Your central heating system economy is impacted by where you live
Your central heating system economy is impacted by where you live
There are many optional products that are available to add to your central heating system to keep it running on a regular basis, and there are others that you can install and let them do the work for you day by day. Irregardless of which you choose, you should take proper care of your heating system, only then can it perform efficiently. 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. By doing all this, you not only cut down on the electricity bill, but also protect the environment. What is the best way to get your central heating system to work more economically? With the accumulation of the likes of limescale and sludge in your system will make it less efficient.
If you live in a region where hard water is being supplied, then you should look for water treatment methods to prevent sludge and limescale from damaging your central heating system.
The term water treatment encompasses many different remedies for the protection of your system. A wide assortment of water treatment products is easily available like gunk remover, scale reducer, anti-freeze, magnetic scale fighter, noise reducer, electronic scale inhibitor, and the like.
In the UK, depending on where you live, your water could range between hard and soft. Living in a hard water area means that you are prone to limescale your kettle probably being the first place that you will notice limescale deposits as well as on your showerhead and taps. These deposits decrease the cost-efficiency of your system which in turn increases your household bills. Just a small, thin layer of scale in your hot water cylinder can increase your fuel bills by as much as forty percent. Limescale is simply calcium deposits in your system. Soft water area residents should not worry too much, but it doesn’t hurt to ask for help if you are not so sure.
A majority of water treatment methods alter the molecular structure of water and the associated particles, and thereby changes the way water behaves. Water treatment works in different ways, it can change the structure or prevent the formation of solid or remove the offending particle altogether.
Chemical test kits are available that allow you to check the probability and speed of corrosion by gauging the levels of ph, chloride, iron and copper.
First, you must ensure that your system has been installed by a competent person just knowing that you must never directly connect aluminium to copper or brass because simply by connecting different metals can start a reaction which causes corrosion. The gas connections should be made only by a trades person, who is Gas Safe registered (with CORGI).
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 upgrading your current system, you must cleanse your whole system before any water treatment chemicals are added.
The central heating system will take water from the main pipeline, and in this line, even if a functional water treatment method is already there to tackle the problem of hard water this method will be of no use for your heating system. These water softening chemicals can produce better lather and are good for your skin, but they cannot reverse the choking and pitting inside the heating system.
Corrosion, limescale and biological growth are the three prominent things you need to stop.
Corrosion can begin immediately after the water starts to fill up the system from the main source after installation. Corrosion causes sludge in the system which can restrict the circulation causing cold spots on your radiators. Gradual pitting can perforate the metal piping, causing the boiler or radiators to rattle.
The calcium and magnesium present in hard water is responsible for limescale deposits. Heat causes these minerals to precipitate and gradually encrust the inner lining of pipes, leading to obstruction. A vibrating and wheezing heating system can be a real nuisance.
Biological growth inside the system is another hazard that must be prevented. This problem occurs when tanks are open as they are in certain types of central heating system. After the biological matter gets into the tank it begins to breed and produces gunk and slime. This can also grow and cause blockages in the pipework thereby reducing the efficiency of the whole system.
You can learn more about these problems on the internet. These resources cover product details as well as user feedback. I would start with the manufacturers themselves. You can see below a list of some of the most popular products and their manufacturers. Besides inquiring for information with company sources, you should also read opinions on specialised blogs.
All the best with your treatment and let’s hope you can get your central heating systems working as efficiently as possible to save you some cash.
