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It is quite possible by updating your existing Central Heating control system that you could dramatically reduce your fuel bills. Naturally this all depends on exactly what controls you have at the moment, if any.
A pumped heating and gravity fed hot water system, is one in which water from the boiler is pumped only around the radiators, but not around the heating coil of the hot water cylinder since it relies on gravity.
Such a system, usually has limited control over the temperature of domestic hot water and hence achieves excessively high temperatures (typically 75 deg C to 80 deg C), risking scalding and wasted energy.
The heating system is usually (although not always) controlled only by a room thermostat operating on the pump. A time clock is also often incorporated. This system is wasteful, in terms of fuel use, since not only is the hot water usually too hot, but the boiler is allowed to 'cycle' whenever the clock is in an 'on' mode and this too adds substantially to the running costs.
If possible, the system should be converted to 'fully pumped system'. This will involve modifications to existing pipework and although in some cases it is a simple and easy job to do, in others it is more complex and needs to be installed by a qualified Heating Engineer to acheive the savings on running costs by making your system more economical, fuel efficient and environmentally freindly.
A fully pumped system is one in which water from the boiler is pumped to both the radiators and the coil of the hot water cylinder. With this system it is possible to incorporate a full range of control options, but although 'fully pumped' it does not necessarily mean that an existing system is as well controlled as it could be.
Ideally,
such a system might incorporate a room thermostat, cylinder thermostat
a two channel programmer together with a 3 port motorised valve (or two
2 port motorised valves)
Thermostatic radiator valves (or TRVs for short) will add to the effectiveness
of any control system, even the fully pumped system described above.
TRVs will allow control of individual room temperature by gradually closing down a radiator if a room starts to overheat due to adventitious heat gains (eg sunshine). A TRV should not be fitted to the radiator located in the same room as the controlling room thermostat.
Replacement
If your immediate priority is to make contact with a Plumbing and Heating Engineer because some part of the control system has failed and needs to be replaced, then the urgency of the matter can influence people in making their decision.
A complaint often heard is that people feel they been 'ripped off' by cowboys. The ‘sheer urgency’ of a situation leads people to choose the first company they come across, without fully establishing their 'credentials'.
Our 'credentials' are explained on our Home page.
The failure of an item of control within the warranty period, should initially be referred directly back to the original installer who, in most cases, will then refer the matter to his supplier or the manufacturer, for action.
Contact Artisan Plumbers for our in-house engineer to install new or replacement heating controls.
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