they fitted a full set of controls where none were previously present.)

So, research suggests you’ll save somewhere between 3%-40% on your energy bills; as well as having a much more comfortable living space.

You might like our related blog: Does smart heating save money?

Can TRVs save me money?

Yes – TRVs can save you money on your heating bills. Because they allow you to heat the rooms you want; just to the temperature you want; with no wastage on rooms you barely use.

Because TRVs keep your rooms at a consistent temperature; they are much more efficient than manual radiator valves which will simply keep working at the same output set, regardless.

So not only will TRVs save you money, but they also help the environment too.

According to The Energy Saving Trust; a typical three-bedroom semi-detached home can expect to save £75 and 320kg of carbon dioxide a year; by installing and correctly using a programmer, room thermostat and TRVs.

How much do TRVs cost?

Prices vary depending on the style of radiator valve you want to buy and how many you need. As a guide, with The Heating People; it costs £85 to drain down your current heating system, add chemical corrosion inhibitor, and then £25 per valve installed.

How long does it take to install TRVs?

The amount of time taken to install TRVs will depend on your current setup. And how many valves are being installed.

It typically takes between 30 minutes and two hours to install a single valve. It will take longer to install multiple valves.

Can I install TRVs in every room in my house?

Whilst TRVs are an asset in most of your rooms, you can’t have one in your bathroom. This is because the heat produced by your shower or bath will confuse the TRVs thermostat; and it will shut off completely.

It’s also not a good idea to fit TRVs in the same room as your principal thermostat. This unit connects directly to your boiler. And so you will inadvertently create a competition between your TRV and central thermostat.

What are the advantages of TRVs?

Energy saving

The key benefit of TRVs is their energy saving potential.

An Ecofys-Institute study found radiator efficiency improvements as high as 19% when replacing a manual radiator valve with a TRV.

A report from the European Building Automation Controls Association estimates that about 500 million uncontrolled valves are still mounted on radiators across the EU.

If all of these were upgraded to TRVs, then EU citizens, would reduce CO2 emissions by about 24 million tonnes.

Money saving

If you have an uncontrolled or manual radiator valve; it will be running non-stop, even when your room has become warm. With a TRV, once your room has reached the temperature you have set, your TRV turns the radiator off. Since TRVs save energy by not overheating rooms unnecessarily, they will save you money on your energy bills.

Customisable to your comfort

TRVs allow you to make the most of the heating in your home; to suit how you live day to day.

In rooms that you don’t use much, like a spare bedroom; you can set the TRV lower to avoid wasting money heating an empty room.

You might have other preferences that can be catered for. For instance, if you like to be cosy while you watch TV in your lounge; but like your bedroom to be cool for you to sleep; your TRVs can manage this for you. This means you’ll be able to tailor your heating to your comfort preferences.

Easy to change

TRV temperature settings are very easy to change. So they can be altered in seconds if your spare bedroom is going to be used again after a period of low usage.

Should I consider replacing my existing TRVs?

If your TRVs are older than 10 years, you should consider upgrading at least the TRV heads. Old TRVs can lose their accuracy and performance over time.

Are there any drawbacks of using TRVs?

With proper maintenance, there aren’t any drawbacks to TRVs. However, it’s possible to encounter issues with older TRVs; that can be confused about a room’s temperature due to draughts or ventilation.

It’s also important that TRVs are mounted in ‘free air’ and not blocked by, for example; furniture; curtains; or enclosed within decorative cabinets.

TRVs can only work to the temperature which it can sense. So, if it’s covered, it can’t sense the room temperature properly; and may underheat or overheat the room.

What are smart radiator valves?

A smart thermostat is connected to WiFi; which enables you to control your heating via an app from a smart device.

If your smart thermostat is compatible with smart TRVs; you can control each TRV in your home from your app from wherever you are in the world.

Final thoughts…

It’s clear that TRVs are an easy to install; cost-effective way to achieve better control of your home heating and energy costs.

If you want tailored advice on how to improve the efficiency of your heating system, contact us today.

Useful Links:

BEIS research paper on domestic heat

BEAMA report on savings from TRVs

The Greenage article on TRVs

The Energy Saving Trust article on thermostats

Government report on international evidence on heating controls

Danfoss report on making European homes more energy efficient

Energy efficiency

What is heat loss and why is it important?

Post author By Lucy
Post date November 15, 2021
No Comments on What is heat loss and why is it important?

If you’re thinking of upgrading your heating system, you’ve probably come across the phrase ‘heat loss’. But what is it? and why is it important when you’re looking for a new boiler?

Heat loss is the gold standard in determining the correct size of boiler for your home.

Heat loss calculations are the industry standard for sizing boilers under Part L of the Energy Efficiency Regulations.

But despite this, a lot of heating engineers are ignoring best practice; and are falling back on the old, and frankly crude method, of simply counting radiators.

Instead of ensuring that your new boiler is sized to operate at its optimum efficiency; a lot of ‘engineers’ are just replacing ‘like for like’ or installing oversized boilers.

And this really grinds our gears.

So, in today’s blog, we explain everything you need to know about heat loss; and why it’s so important in heating your home.

What is heat loss?

It’s easier to understand heat loss, if you start by thinking about how your central heating system works.

Your central heating system’s purpose is to produce thermal energy, otherwise known as heat. Heat for your water, and heat for your rooms.

Your boiler does this through several thermodynamic interactions; which enable it to transfer the heat generated from burning a fuel (usually gas), to water. Once the water is hot; your boiler pumps it around the pipes in your house, to supply your hot taps and your radiators.

When you turn on a hot tap, you’ll get hot water. But how does having hot water in your radiators warm your house up? Well, this is where the second rule of thermodynamics comes in.

This sounds very complicated, but just imagine you’ve made a hot cup of tea.

What will happen to your tea if you put it on a table and leave it?

That’s right, it’ll go cold.

And that’s what the second rule of thermodynamics tells us. Energy (in this case heat) spontaneously disperses from being concentrated; to becoming spread out, if it’s not stopped from doing so.

At its simplest level, heat flows in one direction: from hot towards cold. This can happen through conduction, convection, radiation, or a combination of all three.

Heat loss occurs because warm air moves towards cold

When your boiler pumps hot water into your radiators, the heat will move towards the cold air in your room. Anlthough they’re called ‘radiators’, most of the heat transferred from your radiator to the cold air, occurs through convection.

The result is that your once chilly room is now nice and warm, happy days. Or it would be, if you could hold onto this heat forever – you’ve paid for it after all!

But unfortunately, some of the heat will escape. The same science that allows us to make our rooms warm, is working against us at the same time.

Once the air in your house is warm; it naturally wants to move towards the cold air, which is now outside of your house. In other words, your warm air wants to escape the building!

Heat loss is a measure of the amount of heat escaping through your building’s fabric; from the inside to the outside.

Different properties are built using different methods, materials, and levels of insulation; all of which affect the rate at which heat transfers through them.

The colder the outside temperature; the warmer the inside; and the worse the insulation of your building, the greater the heat loss will be.

How much heat can be lost from a building?

Whether we like it or not, all buildings lose heat.

But the amount of heat loss you will experience, depends on several factors. The age and type of property you live in will effect heat loss.

For example, if you live in a terraced house; you’ll lose the highest proportion of your heat through your floor and roof. But if you live in a flat, you’ll lose most of your heat through your external walls.

And generally, the older your building is, the more susceptible it will be to heat loss. This is because older buildings are more likely to have poor to no insulation, single glazing, and poor airtightness.

This is a particular problem in the UK. The Climate Change Committee (CCC) explain 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.”

Heat loss figures from the Energy Saving Trust

According to the Energy Savings Trust, the following estimates indicate the proportionate heat loss from a badly insulated house:

25% of your heat can be lost through the roof;

35% through outside walls;

25% through doors and windows;

15% can be lost through ground floors.

This also helps to illustrate why bigger houses don’t necessarily need bigger boilers to heat them. It’s not about the size of the house, that matters, it’s their heat loss.

To illustrate this, imagine that there are two neighbouring houses of the same physical size. But one house is very old with single glazed windows, and no insulation; and the other house is a modern new-build with double glazing and lots of insulation.

The first draughty old house will lose its heat very quickly; and will therefore need much more power from a boiler to keep it warm. Conversely, the second house will lose its heat much more slowly; and will therefore need less power from a boiler to keep it warm.

What factors increase heat loss?

Here are just a few of the factors that increase heat loss in your home:

Poor insulation increases heat loss

Since heat always moves towards cold; to keep your home warmer for longer, you need to prevent the heat from escaping through conduction, convection, and radiation.

Insulating your home means that materials with low U-values (more on these later) are used to slow down the transfer of heat; from inside your home (where you want it) to outside.

So, insulation is a sort of buffer zone in between your warm home and the cold outdoors. Buildings with poor (or no) insulation will lose their heat much faster than buildings with insulation.

This is easily explained if you think about a hot mug of tea again. If you leave your mug on the table for an hour; the heat will have moved towards the cold air in the room; and you’re left with a cold brew.

Now imagine you had put your hot tea in a vacuum flask before you left it for an hour. When you come back this time, it’s still hot, because you insulated it.

The lid on your flask has reduced heat loss by convection; the vacuum in your flask reduces heat loss by conduction; and the metal foil around your flask reflects infrared radiation back to the liquid.

Insulating your roof and your walls; is as close as we can get to putting your home in a vacuum flask. This will save energy, and money on your energy bills.

Air leakage increases heat loss

Air leakage is a way of describing uncontrolled draughts or ventilation. There’s little point in taking lots of time insulating your roof and walls; if you have big gaping holes around your windows. All your lovely warm air will pour straight out. Even with insulation, if your home leaks heat, then its efficiency will plummet.

Of course, it’s important that our homes can circulate fresh air, and this is a requirement of the Building Regulations.

But controlled ventilation is one thing, and uncontrolled air leakage is quite another. Too much leakage, and you’ll be losing your warm air faster than you should. This results in colder rooms and escalating heating bills.

Check out our related blog: How to reduce heat loss at home, for tips on how to minimise your heat loss.

Why does heat loss matter?

Calculating the heat loss of your home is vital in choosing the correct size of boiler for two main reasons.

Firstly, working out your heat loss tells you how much energy is needed to keep your home warm. This enables you to choose a boiler which can supply the right amount of power to meet your needs, because the system output must be greater than the heat loss.

Undersizing, or oversizing your boiler, will be a costly mistake. Too small, and your boiler may not be able to keep your home warm enough; or give you sufficient hot water. Too big, and you’ll be wasting money on the initial purchase; escalating energy bills; and you might encounter boiler cycling, which will shorten your boiler’s lifespan.

The second reason that heat loss is important when it comes to heating; is that it’s the industry standard for sizing boilers under Part L of the Energy Efficiency Regulations.

How we measure heat loss: U-Values

It’s easy to see why heat loss will be greater for houses with poor insulation and air leakage; when you look at U-values.

U-values are sometimes referred to as heat transfer coefficients, or thermal transmittances. They are used to measure how effective elements of your building’s fabric are at insulating against heat loss.

U-values are measured in Watts per square metre. They tell you how much energy is lost for every 1°C difference between the two sides of each material used in your building.

The higher the U-value of an element of a building’s fabric; the more quickly heat can transmit through it; and so the worse it performs as an insulator.

A draughty old house with no insulation and single glazing, will have a high U-value, indicating poor thermal performance. Whereas the new build with double glazing and plenty of insulation, will have a low U-value, indicating good thermal performance.

So generally, the better (i.e. lower) the U-value of a building’s fabric; the less energy is required to maintain comfortable conditions inside the building. And the less output you will need from a boiler.

And this is why heat loss matters for getting a new boiler…

Why are heat loss calculations vital for installing new boilers?

Heat loss is the gold standard in determining the correct size of boiler for your home.

Completing a whole house heat loss calculation is the industry standard for sizing boilers; under Part L of the Energy Efficiency Regulations. These regulations provide guidance on the conservation of fuel and power under The Building Regulations Act 2010.

Performing heat loss calculations ensures that boilers are not oversized, and are working to their maximum efficiency, thereby saving energy.

Saving energy will not only save you money on your fuel bills; but it’s also helping the planet by reducing your carbon emissions.

Under the Paris Agreement 2015, the UK has a legal commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. To achieve this, heating plays its part.

The Energy Saving Trust says that we need to reduce our heating emissions to 138 kg CO2 per household. This is a reduction of 95%. Increasing the use of renewable energies is the main way of tackling this issue.

Nonetheless, carbon emissions are also reduced by making our current central heating systems more efficient.

What are heat loss calculations?

Here’s the science bit… Heat loss calculations determine your property’s heat transfer coefficient. They look at the thermal transmittance or ‘U-values’ of all the external fabric of your building; and its volume and average ventilation rate.

The altitude and exposure of your home will also affect this.

The calculation provides the total space heating energy flow rate in watts; divided by the temperature difference between the inside and outside air.

Alt attribute: Diagram of a house with heat being lost, next to a clock and a calculator.

Or, in other words, a heat loss calculation works out how quickly heat can escape out of the fabric of your home; whether from conduction; convection; or radiation; on the coldest day of the year.

This allows you to choose the optimum size of boiler for your needs. It avoids wasting energy and money whilst being comfortably warm.

How do The Heating People perform heat loss calculations?

The Heating People always perform a whole house heat loss calculation to determine the correct size boiler for your home.

Our whole house heat loss calculation is included as standard as part of your quotation for a boiler replacement.

It’s conducted as part of your survey, and only takes about ten minutes on site. We use heat engineer software. This enables us to size a gas or an oil boiler.

For more detailed calculations for renewable energy systems; or if your house is borderline between two boiler sizes; we can complete a room-by-room cross calculation for a more accurate result.

During a whole house heat loss calculation, we will:

measure the outside of your building;
record what the fabric of your building is made from;
count the number of skylights you have;
look at how many stories your home has;
measure the height of the stories in your home;
record the location of your home; and
factor in the altitude.

Our standard heat loss calculation is based on an indoor temperature of 21°C. The outdoor temperature varies depending on the altitude and location of your home. In Merseyside and most of Cheshire the outdoor temperature for our calculations would be -2.2°C.

The room-by-room method of heat loss calculations is much more detailed and is a separate chargeable service. It takes up to two hours on site, and is then completed away from site on a desktop computer.

With room-by-room calculations, we start with the same basic information as for the whole house calculations. But we then measure each room, window, door and skylight individually. This allows us to consider small variations in building fabric; for example, where some walls have been insulated, but others haven’t.

So, if you’re thinking of investing in your next boiler, contact The Heating People today.

Useful Links:

Conservation of fuel and power: Approved Document L

The Energy Saving Trust: Domestic sizing method

Energy Saving Trust: Reducing heat loss

Energy efficiency

What is Boiler Plus?

If you’re on the hunt for a new boiler, chances are you’ve come across the phrase: ‘Boiler Plus’. But you might be confused about what it means.

In this blog, we’ll explain what Boiler Plus is; why it came about; and how it’s relevant to you when you buy a new boiler.

Boiler Plus is a new(ish) set of rules on energy efficiency; designed to improve the way you use energy in your home.

It gives you greater choice and control over your energy usage. This results in savings on your energy bills – which is even more important now, given the rising cost of gas!

Why did Boiler Plus come about?

The Boiler Plus rules came into force in April 2018; following a public consultation into the future of heating in homes. The report was written by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) in December 2016.

BEIS found that the energy we use to heat our homes and businesses; currently accounts for around 5% of average household expenses; almost half of our energy consumption; and a third of all carbon dioxide emissions.

The aim of the consultation was to look at ways of cutting bills and carbon emissions; by improving the performance of heating systems. It gives households more choice over how energy efficient devices are used in their homes.

The report led to some significant changes to the regulations on heating manufacture and installation in the UK. These changes have been having an impact on boiler manufacturers, installers, and homeowners since the 6th of April 2018.

Why is the government pushing boiler plus?

As part of the Government’s ‘Heat in Buildings’ programme, Boiler Plus was created to maximize energy efficiency in homes. This is important because each year in England about 1.2 million boilers are installed in our homes; either for the first time; or to replace an older boiler.

Since our homes account for around a third of our energy consumption; and 15% of all carbon dioxide emissions; it’s perhaps unsurprising that the Government is focusing on increasing energy efficiency at home.

The goal is to improve energy performance in private homes to Band C by 2030; in order to hit the UK’s 2050 carbon reduction target.

Boiler Plus is not the first drive in this area, though. In the 1990s, the UK set minimum performance standards for boiler replacements.

In 2005, UK Building Regulations guidance was amended to set new performance standards for boiler replacement. It mandated the use of more efficient condensing boilers, over their non-condensing counterparts.

More recently, the government has invested approximately £3.6 billion into the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) Scheme. This scheme is intended to help eradicate fuel poverty. Its goal is to upgrade all fuel poor homes to Energy Performance Certificate Band C by 2030 to 2035.

What are the main changes made by Boiler Plus?

All boilers must now have a minimum ErP (Energy related Products) rating of 92% . And all gas and oil boilers must have appropriate time and temperature controls fitted.

In addition, when installed, combi boilers must have one of four additional energy saving devices fitted: FGHRS; weather compensation; load compensation; or smart controls with automation and optimisation functions.

Any boilers installed without the measures set out in the Boiler Plus standards, will be non-compliant with the Building Regulations.

Some boilers now have some of these devices built-in. All ATAG boilers come with weather compensation as standard. And the ATAG iC Economiser Plus comes with built-in FGHRS. So, this is something you can ask your engineer about during your survey.

Rest assured that The Heating People will recommend the most appropriate Boiler Plus compliant options for your needs.

You might like our related blog: How to choose an energy efficient boiler.

Who does Boiler Plus apply to, and does it affect me?

Boiler Plus applies to all households in England for boilers installed from April 2018. If you already have a boiler; and it’s in full working order; and regularly checked and serviced; then Boiler Plus won’t affect you until it comes time to replace your boiler.

Does Boiler Plus apply to all three types of boilers?

All gas boilers must be at least 92% efficient and include time and temperature controls. However, heat-only and system boilers aren’t required to have the add-on efficiency measures that combi boilers must have. This is because most would need further modifications to make them work with energy saving devices.

Does Boiler Plus apply to oil boilers?

The only rule for installing oil boilers; is that they must have time and temperature controls installed. BEIS is aiming to phase out high carbon fossil fuel heating; like oil; as part of their strategy to reach net zero by 2050.

What happens if homeowners don’t comply with Boiler Plus?

If you’re a homeowner, and you’re looking for a new boiler, it’s vital that you go to a reputable company. Beware of any installer offering cheap boilers that fall short of the efficiency requirements of Boiler Plus.

As a homeowner, it’s your responsibility to ensure that your new boiler complies with Boiler Plus. You can be fined up to £5,000 if you knowingly install one that doesn’t. Rest assured that all installations with The Heating People meet all compliance legislation.

What happens if an installer doesn’t comply with Boiler Plus?

Gas engineers who don’t comply with Boiler Plus are breaching the Building Regulations 2010. They face prosecution and fines of up to £5,000.

Building Control polices compliance with Boiler Plus. The Gas Safe Register can also refer safety concerns to the HSE (Health and Safety Executive).

Furthermore, if a gas engineer invoices a consumer for non-compliant work; Trading Standards can take action for fraud.

Will Boiler Plus increase the cost for me?

In the short term, the provision of an additional energy efficiency measure with any replacement combi boiler; may cause a slight increase in the initial cost at installation.

However, here at The Heating People, we offer a variety of solutions, to cover different budgets. In the long term, Boiler Plus aims to ensure that your heating system is running efficiently, so that you are saving on your energy bills.

What options do I have when getting a new boiler with Boiler Plus?

1. Flue Gas Heat Recovery System (FGHRS)

Flue gas heat recovery systems or ‘FGHRS’ are devices that enable your boiler to reuse or ‘recycle’ heat that would otherwise be wasted as gases out of the flue, to preheat your hot water.

This means that you’ll need to burn less fuel to heat your home, saving you money on your energy bills, whilst also reducing your carbon footprint.

Some studies suggest these systems can deliver the same amount of heat while using up to 4% less gas.

The ATAG iC Economiser Plus and the Vaillant ecoTEC Exclusive are two of our favourite combi boilers because they both have in-built FGHRS. This makes them immediately compliant with Boiler Plus with only basic controls.

2. Weather Compensation

The Heating and Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC) defines weather compensation as:

‘a control function which maintains internal temperatures by varying the flow temperature from the heat generator relative to the measured outside temperature.’

In other words, weather compensation devices monitor both the temperature inside your home; and the temperature outside; and adjust your boiler’s operation accordingly.

The reason that the outdoor temperature matters; is that the speed at which heat is lost from your home changes depending on the temperature outside. On a cold day, the heat will be lost more quickly than on a warm day.

A weather compensator tells your boiler to increase or decrease the temperature of your radiators; to match the heat loss caused by the weather. So, instead of your boiler switching on or off depending on when your home gets too cold or too hot; weather compensation will monitor and maintain your chosen temperature without having spikes of over and underheating.

This saves energy because it won’t generate more energy than what is required. And you’ll benefit from a more consistent and comfortable environment.

3. Load compensation

Load compensation controls work in a similar way to weather compensation. They too use intelligent communication between temperature sensors and your boiler.

But unlike weather compensators; which use an external sensor; load compensation controls use an internal sensor to achieve your desired indoor temperature.

They do this by measuring the difference between the current temperature in your room; and the desired temperature that you’ve set. The controller then tells your boiler to increase or decrease its output to precisely close the gap.

This saves energy because your boiler will only use as much fuel as is needed to close the gap between what your current temperature is; and what you want it to be.

4. Smart controls with automation and optimisation

Smart thermostats are devices that let you remotely control your home temperature via a tablet; smartphone; or desktop; for greater control over the central heating system.

The right heating controls will let you keep your home at a comfortable temperature, without wasting fuel or heat. This will save you money on your energy bills.

Automation controls

Automation is a function that allows the device to automatically control the heating system output; in response to programmed demand (e.g. scheduling with temperature control); or occupancy detection.

An automated heating control system works out whether and when to turn the heating on. It does this based on whether there is anyone in the building, or whether you are approaching the building.

It may use sensors in the home; or it may track your phone’s location to decide when to turn the heating on. This means that you’re not paying to heat your home when you’re at work.

Optimisation controls

Optimisation, often referred to as ‘learning technology’; is a smart control that turns the heating on at precisely the right time; for your home to be up to temperature at a scheduled time.

The device calculates how long it takes your home to reach your desired temperature; and times the system’s operation to minimise the amount of work it has to do.

For example, if you get up at 6.30am in the morning; you can set your programmer to 6.30am; and your thermostat to whatever you choose; and the optimiser will work out when to fire up the boiler. Your house will be up to the temperature you want by 6.30am. In colder weather, it will fire up earlier and in milder weather it will wait, saving you energy and money.

These are known as ‘compensation’ controls and are proven to reduce the amount of gas used by your boiler. Usually, it also modulates the output of the boiler in a similar way to load compensation. This means as little fuel as possible is consumed.

Smart controls offering load compensation or weather compensation would be fully compliant with the Boiler Plus.

What are the typical energy savings of each measure?

BEIS sets out detailed information on a typical consumer’s costs and energy savings in the first year of operation. We’ve linked to this resource at the end of the blog.

BEIS found that whist the cheaper technologies were appealing to consumers because of their lower initial cost; they had significantly smaller savings on their fuel bills. So, whilst weather compensators and FGHRS have a higher upfront cost, they maximize bill savings over the longer term.

How do I choose which technology to choose?

The Heating People are experts at finding the perfect controls for your needs and lifestyle. But when you’re thinking about your options; you should consider whether you’re more concerned with reducing upfront costs (and accepting lower benefits); or whether you want to focus on optimising over the lifetime of the technology.

For cost minimisation, load compensators are your best choice. For benefit maximisation, the highest performing technology on the BEIS choice list is the learning thermostat.

Boiler Plus options at The Heating People

The Heating People have been installing all the technologies which are featured in the Boiler Plus regulations for many years. So, our experts can guide you to the perfect choice for your home.

Here are some of the most popular options that we offer our customers:

ATAG iC Economiser and Vaillant EcoTec IQ combination boilers which have built-in FGHRS. This makes them immediately compliant with only basic controls.

Weather compensating controls, where situations allow.

Optimum start and smart controls are a popular choice for many of our customers; as they fit many boilers, and are easy to use.

Please talk to one of our team at The Heating People to find out what’s right for your home.

Useful Links:

Heating and Hot Water Industry Council Installer guide to Boiler Plus

Heating and Hot Water Industry Council article on Boiler Plus innovation for consumers

Government factsheet on Boiler Plus

BEIS Consultation Report on Boiler Plus

Vaillant factsheet on Boiler Plus

Worcester Bosch factsheet on Boiler Plus

Energy efficiency

What is an efficient boiler and why should I want one?

Post author By Lucy
Post date September 22, 2021
No Comments on What is an efficient boiler and why should I want one?

What is an efficient boiler?

With everything going on in the news about gas prices; and with COP 26 just around the corner; we’re willing to bet that you’ve got some questions about boiler efficiency, and how you can save money.

Don’t worry, The Heating People are here to help!

In this blog we’ll explain what an efficient boiler is; how it can save you money (as well as the planet); and how this fits into the bigger picture on climate change.

What is climate change?

Unfortunately, as a result of human activity, the world is getting hotter. When we burn fossil fuels for energy, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are emitted into the atmosphere.

These gases act like a blanket around the planet, trapping the heat from the sun. This causes global temperatures to rise, resulting in long-term changes to the climate.

Since the Industrial Revolution, the average temperature of the planet has risen by around 1°C. The IPCC says that to avoid the most catastrophic impacts of the climate crisis; we must limit global warming to below 1.5°C.

In November 2020, the government published ‘The Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution’. This report outlines how the government envisages meeting its ambitious target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. You might have seen this on the news in relation to electric vehicles and heat-pumps.

What do boilers have to do with climate change?

We are dependent on our boilers to keep us warm and comfortable all year round; and to keep up with our demands for hot water.

But in order to produce heating and hot water for us, boilers need to burn fuel, usually gas.

Unfortunately, the by-products of burning the fuel are damaging to the environment. And that’s where an efficient boiler comes in.

What is boiler efficiency?

An efficient boiler needs to use the least amount of energy to keep your house warm, and your water hot.

When we’re talking about using energy here, what we’re really talking about is fuel.

An efficient boiler needs to burn less fuel (usually gas) to keep you comfortable.

An inefficient boiler does the opposite. It burns loads more fuel to do exactly the same job; which makes it more expensive to run; and worse for the planet.

In the past, boilers burned their fuel inefficiently; because they didn’t have the condensing technology and other energy saving devices that we have today.

And many homes still have these old inefficient boilers; which are burning more gas than they need to; and are therefore releasing excessive amounts of gas into the atmosphere.

Modern boilers burn their fuel very efficiently; but will inevitably still lose some heat energy; and emit some flue gases in the process.

Other factors such as oversizing a boiler will further reduce boiler efficiency.

This is why it’s vital to get a competent installer for your boiler replacement. Counting radiators to determine boiler size simply doesn’t cut it.

The Heating People use heat loss calculations as standard to determine the most efficient boiler for your needs.

How does boiler efficiency impact my heating bills?

Boiler efficiency refers to the percentage of the total energy used by the boiler; to provide your heating and hot water. As we’ve mentioned, no boiler is 100% efficient, some heat will always be lost.

To put this into context…

An old inefficient boiler with 73% efficiency will use 73% of the supplied energy for heating your home; but the remaining 27% of energy will be lost. So this means that for every £1 you spend on heating your home, 27p is wasted.

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.

Check out our related blog: Does smart heating save money?

How has Boiler Plus improved boiler efficiency?

The Boiler Plus legislation was introduced in 2018 to improve the way we use energy in our homes.

Boiler Plus has improved the efficiency of boilers by requiring condensing technology as standard.

When you buy a new boiler, you know it’ll be at least 92% efficient; as opposed to the old G rated boilers; which could be just 70% efficient; or sometimes lower!

It requires that all new boilers must now have a minimum ErP (Energy related Products) rating of 92%. And all gas and oil boilers must have appropriate time and temperature controls fitted.

It also requires combi boilers to have one of four additional energy saving devices fitted:

Flue Gas Heat Recovery (FGHRS)

This is a system that enables the boiler to reuse heat that would have otherwise been wasted.

Weather Compensation

Weather compensators allow the flow temperature to be modulated based on the outside temperature.

Load Compensation

Load compensation allows the flow temperature to be modulated from the boiler based on room temperature.

Smart controls with automation and optimisation functions

‘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.

What is a condensing boiler?

There’s a common misconception that a ‘condensing boiler’ is a type of boiler, when in fact, it isn’t.

The terms ‘condensing boilers’ and ‘non-condensing boilers’ are misleading. They actually describe the technology within the boiler itself, rather than what sort of boiler it is.

Thanks to Boiler Plus, all new boilers must have condensing technology as standard.

This is because condensing boilers are more energy efficient than their non-condensing counterparts. They can typically extract 90-92% of heat from fuel; compared to 50-80% that a non-condensing boiler can.

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.

But you don’t need to worry about choosing condensing technology, all new boilers come with this.

How can I tell how efficient my boiler is?

The easiest way to check the efficiency of a boiler; whether it’s one you already have; or one you’re thinking of getting; is to look at its efficiency rating.

There are currently two ways of rating a boiler for efficiency: ErP and SEDBUK.

What is ErP?

All modern boilers are rated for efficiency under the European energy label introduced in September 2015.

ErP stands for ‘Energy-related Products’. This rating system was designed to drive improvements in the efficiency and performance of heating and hot water. It means that you can see how efficient your appliances are.

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

If you have an old boiler, it might be low on the scale, indicating the need for a replacement.

Since most modern boilers in the UK now get an A rating on this scale; the SEDBUK 2009 efficiency rating is also useful.

What is SEDBUK?

SEDBUK stands for Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers in the UK.

The system was developed by boiler manufacturers and the UK government to enable a fairer comparison of the energy efficiency of boilers.

Although it’s been replaced by ErP, many boiler manufacturers still put the SEDBUK efficiency in their product catalogues.

This is because most modern boilers will be A rated on the ErP system; but SEDBUK allows you to see the percentage detail.

What are the potential savings from a more efficient boiler?

Heating accounts for about half of what you spend in a year on energy bills. So an efficient boiler can make a big difference to your bills.

The Energy Saving Trust says that you could save as much as £340 a year on your gas bill with a new, efficient boiler.

But the savings are likely to be bigger than this now, given the current price of gas!

But just because your boiler is A-rated out of the box; doesn’t mean it will be in your home; if it’s the wrong size; has sub-standard controls; or isn’t installed right.

In these situations your new boiler will run well below its A-label efficiency rating.

This is why you need a skilled installer to maximise the efficiency of your heating system.

How do I make sure that my boiler reaches its efficiency potential?

If you’ve decided to replace your old boiler with a newer; more efficient model; there are a number of things to think about to ensure that it can reach its full energy saving potential:

An efficient boiler needs to be installed by an expert

A heating system will only be as good as its design and setup.

You can have the most efficient boiler on the market; but if it’s the wrong size or poorly set up; it’ll run below its efficiency capability.

Rest assured that The Heating People are boiler installation specialists who offer a bespoke service to ensure that your boiler is as efficient as possible.

An efficient boiler must be the correct type of boiler for your home

The first step in getting an efficient heating system; is to choose the correct type of boiler for you and your family.

There are three types of boiler available: heat-only or conventional boilers; combination or ‘combi’ boilers; and system boilers.

The different types of boiler lend themselves to different sizes of home and different demands for hot water.

If you’re generally happy with what your old boiler offered when it was working well; then a replacement boiler similar to the old one could be a good option.

But you shouldn’t automatically assume that you need the same type of boiler that you’ve had previously. Lots of circumstances have probably changed since your old boiler was installed. And it might not have been the best choice years ago, when it was first installed.

During your free survey with The Heating People; we’ll ask you about how you currently use your heating and hot water; to check that you have the correct type of boiler for your needs.

An efficient boiler must be sized correctly

As well as being the correct type of boiler; your boiler also needs to be the correct size for your needs.

Boiler size doesn’t refer to the physical dimensions of the appliance itself; but rather how much energy is output by the boiler in terms of heat; which is measured in kilowatts (kW).

So each model of boiler will come in a range of sizes, or power outputs to suit different lifestyles.

If you choose a boiler that’s too big, you’ll be wasting energy and paying over the odds on your bills.

But if it’s too small, it might not be powerful enough to heat your home, or give you enough hot water.

So, you’re facing the Goldilocks conundrum of finding a boiler that’s ‘just right’.

And this is where a lot of people (and installers who don’t know what they’re doing) go wrong. They oversize the boiler, ‘just in case’.

But if you choose a larger boiler that has a much higher capacity than you need, you’ll be wasting money not only on the initial purchase, but also on escalating energy bills.

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’ prevents the boiler from operating in its ‘sweet-spot’ or condensing mode, and makes it inefficient.

Most UK homes only need about 6-8kW of power output from their boiler on a very cold day. Yet, some boiler manufacturers are boasting about their 50kW boilers. This just plays on the common misconception that bigger is better. It certainly isn’t when it comes to boiler size!

But you don’t need to worry about choosing the correct size, The Heating People will do this for you.

We’ll conduct a heat loss calculation to find the correct size boiler for your needs.

This is Industry best practice under Regulation L of the Building Regulations 2010, but it’s surprising how many installers don’t bother.

If an installer wants to recommend a boiler based on how many radiators you have – RUN!

An efficient boiler must be part of a balanced system

In order for your boiler to operate as efficiently as possible, all of your radiators need to be emitting the right amount of heat. This is where system balancing comes in.

Balancing involves restricting the flow to radiators nearer to the boiler in order to push the hot water along to radiators that are further away.

This helps make sure that all of your radiators are getting hot, and that the temperature of the water that’s returning to the boiler is 50 degrees or lower, so it can work in its efficient condensing mode.

An efficient boiler must be part of a clean system

You can’t install a shiny new boiler into a filthy system of corroded pipes and radiators, and expect to get high efficiencies out of it. In order for our heating systems to work well, they need to be clean.

Over time, the water in your pipes, boiler and radiators deposits unwanted by-products like rust.

This rust (plus other dirt and debris) becomes an unpleasant, muddy substance, known as ‘sludge’. This sludge plays havoc with the efficiency of your heating system, causing corrosion and blockages.

A report by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) in February 2021 found that the build-up of sludge can reduce the efficiency of central heating systems by by 15%.

This is why it’s a very good idea to have a power flush when installing a new boiler.

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.

The Heating People are able to offer this service alongside your boiler replacement, so you know you’ll be getting the most out of your new boiler.

An efficient boiler must be paired with good heating controls

Heating controls are a vital part of your heating system because they allow you to keep your home at a comfortable temperature without wasting fuel or heat.

There are a wide range of heating controls available that will help your heating system work more efficiently and help keep your bills down.

According to the Energy Saving Trust, you can save £70 and 300kg of carbon dioxide a year by installing and correctly using a programmer, room thermostat and thermostatic radiator valves.

You should also consider investing in smart controls. Smart heating 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%.

The Heating People will be able to advise you on the best options for your central heating system.

An efficient boiler must be serviced annually

To keep your boiler working as it should, and to maximise its life span (not to mention ensure that it stays safe) you need to get it serviced annually by a Gas Safe engineer.

During your boiler 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, allowing your boiler to light more easily and burn efficiently, which can lead to lower heating bills.

Final thoughts…

Once you’ve got an efficient boiler and your system is set to maximise its efficiency potential, keep in mind that there are other things that you can do to further improve efficiency.

We have other blogs dedicated to this topic, so we’ll just leave you with these two top tips:

Turn your thermostat down by 1 degree

According to the Energy Saving Trust, this one simple tip could reduce your energy bills by around £80 a year. But maybe you’d be comfortable turning it down by more than one degree?

Why not try turning your heating controls down until you find the best thermostat temperature for your comfort levels, and your wallet!

Check your insulation

When your central heating’s on, you want it to be warming you up, and not your garden!

According to the Energy Saving Trust, a poorly insulated house will lose up to 25% of its heat through the roof; 35% through the the outside walls; 25% through the doors and windows; and 15% through the ground floor.

So to keep you warmer for longer, and therefore minimise your energy usage, you should install insulation or thicken what’s already there.

The Energy Saving Trust say that with decent loft insulation, you could save between £120 and £225 a year, and filling your cavity walls could save you between £70 and £255 a year.

We hope you’ve found this blog useful. If you want some help finding a more efficient boiler for your home, contact one of our friendly team today.

Useful Links:

https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/boilers/article/boiler-energy-efficiency-aCgnH9h8JJP9

https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/boilers/

https://www.cse.org.uk/advice/advice-and-support/upgrading-your-boiler

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/climate-change/what-is-climate-change

https://www.un.org/en/un75/climate-crisis-race-we-can-win

https://www.hhic.org.uk/uploads/5ACCA2408554F.pdf

https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/thermostats-and-heating-controls/

Energy efficiency

FGHRS

Post author By Lucy
Post date August 23, 2021
No Comments on FGHRS

FGHRS or ‘Flue Gas Heat Recovery Systems’ are energy saving devices. They allow your boiler to reuse or ‘recycle’ heat that would otherwise be wasted as gases out of the flue.

We know that recycling is good for our wallets and the planet; so it probably won’t surprise you to learn that it’s good for our boilers too!

This means that you’ll need to burn less fuel to heat your home. Thereby saving you money on your energy bills, whilst also reducing your carbon footprint.

Using FGHRS is one of the four ways that new combi boilers can comply with the ‘Boiler Plus’ legislation.

Read on to find out everything you need to know…

What does Boiler Plus say about FGHRS?

Boiler Plus is a new (ish) set of rules on energy efficiency; which improves the way we use energy in our homes.

From April 6th, 2018, all boilers must now have a minimum ErP (Energy related Products) rating of 92%. And all gas and oil boilers must have appropriate time and temperature controls fitted.

In addition, when installed, combi boilers must have one of four energy saving devices fitted – one of which is FGHRS.

So, if you’re in the market for a new combi boiler; a boiler with this energy saving device might be a good option.

Some combi boilers have FGHRS built-in

In some cases, you don’t even need to consider whether to add FGHRS as an add-on to your boiler; because the boiler itself comes with the technology built-in.

Two of our favourite combi boilers are the ATAG iC Economiser Plus and the Vaillant EcoTEC Exclusive with Green iQ. Because they have built-in FGHRS, and are automatically compliant with Boiler Plus.

You might like our related blog: How to choose an energy efficient boiler.

What is FGHRS?

FGHRS are energy saving devices that make boilers more efficient by capturing and reusing the waste heat from your boiler. This would otherwise have escaped out of your flue or chimney.

Your boiler produces fumes when running. A flue takes these fumes safely out of your home through a wall or your roof.

The flue gases are hot, and letting them go straight out into the atmosphere is a waste of up to 35% of the heat that your boiler is producing.

A boiler with FGHRS recycles hot flue gases that would otherwise be wasted to preheat the cold water entering the boiler.

Before the hot gases go outside; they go through a heat exchanger, where incoming cold mains water gets warmed up by the gases. This lowers the amount of energy needed to warm the water up for your heating system.

In the time it takes for the incoming water to pass through the heat exchanger; the water temperature rises from around 10°C; to between 20-40°C.

This means that your boiler doesn’t have to work as hard to heat the water. The much cooler flue gases are then vented out.

What are the benefits?

Lets take as look at what you stand to gain from this energy saving device:

FGHRS reduces your fuel consumption – and therefore your energy bills

Where FGHRS is fitted on a modern boiler, it will need to burn up to 7% less gas. But will deliver the same amount of heat.

This is because the cold water is being ‘pre-warmed’ by gases which would otherwise have been wasted. So, your boiler isn’t having to use as much energy to get cold water hot.

If FGHRS is added to an older non-condensing boiler, the fuel savings are even more significant. You could save up to 52% on a G rated boiler, and up to 35% on an older combi boiler.

By reducing your fuel consumption, you’ll reduce your energy bills.

FGHRS reduces your carbon footprint

As well as saving you money on your energy bills; using FGHRS will also reduce your carbon footprint, which is good news for the planet too!

The Boiler Plus regulations; which recognise FGHRS as being one of four important energy saving devices; were created as part of the government’s strategy to reach net-zero by 2050.

As part of the consultation process leading up to the implementation of Boiler Plus; independent tests were presented to the Government. They found that if half a million FGHRS were installed in homes; 56,209,150m3 of gas would be saved; and 114,734,118kg of carbon dioxide emissions saved.

It’s a low maintenance option

It’s straightforward for Gas Safe engineers to fit FGHRS. And once installed, you can just forget about them, and let them do their thing!

Older boilers can have FGHRS fitted

Older non-condensing boilers do not have any sort of built-in FGHRS. And their efficiency can be as low as 65%, which means they’re bad for your wallet and the environment.

If you have an old G-rated model, you’re probably best replacing it with a new boiler.

But it’s possible to increase the efficiency of your current boiler by attaching FGHRS.

If you choose this option, you’ll need space above your existing boiler to fit the system. These systems cost around £600. But according to the Energy Saving Trust, you could save up to £100 on your fuel bills each year.

If you’re thinking about a boiler replacement, contact us today for tailored advice on what the best options are for you.

How much do external ‘add-on’ FGHRS devices cost?

External or ‘bolt-on’ devices can cost from £500 – £800, depending on the type of boiler you already have.

Whilst you will see energy savings, it may take many years to recover this cost.

It might be a better option to consider replacing your old boiler with a more efficient one with integral FGHRS; such as the ATAG and Vaillant models we mentioned earlier.

A like for like replacement of an older combi for a new combi with built-in FGHRS; starts from £2500, depending on your current system, and chosen model.

To discuss your options, contact one of our friendly team at The Heating People.

Useful Links:

Government report: Boiler Plus

Energy Saving Trust advice on boilers

The Greenage article on FGHRS

Worcester Bosch FGHRS

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The benefits of low temperature heating

Post author By Lucy
Post date February 22, 2021
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COP26 has got everyone talking about how we heat our homes. And what changes we’ll need to make to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The government’s ambition is to be installing 600, 000 heat pumps per year by 2028. Heat pumps need to run at low temperatures to maximise their efficiency. But low temperature heating isn’t just for heat pumps.

Until we all have a heat pump; low temperature heating is a more cost effective and environmentally friendly way of running our gas boilers.

When we’re talking about low temperature heating, we don’t mean simply turning your thermostat down from 21 to 19 degrees.

And we’re not suggesting you just put a jumper on and sit in a cold house, either!

Low temperature heating systems have cooler water running through them, without compromising your comfort.

If you want to learn more about this, read on!

What is low temperature heating?

As we’ve already mentioned, low temperature heating doesn’t mean that your house is cold.

Your house will be a comfortable temperature; while the heating system runs at a lower temperature.

In a traditional heating system; the temperature of the water flowing around your radiators is between 70 °C and 85 °C.

With a low temperature heating system; the temperature of the water could be 25 °C to 50 °C; whilst keeping you nice and warm.

The main advantage of low temperature heating is that it’s much more efficient. Or in other words, your boiler will be burning less gas to do its job. This will save you money on your energy bills, as well as being better for the environment.

Why is low temperature heating more efficient?

Low temperature heating makes your boiler more efficient. Because when you reduce the water temperature in your system, it allows your boiler to condense properly.

Thanks to changes to the law in 2005 and Boiler Plus, all modern boilers are condensing boilers. They can potentially extract 90-92% of heat from fuel, compared to 50-80% with an old non-condensing boiler.

But the key word here is ‘potentially’. Just because a modern condensing boiler says it’s 92% efficient on the box, doesn’t mean it will achieve this. It must be given the right conditions – specifically, the correct flow and return temperatures.

Low temperature heating and condensing boilers

To understand why low temperature heating is more efficient; you need to know a bit about how condensing boilers work.

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.

But boilers can only get into this efficient sweet-spot known as ‘condensing mode’ when operating at lower temperatures. The water in the heating system needs to be less than 54°C when it returns to the boiler. This enables the heat to turn back into water (or condense).

At 54°C a condensing boiler will start to recover its lost heat.

Only when the return temperature is 45°C or lower; will the boiler recover enough heat to reach its full efficiency potential.

The problem is, most boilers aren’t meeting their efficiency potential because they’re set up to have much higher return temperatures.

According to The Heating Hub; most gas boilers are set up to have a flow temperature of 80°C and a return of 60°C. But this is too high for condensing mode.

Why aren’t boilers being set to lower temperatures then?

Since we know that the key to energy efficiency is to get boilers into condensing mode; why are most boilers set to flow at around 80°C?

This is a very good question. And unfortunately, the answer seems to be either laziness or lack of training in central heating design.

Manufacturers know that setting a boiler to flow at 80°C and return at 60°C means there’ll be loads of heat; and the homeowner won’t have a problem getting their house warm. It doesn’t matter to the manufacturer how high your energy bills are, or whether most of that heat is wasted!

Another problem is that many installers fail to carry out heat loss calculations to find the correct size of boiler for your needs. And install an oversized one ‘just in case’.

If you’ve read our blog: What size boiler do I need? You’ll know that oversizing a boiler results in boiler cycling, and also prevents your boiler from getting into condensing mode.

The Heating Hub says that 99% of installers have not been trained to set up condensing gas boilers properly. This is why it’s vital to get a reputable Gas Safe engineer to install your boiler.

Rest assured that The Heating People are certified Heat Geeks (see link at the end of this blog) and follow industry best practice.

What are the benefits of low temperature heating?

Let’s look at some of the benefits of low temperature heating…

Low temperature heating is more energy efficient

As we’ve explained above, the efficiency of condensing boilers (and heat pumps) is higher when they supply heat at lower temperature.

Reducing the return temperature of the water in your heating system could increase the efficiency of your boiler to over 90%.

Low temperature heating is more cost-effective

Since low temperature heating is more energy efficient, you should save money on your energy bills.

A recent report by the Heating and Hot Water Council (HHIC) found that households can save around 6-8% on their gas bill just by turning down the flow temperature on their condensing combi boiler.

Low temperature heating creates a more comfortable heat

Despite the common misconception that low temperature heating means you’ll be cold, a benefit of lowering the temperature in your central heating system is that you’ll get a more consistent and gentle heat.

Although your rooms may take a little bit longer to warm up, you won’t get the spikes of over and under heating where your boiler blasts on and then quickly switches off.

Low temperature heating is practical

Installing a low temperature heating system is a practical choice. Because the consistent lower temperature means that you won’t need to turn down your thermostat when you go to bed or you’re nipping out.

Low temperature heating creates cleaner air

Now this is a surprising one! But low temperature heating produces less airborne dust around your home, which is good news if you suffer from asthma or allergies.

The reason for this, is that despite their somewhat misleading name, ‘radiators’ produce most of their heat through convection (not radiation). Convection works by circulating heat around your room.

Unfortunately, it’s not just heat that circulates in the convection current. All the grim dust and allergens that are hiding in your radiator fins will be carried around too!

With lower temperature heating, your room will get warm through more radiant heat (rather than convection) and this settles the air.

Low temperature heating is kinder on your heating system

Although your boiler has been designed to cope with high temperatures, setting your heating system to a lower temperature is kinder on it.

Nobody likes stop-starting, and the same is true of your boiler!

Constant heating and cooling can take its toll on the component parts of your boiler.

Think of it as being a bit like a car. You know that if you’re constantly flooring the accelerator and then slamming on the brakes, this will use up more petrol and increase the general wear and tear on your car. It’s far better to tootle along at a lower steady speed.

Low temperature heating is the equivalent of doing a nice consistent 50 mph in your car!

Can I turn down my boiler’s flow temperature?

If you have a condensing combi boiler you can reduce the flow temperature on the front of your boiler. The Heating Hub has an excellent article on how to do this. We’ve linked to the article at the end of this blog.

What do I need to have low temperature heating?

Let’s look at the different ways of achieving a low temperature heating system.

Increased radiator sizes

Your radiators need to be sized correctly to make sure that they can deliver the same amount of heat at a lower flow temperature.

Larger radiators have a larger surface area which will maximise the amount of heat that can be transmitted to the ambient air.

Radiator balancing

In addition to checking that your radiators are the correct size to deliver enough heat at lower temperatures, they should be balanced. Setting the radiator flow rates or ‘radiator balancing’ prevents the boiler from putting too much energy into the heating circuit and improves efficiency.

Increased insulation

You might hear the phrase ‘Fabric First’ mentioned a lot when people are talking about efficient heating. This phrase is referring to the fact that to get the most out of your heating system (especially at lower temperatures) you need to have decent insulation to minimise heat loss.

Buildings with poor (or no) insulation will lose their heat much faster than buildings with insulation. So, if you’ve got a poorly insulated home, you’ll need to be burning more fuel to keep it warm.

If you want to heat your home with low temperature heating, insulation is even more important to keep your home feeling warm.

Check out our related blog on how you can reduce heat loss at home.

Modulating controls

For a low temperature heating system to work, suitable controls need to be used.

Weather compensation devices use an outside sensor to adjust your boiler’s operation accordingly.

On a cold day, heat will be lost from your home more quickly than on a warm day. So, when the outside temperature falls, the boilers flow temperature is increased using a correctly determined ‘curve’ to compensate for the extra heat loss.

Conversely, when it’s warmer outside, there’s less heat loss and the boiler will reduce its flow temperature, thereby running more efficiently.

Load compensation controls work in a similar way to weather compensation because they also use intelligent communication between temperature sensors and your boiler.

But unlike weather compensators, which use an external sensor, load compensation controls use an internal sensor to achieve your desired indoor temperature.

Load compensators measure the difference between the current temperature in your room, and the desired temperature that you’ve set. The controller then tells your boiler to increase or decrease its output to precisely close the gap.

If your desired temperature is dramatically different from the current room temperature, the load compensator will tell the boiler to increase its flow temperature to the maximum.

As the room temperature gets closer to your desired temperature, the boiler is told to reduce its flow temperature.

Final thoughts…

Thanks to COP26, people are finally starting to appreciate that optimising the efficiency of our heating systems is vital in the fight against climate change.

The government is taking the first steps towards the decarbonisation of heating, but it’s not going to be an overnight fix.

In the meantime, there are lots of things we can do with our current heating systems to improve their efficiency.

But as people are also starting to realise… a boiler is only as good as the installer that fits it.

If you want to get the most out of your new boiler and allow it to operate at its A-rated efficiency, book your free survey with The Heating People today.

Useful Links:

Heat Geek article: Benefits of low temperature heating systems

Energy Stats UK: Low temperature heating

Energy Saving Trust: Quick guide to low carbon heating

The Heating Hub – article on gas prices and boiler inefficiency

The Heating Hub – Turn down the boiler flow temperature

Heat Geek – Find a heat geek

0151 792 6245

1. Make your central heating more efficient with a power flush

What is power flushing?

2. Make your central heating more efficient with a new boiler

3. Make your central heating more efficient by replacing your radiators

4. Make your central heating more efficient with insulation

5. Make your central heating more efficient by replacing your windows

6. Make your central heating more efficient with programmable heating controls

7. Make your central heating more efficient by turning your thermostat down by one degree

8. Make your central heating more efficient by spending less time in the shower and fitting a water saving showerhead

9. Make your central heating more efficient by requesting an energy monitor

10. Make your central heating more efficient with weather compensation

Final thoughts…

Useful Links:

What is boiler efficiency?

How do we measure boiler efficiency?

Why are older boilers less efficient than modern ones?

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

7 Ways to improve your boiler’s energy efficiency

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

How boilers should be sized

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

Smart controls

Think about how you use your controls

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

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

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

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

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

Final thoughts…

Useful Links:

Why do I want an energy efficient boiler?

Energy efficient boilers save you money

Energy efficient boilers are better for the environment

What do the energy efficiency percentages mean?

Why are modern boilers more energy efficient?

How do I choose the most energy efficient boiler?

Choose the right installer

Choose the right type of boiler for your needs

Combi boilers

Heat-only boilers

System boilers

Choose the right size of boiler

Choose a boiler with a low minimum output

Improving the energy efficiency of your heating system

Use heating controls

Balance your system

Ask your engineer about low temperature heating

Conclusion

Useful links

What is the difference between a manual radiator valve and a TRV?

How do TRVs work?

What do the numbers mean on a TRV?

How do I set a TRV?

How do I find the right temperature with a TRV?

How much energy do TRVs save?

Can TRVs save me money?

How much do TRVs cost?

How long does it take to install TRVs?

Can I install TRVs in every room in my house?

What are the advantages of TRVs?

Energy saving

Money saving

Customisable to your comfort

Easy to change

Should I consider replacing my existing TRVs?

Are there any drawbacks of using TRVs?

What are smart radiator valves?

Final thoughts…

Useful Links:

What is heat loss?

Heat loss occurs because warm air moves towards cold

How much heat can be lost from a building?

Heat loss figures from the Energy Saving Trust

What factors increase heat loss?

Poor insulation increases heat loss

Air leakage increases heat loss

Why does heat loss matter?

How we measure heat loss: U-Values

Why are heat loss calculations vital for installing new boilers?