Heating and maintenance

The Boiler is at the heart of any Central Heating System, however, all the other components i.e. radiators, timers, radiator valves etc., are all vital to the overall comfort levels required in the home.

As we are Accredited Worcester Bosch Installers, we have access to a changing menu of options that attract different discounts. Worcester Bosch also run different promotions that come bundled with 8, 9, 10 or 12-year guarantees, depending upon the model of boiler chosen and which add-on modules you opt to have us install. We do our best to publish here the details of the current best deals, and we can confirm these with you when you first contact us.

Choosing which model of boiler to install needs us to consider a number of factors, but what you can be sure of is that the latest generation of boilers has greatly-improved efficiency over what you have been used to in the past.

There are 3 major components connected to the radiator. For the radiator to function to its design it must always be free of air and full of water. The air release vent is, as its description implies, where any air within the radiator can be released by using a special air vent key.

If you have a sealed system we will instruct you on how to replenish the water levels before you attempt to release air from radiators.

• Thermostatic Radiator Valves: The radiators in your home should be fitted with Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs) which will enable you to control the temperature of each room individually. The higher the number shown on the TRV, the hotter the room should get, up to a maximum of around 22°C. It is advisable to manually adjust all radiator valves every 2-3 months to prevent them sticking. It is also important that the plastic tops of all valves are always in position and not cracked or damaged so as to prevent accidents.

Modern boilers are not unattractive, but you might like to consider having a wall-mounted central heating boiler integrated into a run of kitchen units. It's an option that we can install for you.

Your central heating system should include a timer or programmer, a room thermostat as well as Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs) on the radiators in most of the rooms. Each of these components of the heating system can play an important role in improving your comfort levels and running costs.

• Timer: The timer or programmer brings the heating system on for set periods of time. The timer can be either wall mounted remotely from the boiler or attached to the facia panel of the boiler itself.
• Room thermostat: The room thermostat dictates how hot the air temperature in the house will be. Generally the thermostat is sited in the hall or landing or in an unheated room.
• Programmable room thermostat: This allows the time and temperature levels of the house to be programmed to different levels throughout the day.
• Frost thermostat: This can be sited either outside or in an unheated space, garage etc. If the weather conditions are extreme, the function of the frost thermostat is to bring the boiler and heating system on (even though the programmer may be in an off position), so as to prevent the system and pipework being subjected to frost.

• Hard water areas: Generally combi boilers will operate successfully and efficiently in all areas. Hard water can lead to scale forming within the heat exchanger of the appliance, reducing the efficiency and possibly the flow rate. it is suggested that a scale prevention device or water softener is fitted to the incoming mains.
• Cloudy water: In certain areas of the country and perhaps at certain times of the day it is possible that the heated domestic hot water has a cloudy or milky appearance. This appearance can be off-putting. However, it is nothing to worry about as this cloudy appearance is simply millions of air bubbles created by the calcium present within the water being heated. This can be demonstrated by filling a glass where upon the bubbles can be seen to disperse.

A ‘combi’ or combination boiler is a high efficiency water heater and a central heating boiler combined (hence the name) within one compact unit. Water is heated directly from the mains eliminating the need for a hot water storage cylinder and the associated cold water storage cistern in the roof space. Because your hot water is delivered to your taps or shower at mains pressure it’s very convenient and can save on your hot water costs.

As an added benefit, showers from a ‘combi’ can be comparable with the performance of a power shower. As well as generating heat for the central heating system, a combi boiler also heats water directly from the mains. This of course eliminates the need for a hot water storage cylinder and cold water storage cisterns in the roof space.

Regular boilers – sometimes referred to as traditional or conventional boilers – are suitable for homes that already have a traditional heating and hot water system that requires a separate hot water cylinder.

Regular boilers also require a cold water storage cistern to feed the hot water cylinder and an expansion cistern in the loft. They are a good option for any home where a large volume of stored hot water is required e.g. homes with two or more bathrooms, or in areas where the water pressure is low. Regular boilers are compatible with solar water heating systems to bring you the added benefits of environmentally friendly hot water and further cost savings.

Both a system boiler and a regular boiler work on the principle of stored hot water – but a system boiler is different in two important ways. Firstly, many of the components of the heating and hot water system are built into the boiler itself, making it quicker and easier to install. Secondly, it doesn’t need a feed and expansion vessel in the loft. There are two kinds of cylinder which this type of system may have –a mains pressure hot water cylinder or a low pressure hot water cylinder. They are also compatible with solar water heating systems to bring you the added benefits of environmentally friendly hot water and reduced hot water and heating costs.

Your boiler is a precision-made appliance which generally requires little or no user attention. The following tips may be of assistance in getting the best from your boiler and heating system.

• Temperature controls: Depending on the boiler model you have installed there will be a central heating temperature control knob and possibly a domestic hot water temperature control knob. The more clockwise the temperature knob is turned, the hotter the temperature of the function. This is very much a “trial and error” exercise until you find the most suitable level for your needs. ‘E’ indicates‘Economy’ mode. At this temperature the boiler operates in full condensing mode (if you have a condensing boiler installed).
• Pressure gauge: If you have a combination boiler or a system boiler installed it is likely that there will be a pressure gauge mounted in the facia of the appliance. The pressure gauge should be set at around 1 bar in pressure when the boiler is cold. When the boiler operates the gauge is likely to rise to 1.5 bar or more. If it is noticed over a period of time that the pressure gauge drops below this, it would indicate that there is a small leak on the system and the sealed system water pressure needs topping back up to the 1 bar level.
• Sealed primary system: This is now by far the most common arrangement of heating system with a combi boiler. Within the system will be a filling link. This allows mains water to enter the system pipework and radiators via a temporary hose connection or key, filling the system with water until the pressure gauge reads generally around 1 bar.
• Open vent primary system: An open vent system has a small feed and expansion cistern connected to the boiler and is generally located in the roof space.This type of arrangement automatically fills the heating system and removes the need for a pressure gauge.
• System flushing and cleansing: If you are experiencing boiler noise or your radiators are hot at the bottom yet cold at the top it is possible that the cleanliness of the system water is not up to standard. This can be remedied by flushing the system with a chemical cleanser. We will be able to advise you on the benefits and the cost of power flushing the system. This would return the boiler and the system back to its design efficiency and operation.
• Radiator removal for decorating: When decorating a room it is more convenient to remove the radiator from its brackets to paper or paint behind it more thoroughly. If the boiler is a combi and is run on a sealed system, the system will need re-pressurising once the radiator is put back and connected.
• Annual servicing: To ensure your boiler functions most efficiently it should be serviced annually and this can also prevent breakdowns of the boiler and inconvenient malfunction.