Now the days are getting shorter and there’s a chill in the air, it’s definitely time for the central heating to be on for those cold early starts. And as more of us than ever continue to work from home, ensuring your home office is warm throughout the day is high on the agenda. But, if you haven’t maintained your heating throughout the year, you may be in for a shock when the temperatures start to plummet.
A faulty heating system can be troublesome on these freezing winter mornings. It is important to improve your heating system and repair the damages to be in the utmost comfort despite the cold.
Improve Your Heating System
To help combat the big freeze, we’ve put together some tips to improve heating system and in doing so, save on your heating and repair bills.
01. Keep the Heating ON
It might sound counterintuitive but keeping the heating on low in warmer months will help combat breakdowns in colder ones. Similar to a car, if your heating is left unused for an extended period of time, it can lead to it becoming inefficient. Not only that, but you could be in for some costly repairs if you leave your heating off for extended periods.
02. Bleed the Radiators / Flush Your System
Flushing that dense dirt on your system will improve its performance and increase heating efficiency. Similar to your boiler, if your radiators are unused, they can become less efficient because air pockets have gathered inside. Because air is naturally great at insulating heat, it will inhibit the effectiveness of your radiators, by trapping heat inside these pockets of air. You’ll find if you have air pockets in your radiator that you’re having to turn them up higher to achieve the same amount of heat compared with radiators without air pockets. This can be an additional and unnecessary cost to the average £1,354 per year spent on heating bills. To prevent a build-up of air, radiators should be bled at least once a year, usually at the start of the season around September / October.
Moreover, you can hire specialists from Southern Comfort HVAC, among others, to do the flushing. Professionals should do this job since they are familiar with the problems caused by sediment build-up. They are also equipped with the right equipment, thus avoiding any water spills or other problems during the flushing.
03. Check Proper Insulation especially Pipe Insulation to Improve Heating Efficiency
If you want to improve the efficiency of your heating system, you should consider the insulation. Properly insulating your home will keep the hot air in and the cold air out. By preventing the hot air from escaping through cracks and openings, you can make sure that you keep all the air inside your home, which helps your heating system ease up. While most people think of roof and wall insulation, a lot of heat is also lost through the pipe before the hot water even gets to the radiators.
Heating pipes are usually made from copper. Because copper is an excellent conductor of heat, when the heat conducts from the water inside your heating pipes to the copper pipes themselves, the cold air around the copper pipe will quickly cool the metal and will radiate along the pipe causing the water inside to cool more rapidly. Investing in insulated pipes will reduce the amount of heat lost when travelling from the boiler to the radiators.
Also, pay attention to the windows, doors, and wall cavities of your home. There’s a possibility that it still has gaps where heat can escape. Keeping it closed is not enough to keep the air inside. Make sure to seal the gaps for proper insulation.
04. Annual or Regular Service of Heating System
The heating system should be regularly checked by professionals, especially when winter is approaching. Choosing a homecare plan from companies like hometree that include an annual service can cut the costs of emergency repairs. Book your annual service at the back end of the summer before there’s a rush. This will also mean that should your heating system need replacing or repairing you won’t be waiting in freezing temperatures. Similarly, it means that when the temperature does start to drop, you’ll have complete peace of mind that your boiler is in top working condition. Neglecting regular or annual checks will increase the possibility of your room heater malfunctioning when you start using it for the winter.
05. Ducts Should be Sealed
Sealing the ducts will ensure that the heat will be distributed evenly around your home. These ducts are important because this is where the air from the boiler travels. There are instances when these ductworks are broken, resulting in an uneven supply of hot and cold air.
Include inspecting the ducts during your routine check-up. Although it’s not really necessary if your heating system is working correctly, it’s always better to be sure. If you see cracks or holes within the ductworks, seal it as soon possible to avoid worsening the damage.
06. Improving Heating Efficiency
After seeing to it that the primary care needs of your system are met, you can now focus on making your system efficient by using smart technology. You can install a programmable thermostat that lets you control the air supply of your system via your smartphone. It’s easy to install and comes with a lot of varieties that will surely suit your needs.
A programmable thermostat allows you to set a time when the heater should discharge heat. It will help you save energy bills since it only operates during a specific time. When the desired temperature is reached, the system will automatically shut off.
There are a lot of smart thermostats available in the market. You can choose from a wide variety that can cater to your needs. However, remember to do some research about this technology and do not hesitate to consult your heating engineers.
07. Upgrade Your Heating System
You also need to upgrade your system if it becomes outdated. Old and obsolete systems have higher energy consumption compared to newer models. New versions of heating systems also offer variations that you can choose from, especially the latest smart heating technology that comes along with it. If you are looking into upgrading your heating system, a great investment would be to purchase heating radiators from Best Electric Radiators.
It might cost you some money to upgrade your system, but it will benefit you in the long run. Heating systems are only useful within ten years from installation. After that, it will start developing a lot of problems that will make you spend more than the upgrade.
Always seek professional help when installing or upgrading your system. Also, ask for options, then choose what system benefits you the most.
08. Add New Technology to Your Heating System
You also need to consider adding the latest technology to your heating system. New technologies can help how your system performs overall. The electric radiator is one of these new technologies that have intelligent heat management, allowing you to control the radiator easily.
You should also consider upgrading your radiator to the latest electric version. You can enjoy its maximum energy-saving benefits that will last for years. It also requires less maintenance and gives you instant heat compared to the older version.
However, if you’re still using boilers, your heating system is severely outdated. You can upgrade to a newer version, such as the condensing boiler. It works using an electric ignition, with the pilot light only lighting up when in demand. This feature can save up more energy.
Controlling the temperature from each room, depending on necessity, is also one way of lessening energy consumption. Thermostatic radiator valves can help you achieve this. By setting the radiator to the minimum in areas you rarely visit, the heat is distributed to the most used part of your home.Takeaway
A heating system is a necessity. Being exposed to extreme temperatures can be harmful to your body. We should always pay attention to our heating systems and take proper precautions and maintenance to keep it in good shape.
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