Post on 15-Aug-2020
and improve the efficiency of your heating system
Reduce your heating costs Speak to your local ADEY installer or visit:www.adey.com/homeowner-connect
and improve the efficiency of your heating system
Reduce your heating costs
IntroductIon
1 In 20 people saId that gettIng theIr
boIler servIced was an
unnecessary expense
When the temperature starts dropping in winter, we
take it for granted that when we turn the heating
on, our homes will be toasty. But for many, this
might not be the case. The reason for this is because
in order to work efficiently, a heating system needs
to be maintained, looked after and protected against
things that could cause costly breakdowns.
Many homeowners think heating system maintenance
is unnecessary, but that’s certainly not the case.
In fact, many people will experience an expensive
breakdown sooner than they think. In our survey, we
found that the accepted boiler lifespan within the industry is 12-15 years old, yet 45% of boilers in the UK are between 10-15 years old.
To highlight how serious this issue is, we found that
25% of people living in their current home for 15 years or more have never had their boiler serviced. The result is,
of course, a growing number of central heating
systems malfunctioning in one way or another.
30% of respondents stated that they have a problem with their central heating system while 1 in 20 suffer from low heat levels and 1 in 10 people suffer from noisy pipework.
In addition to under-performing heating systems and
breakdowns, boilers, pipework and radiators that
are still operating may not be doing so efficiently.
The outcome of this inefficiency is increased running
costs, increased carbon footprint and ultimately
reduced heat levels.
To help ensure your heating system is performing at
an optimum level, your carbon footprint is kept to
a minimum, and your energy bills are minimised as
much as possible, we’ve created this helpful guide.
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and improve the efficiency of your heating system
Reduce your heating costs
what’s happenIng to my heatIng system?Throughout this guide, phrases like black sludge and
magnetite will be mentioned, so it’s probably worth
clarifying these first. Inside a central heating system, the
combination of water, air and metal causes corrosion
to the insides of pipes and radiators. The material then
flakes off into the water and begins to travel through
the system. As more develops and eventually starts to
build-up in radiators, it can cause cold spots, system
breakdowns and heating inefficiency.
This build up of corroded material is magnetite – otherwise known as black sludge.
3and improve the efficiency of your heating system
reduce your heating costs
and improve the efficiency of your heating system
Reduce your heating costs
system flushIng
Now, with this material building up inside a heating
system and causing the issues mentioned previously,
there’s only one course of action to effectively
remove it, system flushing. This, as the name
suggests, is the process of flushing out all the water
and black sludge from the central heating system
before refilling it with water and adding some
protective measures (which we’ll mention later).
Having completed the flush and installed filters to
catch future black sludge build-up, the system can now run much more efficiently.
Many people are unaware of the process of flushing
a central heating system, and those that do know
about it will typically try to avoid employing a heating
installer to carry out the six-hour job. However, things
have changed and industry-leading products are now
being used by installers and plumbers enabling them
to carry out this job in as little as two hours.
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save up to 15% on heatIng bIllsby flushIng the system
So now, not only does having your central heating
flushed take a fraction of the time, it can also
reduce heating bills by up to 15% and reduce carbon emissions by up to 250kg per year.
and improve the efficiency of your heating system
Reduce your heating costs
protect your heatIng system
Having completed a MagnaCleanse central heating
system flush and removed virtually all the black
sludge from pipes and radiators, it’s recommended
to protect the system from this type of build-up again
in future, with a magnetic filter. This makes all the
difference when it comes to protecting your boiler, maintaining efficient heating and reducing heating bills.
If a heating installer or plumber doesn’t recommend
installing a magnetic filter on your system, then ask them about MagnaClean. By installing a
magnetic filter (which is not much bigger than a
travel coffee mug) on the return pipe to the boiler,
all water and magnetite particles have to pass
through it. The filter captures the black sludge
and ultimately removes it from the heating system.
It’s a simple solution, but one that can make a
dramatic difference to the efficiency and running
cost of a heating system and will protect the
investment you’ve made in a new boiler.
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Fitting a MagnaClean magnetic filter to a central heating system can cut heating bills by up to 6% a year.
With the system flushed and all black sludge being
captured by the magnetic filter, it may seem that your
central heating is ready for anything. However, the
creation of magnetite is ongoing and after a while
will become too much for the filter to handle. So, to
reduce the amount of black sludge that’s created,
ensure your installer also adds chemicals (inhibitor)
into the system.
Having done so, the production of magnetite will
be minimised and the filter will easily capture it all.
This will give the heating system a new lease of
life and the ability to perform at an optimum level.
To maintain a high level of efficiency, have your boiler and filter serviced on an annual basis.
magnetIte buIld-up could
cause cold spots and
heat output reductIons of
36%
Ask your installer about fitting a MagnaClean magnetic filter
Top Tip!
and improve the efficiency of your heating system
Reduce your heating costs
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a poorly maIntaIned
boIler can Increase
maIntenance costs
by more than
30%
maintenance
With the central heating system flushed, a magnetic
filter fitted and chemical inhibitors added to the water,
the system will now run at optimum performance.
However, this is not the end of the story. As previously
mentioned, black sludge will continue to build up in
the system (even if it is just small amounts). This means
that in order to maintain the best central heating
system, it needs to be looked after.
To keep a boiler functioning safely and correctly, it’s
recommended to service it once a year. This should
be carried out by a qualified heating engineer and
includes inspection of controls, gas pressure, emissions,
and also the cleaning of all necessary parts. For those
with a magnetic filter, this can also be emptied of all
captured magnetite during the service.
Having a boiler serviced annually will of course
reduce breakdowns, but as the statistic on this
page shows, it can also have a dramatic effect on
the efficiency of the appliance and also the cost of
heating the home. It’s also worth noting that boiler
cover and boiler warranties will typically require the
unit to be serviced annually in order for the cover to
remain intact. Failure to service the boiler and associated parts once a year can ultimately result in the warranty being invalidated, and no money being reimbursed in the event of a breakdown.
Make sure you service your boiler annually
Top Tip!
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reduce breakdowns and call-outs
Having a heating engineer carry out the suggestions
in this guide will minimise your central heating
system’s chances of breaking down.
By reducing breakdowns and the need for call-outs,
you’ll ultimately save money, avoid inconvenience
and escape heat loss at home.
The average time it takes to complete each one of the top 12 most common plumbing jobs such as replacing a standard hot water tank is three hours. This means that the likely
cost of a visit from a plumber will be about £120,
but may be even more.
In most instances, central heating systems break
down at the most inconvenient times. The likelihood
is that it will breakdown when you’re at your busiest
or late at night when everyone is at home and when
most heating engineers have stopped working.
So, when this happens, you’ll face an emergency
call-out fee (which doesn’t actually include the cost
of fixing the problem). You’ll then have to pay for the
parts and labour for the job. To give you an idea of
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the average emergency rate
for plumbers and heatIng engIneers In
the uk Is
£20-£40per hour
how costly this can be, a hot water cylinder alone can
cost around £970.
For most of us, the cost of an emergency call-out may
be something we can cope with. However, what
really causes the most inconvenience is having to
take time off work, make alternative arrangements
(at short notice) to accommodate a visit from an
installer or plumber, and of course, enduring cold
homes and cold showers.
Having an installer flush the system, add a magnetic filter, inhibitor chemicals, and service the system annually can remove all of these headaches.
and improve the efficiency of your heating system
Reduce your heating costs
reduce costs
Where necessary, some heating systems may simply
need to be modernised due to the age of the boiler
or the irreparable inefficiency. When this is the case
and it’s perhaps time to invest in a new boiler, the
key to a cost-effective purchase is research. Start by
determining the type of boiler that the property needs
i.e. combi, heat-only or oil boiler.
Most likely, the boiler that will be right for you is a
combi boiler. However, having decided this, there are many other choices still to make, such as brand, energy-efficiency rating and which engineer you’ll use to install it. Start by finding a Gas Safe registered engineer
to carry out the work. A good place to start is by
asking your friends and family for recommendations
of engineers they have used previously.
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accordIng to
the energy
savIngs trust, a new boIler
replacement
costs on average
£2,500-£3,000
Alternatively, visit adey.com/homeowner-connect
Once you’ve found a suitable installer, they will be
able to offer you the best advice on the system that’s
right for your property… and your budget.
Always use a Gas Safe engineer for boiler advice and installation
Top Tip!
and improve the efficiency of your heating system
reduce your heating costs
and improve the efficiency of your heating system
Reduce your heating costs
conclusIon
This guide highlights how simple processes carried out
on a central heating system can make a big difference.
Whether it’s less breakdowns and call-outs; a lower
carbon footprint; better efficiency; or of course
lower heating bills, the benefits can’t be ignored.
Ultimately, a chat with your heating engineer will
help determine which of these you need and how
your costs could be reduced.
One thing that has not been mentioned in this
guide is boiler breakdown cover. According to
uSwitch.com, the average cost of boiler cover in
the UK is £100 per year. However, by implementing
the advice provided in this guide (such as a system
flush and magnetic filter), not only is the risk of
breakdown minimised, but the only recurring costs
are an annual boiler service at around £62 .
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So, as long as the system has been professionally flushed and protected, not only does the annual service negate the need for boiler cover, it can also reduce average yearly costs by at least £100.
To find out more about the best way to operate and maintain a cost-effective
and highly efficient central heating system in your home, speak to your
local ADEY installer or visit:
www.adey.com/homeowner-connect