There are a lot of controls and valves to take into consideration when heating your home. However, it’s important that you know the differences between these controls so that you can heat your home most effectively and efficiently.
Here’s a guide to the main heating controls:
Room Thermostats
Room thermostats are the controls you use to change the temperature in a specific room. They work by continually sensing the air and adjusting the temperature so that it rises if it’s too cold and is turned off if it’s too hot. For these to work properly, they must be placed by a free flow of air, away from heat sources.
A mistake a lot of people make is turning the thermostat up in colder weather which, in theory, isn’t needed. The heating system will heat the house to the set temperature, regardless of how cold it is outside. The only thing you may need to factor in is that it may take longer to heat up the room so a sensible adjustment would be to set the timer to come on slightly earlier in winter, for example.
Thermostatic Radiator Valves
These controls alter how much water flows through the radiator to adjust how much heat it gives off. A lower setting will result in less water and, thus, less heat, which will save you money in the long run.
Generally, it isn’t a good idea to install a thermostatic radiator valve in the same room as your boiler because the main thermostat will then connect with the boiler, altering its temperature. What ensues is essentially a standoff between the two, which can result in your house’s whole heating system being turned off!
Hot Water Thermostats
As long as your hot water is stored in a cylinder, the thermostat will regulate how hot it gets. Once the water has reached the temperature the thermostat is set to, it’ll shut off its supply to the boiler. This supply is then opened up if more heat is needed.
If you own what’s known as a ‘combi boiler’ then you won’t have a cylinder and instead will have a hot water thermostat directly on the boiler itself. It’ll likely be a dial with a tap logo and the same principles apply.
Boiler Thermostat
The boiler thermostat indicates and sets the temperature of the water that will be pumped from the boiler to the radiators. The higher this temperature is set, the quicker your house will heat up. However, condensing boilers work best below 55 degrees celsius.
It’s also worth noting that if your boiler uses a hot water cylinder then your boiler thermostat should always be set higher than the cylinder thermostat, else your hot water will never get to the desired temperature.
West London Gas can help you make the most of your heating system. If you have any further questions about heating controls and thermostats, or if you’d like to hear about any of our services from boiler installations to central heating servicing, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with us by calling 02084 343 644 today!