Efficient Central Heating Solutions for Your Home
As the temperature drops, proper central heating becomes more and more important. Ensuring that your central heating system is working correctly should be a top priority for you and your family with a single faulty part capable of ruining your winter holiday season. There are a number of issues that can surface during the cold winter months. One common issue is frost damage, which can harm boilers and pipes, preventing them from working efficiently.
In the past, the central heating system was set up so that the frost thermostat was placed near the boiler. It was responsible for turning on the boiler as the ambiance temperature dropped below the determined level and heat was needed. The thermostat also stopped the boiler when it detected the air temperature was at an appropriate level. Many times the thermostat detected heat leaking from the boiler or the pipes and immediately turned off the system to conserve energy.
Modern central heating design has solved the problem of heat escape through improved insulation but in doing so, created another problem. The boiler and pipes are now much more insulated, in an attempt to conserve energy. Unfortunately, the frost thermostat is no longer capable of accurately determining the temperature. As a result, wasteful overheating can easily occur.
The pipe thermostat is one solution. The product is installed on the boiler return pipe. This thermostat detects changes in pipe temperature and prevents overheating by shutting off the system when necessary. There are several UK companies that sell the frost thermostat and low limit pipe thermostat together in one kit. These products allow you to adjust room temperature and provide frost protection for your boilers and pipes.
Set up and installation of the thermostats is easy and user friendly. Directions for installation and wiring arrive along with the product, all in one kit. Frost thermostats are commonly set to 5C and pipe thermostats are usually set to 25C. If you have additional exposed pipes (e.g in the garage), extra thermostats can be bought to secure your central heating system completely.
Sometimes, a pipe thermostat is not the best solution for your individual needs. Another product that could prove useful is the fully programmable room thermostat. This can be installed in a number of locations throughout the home, including the living room or hallway. They serve to record and monitor the room temperature and are very easy to install. Modern room thermostat models operate by RF, or Radio Frequency. A radio signal is sent from the thermostat to the boiler eliminating the need for wiring.
Thermostats are a crucial part of the central heating system but there are other considerations to heating your home as efficiently as possible. Dividing the home into heating zones can be helpful. By focusing heat solely in the most populated parts of the home, less frequently used rooms can be kept at lower temperatures. This slight adjustment can reduce heating bills and heat the home more effectively.
Tal Potishman, editor of Heating Central, writes articles about efficient heating, boiler, underfloor heating and solar thermal. He specializes in helping save money by advising on efficient heating.