Heating and hot water in your home use a lot of energy and therefore make up a sizeable chunk of your utility bills. According to the Energy Saving Trust, it accounts for over half of an average home’s energy use.
If you are looking to tighten your financial belt or just looking to be more energy efficient for environmental reasons, then there are ways to save by investing in better heating controls.
With summer upon us, it is the best time of year to make changes to your heating and hot water systems.
Milder weather means you will be less reliant on heating, and many homeowners turn off their heating completely in the summer months, only keeping the hot water running.
With that in mind, any disruptions can be minimised as new heating control technology is installed.
What type of heating controls are available?
There are several options for heating controls and the best choice for you will depend on the boiler system you have currently installed and your budget.
Programmers
Digital and clock programmers allow you to control when the heating and hot water go on and off. You can align the timings to match your usual schedule of waking up or coming home from work.
It means you are not wasting energy heating water when it isn’t needed. Advice suggests that you should set the heating and/or hot water to go on half an hour before waking and to go off half an hour before bed.
Thermostats
Thermostats can be either built into your boiler unit or located in a different room in your home. Sometimes they can be integrated as part of the programming unit.
The thermostat controls the temperature of the water that flows around your home, also called the boiler flow temperature.
Some thermostats measure the temperature in a room or zone and allow you to choose your ideal level, adjusting the flow temperature automatically to compensate.
Thermostatic radiator valves
Often shortened to TRVs, thermostatic radiator valves allow you to adjust the flow of hot water through each radiator, usually on a scale of 0 (off) to 6.
You can turn a radiator up in the room you are using most and turn it down in the less frequently used rooms.
Smart heating controls
Smart controls use apps and your WiFi connection to link your smartphone with heating, lighting and appliances around the home.
By remotely accessing your heating controls, you can control the temperature of different zones or rooms when you are not there. That means if the weather turns cold while you’re out, you can take the chill off your home, or vice versa when it’s unexpectedly warm.
The smartest of them all can remind you to turn the heating off when they know you are not there and adjust the settings based on your behaviours and routines.
How can heating controls save energy and money?
By choosing when the boiler is heating water, and reducing the amount of hot water flowing through radiators, you can save on the amount of energy needed. Avoiding heating empty spaces and optimising room temperatures can also prevent wasting energy.
Heating controls, as a new addition or as part of a new boiler installation, are a way to invest in your Surrey home that really pays off.
Whether that is gas or electric, the less energy your heating uses, the more you will save on your bills and the more money stays in your pocket.
