Your boiler’s heating controls help you set the boiler temperature and times. However, more than half of homes in the UK do not have heating controls that meet the minimum legal requirements for newly installed units. Old, outdated heating controls are hindering home owners from heating their homes in a more cost effective way.An efficient heating control will allow you to keep your home warm without wasting fuel, energy or heat.
Today, smart heating controls are available. These systems are more advanced and are designed for domestic use. You can manage your heating system remotely using your computer, tablet or smart phone. Some systems are even designed to learn the options you typically choose, and make adjustments to accommodate those.
Remember that the type of heating control that you need will depend on what heating system you have. A smart heating control may not necessarily be the best option for you.
Here are some benefits of getting an updated heating control system:
- reduce carbon dioxide emissions
- save money on your energy bill by using your controls efficiently
- schedule when to turn your heating and hot water on or off
- set different temperatures in the different areas of your home as needed
- control your heating system remotely – even when you are not home
How to save money through your heating controls:
- Turn the thermostat to the lowest comfortable temperature. Remember that even turning it down by 1°C can save you about £85 to £90 on your energy bill annually.
- You can set the thermostat to 18°C, then turn it up by one degree at a time until you find a temperature that is comfortable for you. If you have elderly or people with impaired mobility living in your home, the temperature should not be lower than 16°C.
- Do not block the thermostat. Check to make sure it is not covered by curtains or furniture, and keep away electric heaters, TV sets or lamps. The thermostat needs the air to be free flowing to get the a more accurate temperature of the room.
- You can opt to install multiple heating circuits with individual room thermostats or programmers. This will allow you to zone the temperatures in the different areas in your home. Set lower temperatures for parts of the house that are not frequently used or only used at certain times of the day.
- Use a timer. This will allow you to set times when your boiler will turn on and off over a 24- hour period. Programmers also offer other options such as setting different times and / or temperatures at different days, or setting different temperatures for different times of the day.
- Schedule the timer to turn off 30 minutes before you are scheduled to leave the house. The residual heat will still keep you warm.
- Set the thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) to a low level and then turn it up gradually until you reach a temperature that is comfortable when the heating is turned on. Setting the TRV to a higher notch will not heat up the room any faster. The speed in which a room will warm up depends on the size and settings of the boiler, a well as the size of the radiator.
We hope you found these tips on maximizing your heating controls to save money useful. Contact us at RJ Gas for more help on your boiler or central heating.
