Archive for June, 2008

Fight back on expensive gas costs

June 26, 2008 at 1:49 pm · Filed under combi boiler ·Tagged

Trimming energy consumption is a popular theme in the press and tv. Gas expenses seem to be perpetually on the rise and it is therefore also financially helpful to make greater use of the gas you buy. The typical UK house spends close to 50% of it’s gas costs on gas heating system energy use. Every home should be able to cut its heating system charges by carrying through some of the tips we have outlined below.

Only use boilers when and where you need it :
Central heating radiators are made to be turned on and off. Have a look at whether there are any rooms in your home which are not being used and switch off the metal radiator there. If an area of your home is not used often it really doesn’t need heating. Seal the room off by shutting the door and you will have effectively shrunk your home and contracted your heating charges.

Prefer the combi gas boiler in preference to using a fire :
A fire is far less efficient than the central heating system. If you think about it the design of a fire incorporates a chimney which allows heat to escape to the outside, an electric fire is nowhere near as efficient as the gas heating system.

Cut down on drafts by use insulation
energy is wasted in homes due to poor insulation and drafts bringing chilly air into the home. The first place to look will be your doorways and ensure that any visible gaps are blocked off. Use a foam based sealer to close off any gaps between your door frame and the window frames where these meet the exterior wall. These type of cracks happen often in aging houses as the foundations settle. draughts can be tracked down by using a wax candle flame and checking when it flickers as you move around the room taking care not to drop any hot wax.

Ensure you are wearing warm clothes indoors :
If you are going to turn up the heating thermostat stop and consider whether it could be better to put on some extra clothing. You may not recognise it but a small 1° reduction in the room temperature can save a large ten% on your heating consumption.

Use the drapes effectively :
During the day time if the sun is shining keep the curtains on the sunny side of the house open to heat the interior of your home. Your windowpanes can be the cause of a lot of heat loss at night as outside temperatures decrease. Curtains can be an incremental form of insulation and this time and trim heat loss if they are closed, this can can save you real money in the longer term. The heavier the drapes in the greater.

Advice around the home :
Some combi gas heating systems have a hot water tank and this must be insulated. Do not pay to heat water and then permit it cool down during the daytime.

Don’t heat the walls of your house immediately at the rear of the radiators, aluminium foil can be used to reflect the heat cutting this heat loss.

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The heating boiler installation guide

June 19, 2008 at 3:37 pm · Filed under plumbing ·Tagged ,

Central heating boiler set up is a big market in the UK with one and a half million heating boilers put in by the 0.1 million heating installers. Some central heating boiler fitters are highly trained, nevertheless some central heating boiler fitters have no qualifications. This means that you need to carefully select who will put in your gas boiler.

Although gas fired boiler replacements are a large percentage of the market it does appear that householders have little say over what form and model are set up. Taking into account the size of annual heating bills and purchase costs of a new central heating boiler, this might surprise you.

When you come to choose a gas fired boiler installer and choose a new central heating boiler there are some significant topics to look at as detailed below.

<b>boilers come in many types and sizes</b>

Although you should be installing a condensing boiler there are several forms obtainable. Your installer will need to know the installation requirements of the specific variety you select. boilers also have different heat yield options and that he is it to be set in accordance with your heating needs. Your ongoing heating costs will be lower if the central heating boiler is correctly matched to your needs.

<b>Your installer must follow the central heating boiler set up regulations</b>

The fitting of gas fired boilers is governed by several national government regulations. There is a little option but to set up a condensing gas fired boiler as a replacement gas fired boiler. The fitter must be CORGI trained. The fitting survey will check that there is sufficient ventilation in the room where the boiler is to be fitted.

<b>The cost-efficiency of your gas fired boiler is important</b>

The difference between an old heating boiler at fifty percent cost-efficiency and the modern condensing boilers with up to 90% cost-efficiency represents a substantial divergence in gas costs every month.

<b>When set up ends you have the need to maintain your gas fired boiler</b>

Availability of emergency component parts for several years after central heating boiler set up is essential. Who you will choose for a maintenance contract are also important considerations. regularly maintained gas fired boilers are healthy. Selecting the inappropriate type of central heating boiler and badly servicing it will cost you in the long run.

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Central heating system cover options

June 16, 2008 at 1:32 pm · Filed under plumbing ·Tagged , ,

Having a gas boiler repaired after an unexpected problem can be really expensive. You will also be without heating or hot water while you wait for an engineer to turn up. To avoid these problems many people take out central heating boiler and heating cover.

You should check exactly what is covered before you buy one of these central heating system care plans. Provided you pay the monthly fee and a plumber will be available to visit and attempt to fix your boiler if you have a problem. Most central heating boiler care suppliers aim to do this within twenty four hours of your call, this is a best endeavours goal, no supplier will guarantee this response time although the service can be improved if you pay an extra regular fee. If you have young children or are elderly you may also find you are given priority without the payment of any extra regular fee.

While some policies provide only central heating insurance, many offer an array of extra options such as repairs for central heating, plumbing and drains even your electrical wiring. Including extra components will increase the monthly charge.

Choosing the appropriate central heating care care for you will depend on your circumstances. You may want to include care for your full central heating system rather than just the gas fired boiler. If your wiring is old you might want to incorporate wiring cover.

a twelve month central heating boiler service is included within most plans. Irregardless of whether your boiler plan incorporates a 12 month service or not we recommend that you ensure one is carried out. As badly maintained boilers can produce deadly carbon monoxide gases it is absolutely essential that you have a twelve month gas boiler service.

The lifespan operating costs of your boiler can be reduced through regular servicing and maintenance. Some gas fired boiler care suppliers will only offer cover if you have your central heating serviced regularly.

If you do decide to take out central heating cover check your policy for the after exclusions:

One hour parts and labour is all that is offered in some circumstances. You will have extra costs with this type of care if you have a serious breakdown.

Sometimes all the boilers are not covered by some types of plan. Obviously you need to check this before you purchase the care.

Current customers should also be wary. Your cover may cease once your central heating system has gone past a certain age.

Although changing boiler care providers is relatively easy, it is recommended that you select one that does not include a restriction on the age of the central heating boiler on renewal. With an older heating boiler you will have a restricted number of providers but probably a greater need for care.

The cover in some policy only extends to two gas boiler failures in any 12 months. If you can choose a boiler care plan with unlimited call outs.

To reduce your regular charge some suppliers offer a reduced monthly charge but charge an excess if you call them out. This could be a good alternative if you have a relatively new gas fired boiler.

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Back Boilers

June 11, 2008 at 8:22 am · Filed under plumbing ·Tagged

Quick overview of Back Boilers provided by the authority site – heating and hot water industry council in the UK
clipped from www.centralheating.co.uk

Back boilers (BBUs)

Under recent building regulations, an old back boiler in the fireplace area
should be replaced by a condensing or high efficiency boiler. Back boilers
are known as open flued models, which should, in most cases, no longer be
sold. The only exception is when it is either too complicated or expensive
to install a condensing boiler. In that case a back boiler can be fitted
providing it achieves a minimum 78% SEDBUK efficiency. SEDBUK stands for
Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers in the UK. Many customers faced with
this, tend to opt for a new condensing combination boiler which frees up the
fireplace to put in a more attractive gas fire, or simply leave it open.

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Wintertime is a high-risk period for a boiler inspection

June 6, 2008 at 10:29 am · Filed under safety ·Tagged

A safe heating system is a regularly serviced boiler, it will also be a more efficient gas boiler with lower heating costs. A relaxed mind results from a regular gas heating servicing as you note your gas boiler should be more efficient for the following twelve months and is not emiting any life-threatening gases. If you have paid thousands of pounds for a heating system you recognise you need to guarantee that it is correctly serviced. Planes costing 10’s of millions have a regular service program so how come you reckon that your central heating can survive for a long time avoiding one. Engineers call out prices can be much more than the price of a twelve month inspection for those that have not planned ahead.

If you have a central heating breakdown you will probably wish you had thought of it in the past. Most older gas boilers have a lifespan of roughly fifteen years, so if yours is nearing or past that milepost, its could be worth your time investing in an effective, green and ultimately money-saving new model.

Sediments can build in your boiler and greatly trim back its effectiveness, so having it regularly maintained is a sensible move. A benefit of getting a 12 month service programme is that the gas boiler plumber will track your boiler to ensure it is functioning safely at maximum efficiency. The 12 month service is more about ensuring that your gas boiler is working correctly, and making adjustments where needed, rather than taking it all apart on the kitchen flooring and putting it back together again. Most leading boiler service providers use laptop computers to enable their work force to analyse how your central heating is performing before the case needs to be opened and any parts adjusted or replaced. The use of a computer and these diagnostics means a more dependable service which will not introduce new problems into your gas boiler.

Summer heating Servicing

We tend to think of central heating as the winter approaches and then made up one’s mind to schedule the annual central heating service, this can be a mistake and the worst time of the year. Boiler service companies will have plumbers available in the summer months as this is their quiet period before the busy winter months lead to a large number of heating breakdowns. Arranging a visit in this period means that the gas boiler engineer will have more time to focus on your boiler and ensure that you get the best possible service. You will also stand a better chance of scheduling the visit to suit your diary.

A gas boiler service can keep your family safe

gas boiler service charges are small in comparison to combi boiler breakdown costs. Over and above the advantages of the heating service is the benefit flowing from the protection of your family. Badly serviced boilers can produce Co and this is one of the main reasons why you should have your gas boiler serviced regularly. Oxygen is displaced in the body when common monoxide is absorbed. Reviews have identified that more than half the population are not familiar with the signs of Carbon monoxide poisoning. Leading heating servicing plan providers will employ CORGI registered engineers to install and service heating systems to help ensure the safety of you and your family.

If you don’t take out an annual service or heating service plan you expose yourself to the cost of a heating breakdown in the future. Notwithstanding this less than 5 million gas boiler servicing contracts have been issued in the country. heating operation and servicing are closely tied together. A stitch in time saves nine and regular heating servicing saves gas boiler breakdowns.

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Save with a gas combi boiler

June 6, 2008 at 10:24 am · Filed under combi boiler ·Tagged , ,

Gas costs are up around the planet and it appears that gas bills cost more each year. One way of reducing heating costs is to review how you are wasting gas in the home. You could trim your gas costs by up to 35% if you put in a new gas-saving condensing combination boiler. Combi Boilers are efficient.

A central heating gas fired boiler needs to be able to deliver sufficient hot water to heat your house and furnish hot water for washing. Boilers have a life of fifteen years. If your boiler is nearing the end of its lifetime it could be very uneconomical in comparison to younger models. You can appraise the relative efficiency of boilers by looking at their SEDBUK evaluation, SEDBUK A ranking is the most efficient at 95% efficiency in pulling heat from the gas consumed. Combi Boilers are typically A rated.

Exchanging an aging heating boiler could save you in the long run through the elevated efficiency you will get. A new heating boiler should lead to a large reduction in your gas costs. The most familiar boiler type is a condensing combination boiler which is well suited to smaller families who don’t need large amounts of hot water in a short space of time. Your hot water storage cylinder becomes redundant with a combi boiler which heats water on demand. The slight disadvantage with immediate hot water is that there is a limited capacity meaning that large families may not be able to run multiple baths or showers at the same time.

A normal heating boiler heats the water and channels it to a storage cylinder for fast access. You will get heat loss and energy releases even though the hot water tank is insulated. Whilst storing the water means that great amounts of hot water are available from the tank it will take up precious space in your home.

60 % heating efficiencies are accessible to you by changing to a combi boiler which will heat water on need and not require the inefficient hot water storage tank. Another variant of the combi boiler is the combi condensing boiler which is able to extract waste heat from the exhaust gases and use this to heat water when called for. Clever use of this gas to heat the water on need means that this type of central heating boiler can further save on your heating bills.

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