Updating Your Heating System
Just because your heating system is old doesn't mean that you have to spend lots of money completely replacing the boiler, pipe work and infrastructure with an energy efficient one. Although this might be a good idea over the medium term - far better to improve the efficiency of the what you have - and save typically 20% to 30%+ off your fuel bill by installing a HeatingSave controller.
Boilers
Your boiler should be serviced annually by a qualified heating engineer. This will keep it running safely, efficiently and reliably, using the correct amount of fuel. Most gas or oil fired heating boilers in the world are of the non-condensing type. Condensing boilers use the escaping flue gasses to pre-heat the boiler primary water circuit, making the boiler around 10% more fuel efficient. New or replacement boiler should only be of the condensing type. One word of caution; the pay-back period of installing a new condensing boiler is typically 8 to 10 years. The pay-back period for a HeatingSave controller is usually around 1½ to 3 years, so don't change your boiler until it's broken.
Circulation pumps
Replace any particularly old pumps with new ones, especially if they are noisy. New pumps are quieter, more efficient and use less power.
Radiators
Modern radiators efficiently move the heat from the hot water in the primary boiler piping into the atmosphere of a room more efficiently than older finless ones. Remember, although they are called "radiators" most of the heat is transferred via convection not radiation. Finned radiators have a greater surface area and therefore heat more air they come in contact with and heat a room quicker. Make sure that the overall the heating system is balanced so that the heat is evenly distributed throughout the radiator network.
Thermostatic Radiator Valves
These should be fitted on all radiators except for rooms controlled directly by HeatingSave and have a HeatingSave temperature sensor in the room, This will enable you to improve the comfort of the room and save money.
Insulation
Any areas that will not benefit from heat generated by exposed pipes should be insulated to reduce heat loss and save fuel. Loft areas should have at least 200mm of glass fibre insulation. Cold water and header tanks should always be jacketed and the associated pipe work insulated. Modern hot water cylinders come already insulated. The older types with a removable jacket should replaced with new ones, or at least have more insulation placed around them.
Pipe Work
All exposed pipe work, particularly in voids, loft areas and outside buildings must be insulated with the latest 40mm pipe insulation. This will protect it from frost and prevent heat loss. Remember that the water that leaves your boiler it is constantly dropping in temperature along every centimetre of the pipe work and you need to make sure that this unnecessary and expensive heat loss is kept to a minimum. Also remember that rodents love to eat pipe insulation so make sure that you have mice or rat bait (that is checked once a month) in lofts and other areas where vermin can enter.
Controls
Classic timeclock, boiler thermostat and room thermostat controls are the obvious the first task in improving the efficiency and fuel usage of any heating system. Replacing the existing timeclock with a HeatingSave controller will give you an increased level of comfort and reduce you fuel bills - up to 30%+. Also consider the use of additional motorised valves and pumps connected to your HeatingSave controller to make sure you only heat the areas you want to heat and when.
Occupancy detectors
Always consider connecting passive infrared occupancy detectors (PIR's) to your HeatingSave controller, especially if you are out a lot. PIR's are cheap and will save you many times their cost when HeatingSave automatically turns down your heating when you are not at home and turns it back up when you arrive back.