You boiler may want you to live somewhere else
You boiler may want you to live somewhere else
You can find a number of products that can be added to your central heating system to help it run smoother as well as some products that can take care of themselves. In either case, your system will be well-prepared to work efficiently if you take the time to maintain it. It is now well known, thanks to advice given by governments and environmental organisations, that we should save energy wherever possible by turning off lights, washing clothes at lower temperatures, switching TVs off and turning down thermostats. All these habits will result in lower household bills in addition to protecting the environment through energy saving. So how to make your central heating system run efficiently and reduce carbon dioxide? Your gas central heating’s efficacy decreases when limescale deposits and gunk accumulate in it.
To stop the build up of limescale and sludge in your system particularly in hard water areas, then you need to take a look at water treatment.
The term water treatment encompasses many different remedies for the protection of your system. sludge extractors, limescale inhibitors, electronic and magnetic lime reducers, anti-freeze compounds and noise reducing agents are some of the extensive water treatment products sold in the market today.
Living in the UK means that depending on whereabouts you are in the country, your water can range from hard to soft. If you spot limescale formation inside your kettle or bath taps, there is probably hard water running in your taps. These deposits decrease the cost-efficiency of your system which in turn increases your household bills. A thin layer of limescale can increase your fuel bills by 40 percent. Basically, limescale is just the build up of calcium deposits. If you live in a soft water region, then you need not worry about limescale that much; however, if you are uncertain about the water quality, then without any hesitation seek advice.
Many water treatments produce the desired effect by changing how water molecules and the particles inside act through modifications of their structure. Some will change one structure for another, others remove the offending structure and another will stop them from being able to make a solid leaving them in suspension.
There are different types of chemical test kits available that can help you to ascertain the corrosion potential of water by measuring the pH, chloride, iron and copper levels.
To begin with, you should make certain that your system has been assembled by a qualified individual, for example it’s important to have the simple knowledge that connecting aluminum and copper or brass triggers a corrosive reaction because that’s what happens when different metals are joined. All gas connections must be made by a CORGI registered tradesperson.
If you plan ahead of time while having a new system assembled, you will be able to identify the water treatments you need and have some of them installed with your system. If you are updating your existing system you would be looking at flushing the whole system before adding any water treatment solutions.
Products added to the mains supply can soften hard water and improve the quality of water for domestic use, but they do not prevent or remedy deterioration of the central heating system. They do not alter the efficiency of your system, they only allow soaps and detergents to produce more lather when washing clothes.
You basically need to prevent your system from three things, limescale deposits, biological growth and corrosion.
The first problem that you may have to face is corrosion, it can start as soon as the system is installed and filled with water. Corrosion produces sludge and this prevents free circulation, this can eventually lead to formation of cold spots on radiators. Gradual pitting can perforate the metal piping, causing the boiler or radiators to rattle.
Hard water contains magnesium and calcium and these minerals deposit as limescale in the system. Heat causes these minerals to precipitate and bit by bit encrust the inner lining of pipes, leading to obstruction. This can also make the system noisy and inefficient, you will be paying for gas that does not heat your home.
You should also be wary of biological growth. They gets into the heating system through open tanks. The biological growth advances rapidly in the form of a slimy lining. This sludge stagnates in the plumbing and slows down the flow of hot water.
There is a lot of free advice on the internet. Take a look at this for a few minutes to improve your awareness. We recommend starting with the manufacturers themselves. Below is a list of manufacturers and some of the popular products they have available. You can also find a lot of really useful information and tips through forums as well as speaking to suppliers directly with any specific questions that you may have.
Now you should be able to choose and install an effective heating system which is enjoyable, healthy and cost-efficient on both kinds of green!.