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