Do I need to add any extra controls to my heating system?
And what extra controls are there?
As long as the minimum requirement of Time & Temperature control have been installed then there is no legal requirement for any added controls on your heating system. Dependant on the size of the property, adding these extra controls will pay for themselves in energy savings within a year or so. Smaller properties have lower heating bills so will take longer to return the cost of other devices.
Save Money On Your Heating Bill
See our post on how to save money on your heating bill so find some more ways to keep you gas usage as efficient as possible. Most of the added controls outlined here will in some way save you money on your heating bills and reduce the amount of gas you need to use to heat your home.
TRV’s – Thermostatic Radiator Valves have been common for 20 years and are now a legal requirement in new build properties. A common problem with TRV’s is that people just don’t use them correctly and leave them fully open in most rooms. Try turning them all down to level 2 then turn each TRV up a level until the room is comfortable.
*Please note if your property was built before the year 2000, installing TRV’s is certainly advisable but not required by the building regulations.
Outdoor weather stat – Other wise known as weather compensation technology, has been around for a while now.
In brief its a thermostat on the outside of your property that will change the output of the boiler in milder weather. Smart Thermostat’s now provide this information for the boiler without the need to install a “Outdoor Stat” If these Smart thermostats are too sophisticated for the user then a “Outdoor stat” is still a good investment.
Smart TRV’s – There is now a number of brands such as Honeywell & Worcester Bosch that have designed TRV’s capable of more accurate temperature control and individual time control. This allows for zoning of each room in the house, creating superior levels of comfort & energy saving.
Smart Thermostats – Internet controlled thermostats such as Hive, Nest, Vaillant V-Smart and Worcester Wave have become very popular in the last couple of years. The idea of being able to turn on your heating via a app before you get home is certainly useful if you are getting home at different times of the day or night. But the real benefit to be had is the improved energy efficiency when you are actually at home. By building on weather compensation technology, smart thermostats that connect to the internet can “modulate” the gas valve and lower the boilers heating output temperature, resulting in lower gas bills. A simpler way of describing this is “when its warmer outside, the boiler automatically lower’s its radiator temperature for you. When the weather gets colder, the boiler increases its radiator temperature.” Finally, it seems that the heating industry has got its heads together and come up with
“Open therm technology”. This is a common language between devices that allows a third party control such as Nest or Hive to “talk” to the boiler.
Full home automation – If Smart Thermostats & TRV’s sound cool, these same companies are developing a whole house solution, that can combine with smoke / CO alarms, turn on your lighting, operate your door locks and providing CCTV videos all to a handy app on your phone.
Check out our other blog posts for loads of tips and advice on your heating system, saving money and troubleshooting tips! All the parts mentioned here are compatible with all our A-Rated boilers. Check out the full range of boilers or call for free advice – 0800 170 1889