How your localised water supply can cut your gas cost-efficiency and damage your heating boiler
How your localised water supply can cut your gas cost-efficiency and damage your heating boiler
There are many optional products that are available to add to your central heating system to keep it running on a regular basis, and there are others that you can install and let them do the work for you day by day. Irregardless of which you choose, you should take proper care of your heating system, only then can it perform efficiently. You must have heard those environmental and government agents asking us to switch off our TV, lights etc when not in use, the room thermostats and washing machine temperatures should also be turned down to cut energy use and carbon dioxide production. All of these are effective ways of saving energy which will not only help environmentally but also reduce many household energy bills. But what about getting your central heating system to work more efficiently? The build up of sludge and limescale deposits in your central heating system will cause it to run less efficiently.
Whether your water is hard or soft can play a crucial role in the life of your central heating system and water treatment can help here – to extend the healthy working of your system with products such as Fernox.
Water treatment refers to several aspects of taking care of your central heating system. A wide assortment of water treatment products is easily available like sludge remover, scale reducer, anti-freeze, magnetic scale fighter, noise reducer, electronic scale inhibitor, and the like.
If you are living in UK, you should first ascertain the hardness of the water you are getting. If you spot limescale formation inside your kettle or bath taps, there is probably hard water running in your taps. Limescale reduces efficiency and adds to heating bills. The energy cost in a boiler cylinder with limescale lining can be 40 percent more than a clean boiler leading to more expensive energy bills. Basically, limescale is just the build up of calcium deposits. Those who live in soft water areas need not take quite so many precautions but it is always wise to seek advice if you are unsure.
A majority of water treatment methods alter the molecular structure of water and the associated particles, and thereby changes the way water behaves. One way of modification is to convert a structure completely to another, another is to take out the mischievous component, and yet another way is to prevent the structure from becoming solid, thus leaving its normal process unrealized.
If you want to determine the corrosion rate inside your heating system, you can do so by using these chemical kits which measure the chloride, copper and iron levels and measure the pH.
It is very important to make sure that your system is put in by someone who knows what they’re doing as they will be aware of things like not connecting aluminium to copper or brass, which can cause corrosion. By law, only CORGI registered tradespeople can deal with gas connections, this scheme is now known as Gas Safe.
It is a good idea to plan ahead, if you are having a new system installed, think which water treatment you will require as some can be fitted to your system. Before using a water treatment remedy on your present system, ensure that the entire heating system is completely flushed out.
It is worth noting that mains water supplies heating systems, but that any system you use to soften water will not help with any central heating problems that you may be having. They will help make detergents and soaps lather more readily but do not help in the fight to get your heating system working efficiently.
Corrosion, limescale and biological growth are the three things that you should be looking to limit or stop from occurring.
Right from the time the system is installed and commissioned, internal conditions can cause corrosion to set in. Your radiators can suffer from cold spots caused by restricted circulation as a result of gunk created in the system by corrosion. If left as such, it can lead to the formation of pinholes in the radiator, and it will also make the boiler noisy.
Limescale results from the presence of calcium and magnesium in water, hard water regions have these elements more than the rest of the country. The high temperature of the water causes these elements to become hard and crusty, leaving deposits behind that clog pipes etc. This again can manifest itself with a noisy heating system.
The next problem to deal with is the biological growth. Minute organisms can enter through the vents and storage tanks of the boiler. Once in the system it breeds producing slime and sludge. It can also cover the inside of the pipework resulting in clogs and negatively affecting the operation of the whole system.
You can find a lot of information and advice on how to deal with these problems on the internet and in this site. It would be wise to take time to go through some of this information. We recommend starting with the manufacturers themselves. You can find a list manufacturers and the popular items they carry in this site. You can also gain additional information and seek advice through different blogs or forums, some may be run by the manufacturers.
Now you should be able to choose and install an effective central heating system which is enjoyable, healthy and economical on both kinds of green!.