Your home heating system is a crucial piece of home infrastructure. Still, because it does its job silently, ticking away in the background and mostly hidden behind a network of pipes, it’s common for homeowners not give it a second thought. Once your heating system is installed, it’s easy to forget about it, but just like everything else in your home, it needs to be carefully maintained if you want to ensure energy efficiency (even something as simple as having the wrong settings and schedule implemented can make a big difference).
Once winter hits and the temperature begins to fall, you’re both at an increased likelihood of a breakdown and in the worst season to experience one, so making sure everything is in order beforehand is crucial. In this article, you’ll learn about three key things to consider to keep your heating system running smoothly and efficiently.
- Boiler Servicing and Cover
Two of the most important elements of all are ensuring you have adequate cover in place and that your boiler is regularly serviced. Boilers are generally serviced annually, and during this process, the engineer will perform a series of tests to identify potential problems before they cause disaster. This is a simple, inexpensive procedure that can save you hundreds of pounds in the long run.
Many providers offer boiler service cover, which includes the service itself aswell as the benefit of emergency callouts and breakdown cover. This sort of package deal is usually the best way to go, as it’s peace of mind that whatever happens, someone will be available to sort the problem at a moment’s notice.
- Using the Right Settings
As mentioned briefly above, using the right settings can have a major impact on the performance of your boiler over time. It’s very common for boilers to have never been set up properly, and each system must be fine-tuned to work properly within a given property.
For example, many people have the thermostat too high, or have the timer set to a time when no one’s even in the house. Discuss this matter with your engineer at your next service to make certain you’re getting the most out of your system and not wasting energy.
- Efficiency Add-Ons
Many modern boilers can be upgraded with add-ons, the most common of which is a smart thermostat.
While most don’t come with them as standard, boilers today have a panel on the unit which can house a remote thermostat. These come with a smart receiver, which can be carried with you from room to room as opposed to being fixed on a wall, making the process of setting times and adjusting temperatures quick and easy (they also usually have an accompanying smartphone app).
Then, you have upgrades like thermostatic radiator valves, which enable the user to regulate the temperatures in individual rooms (these can also be controlled via a smart thermostat).
Wrapping Up
This article only covers a handful of things to consider when it comes to heating system efficiency, but they’re a start. Be sure to have a thorough discussion with your engineer and plumber for further insight.
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