This post will provide a bit more information on heating your home, and later the most common problems found with central heating systems and solutions on how to help ensure you stay warm throughout the year.
Heating your home
Heating your home and facing high bills each month for a lot of people unfortunately go hand in hand. With the ever increasing energy bills, more and more people resort to sticking it out throughout the winter months and barely even touching their heating systems, in pure fear of not being able to make the payments that would head their way. This has become more commonly known in the older generations, and has lead to many sad tragedies reported in the news.
Over 80% of energy consumed within the home is used on central heating systems and hot water, so it makes all the difference to ensure that everything is running as efficiently as possible to save money.
Turning down the thermostat, ensuring there is good insulation throughout the home and choosing a more efficient boiler are all ways of helping to reduce the monthly costs.
When upgrading a boiler you could be applicable to benefit from the current boiler scrapage scheme which could save you up to £400 off a new boiler. If the boiler is over 15 years old you are highly likely to be in the ‘G’ band boiler rating which with this scheme will provide the maximum saving.
The table below has been sourced from the Energy Saving Trust website and displays the estimated annual savings for upgrading. There is also a carbon emission saving column to show your ‘green footprint’.
|
Boiler Rating
|
Annual Saving
|
CO2 Annual Saving (kg)
|
|
D = 78%-82%
|
£70
|
375
|
|
E = 74%-78%
|
£110
|
575
|
|
F = 70%-74%
|
£150
|
800
|
|
G = Less than 70%
|
£235
|
1,260
|
These savings can really help you get through each month, and make the most of the heat contained within the home, resulting in a lot less use while staying warm at the same time. The type of boiler that you choose can really impact the energy efficiency in the home.
Common problems faced with boilers and central heating systems
Below you will find some of the most common problems found with any central heating system, and more specifically the boilers which carry out all of the work.
This simple step by step guide will also help to keep your costs down from call outs to plumbers (unless required).
1. My heating has stopped and I don’t know what to do?
· Check that the thermostat for the boiler has not been set too low. The boiler will only work if the heating has been set to a temperature above the current room.
· Check that the time set on the thermostat is correct e.g. that is hasn’t been set for 5 o’clock in the morning instead of 5 o’clock in the afternoon.
· Check that the boiler has been switched on at the local isolator switch and on the boiler itself.
· Check for any error or warning lights on the boiler control panel.
· Check that the water pressure gauge is over 0.8 bar
· Check that the pilot light in the boiler is still working, if not the instructions for relighting can usually be found on the inside of the boiler door.
· If there are no problems with any of the above then it is likely that there is a deeper problem with the boiler or even the whole of the central heating system which will need to be looked at by a professional plumber.
2. The boiler is making strange noises and I am not sure what the cause is?
· If you are using a conventional (regular) boiler then it could be likely that there is not enough water in the header tank and will need topping up.
· Check that the tank is topped up with water, if not then the noise could be caused from a frozen pipe, air lock or the mains water supply has been switched off.
· If everything seems to be ok, then it is extremely likely that the system is choking on sludge and will need to be drained. Call a plumber.
3. I can hear strange water gurgling noises coming from the radiators
· If the radiators are making a strange gurgling noise then this will be due to trapped air which has been caught in the pipes, and as a result will need to be drained to prevent the noises
For further useful information and advice regarding central heating systems and specific boilers please visit <a href=”http://dhsblog.co.uk”>http://dhsblog.co.uk</a>
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