There are numerous different heating systems currently in use and the best source of advice in operating them should always be the manufacturers guidance.
Provided below is a summary of general information relevant to the majority of gas and electric central heating systems. There are many different models of central heating equipment and the images shown are simply examples.
Gas heating systems
This guide aims to provide you with the basic information required to use your central heating system efficiently. Modern gas central heating systems are safe, controllable and efficient to run but can cause confusion as they have a number of controls that may not be fully understood. Using heating controls properly can:
-
Improve the comfort of your home.
-
Reduce the energy used and therefore fuel bills.
-
Provide adequate room temperatures for the elderly and infants.
-
Avoid the risk of condensation dampness.
Why have controls on a gas central heating system?
In order for a gas central heating and hot water system to operate efficiently it must be controlled so that heat and hot water is provided at a suitable temperature, when and where required. Most systems include:
-
boiler (which can be a condensing, condensing combi, conventional or conventional combi model).
-
hot water tank
-
room thermostat
-
radiators
-
thermostatic radiator controls
-
programmer
The boiler
A boiler heats up the water which is circulated through radiators to provide heat. It also heats a coil in the hot water tank and in turn the water stored inside for household use. If your boiler is a ‘combi’ boiler then the water is heated instantaneously when the hot water taps are switched on. The thermostat on the boiler controls the temperature of the water circulating around the system. Please refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for the optimum setting of the thermostat.
Hot water tank
Most hot water cylinders have a thermostat; this is recommended to be set at 60°C. It is beneficial to encase hot water cylinders with a minimum of 8cm of insulation to retain heat.
Radiators
Radiators are most commonly used in “wet” (uses water) central heating systems. The water is heated by the boiler and travels through the radiators, giving out heat.
Thermostatic radiator valves (TRV’s)
TRV’s are found on radiators in rooms other than where the room thermostat (see below) is placed. The TRV senses the air temperature in the room and can be set higher in the rooms you use most and lower in rooms used least such as bedrooms. They can also be used to turn an individual radiator on or off.
Room thermostat
This is usually found in the living room or hallway and is recommended to be set at 21°C and 18°C for each room respectively. The room thermostat will respond to the temperature in the room where it is situated. When the room is warm enough it sends a signal to the central heating pump to stop heating the radiators until the temperature drops below the set level. At this point they will come on again.
Programmer
The programmer is usually situated in the kitchen and can be set to control the times when the central heating and hot water are switched on and off. The average heating period is about 8 hours each day. This depends on your own personal circumstances however. The majority of time clocks allow you to set 2 ‘on’ and ‘off’ periods during the day i.e. 8am - 10am and 4pm - 10pm.
In order to wake up to a warm house set the heating to come on approximately 30 minutes before you get up and then in the evening set the heating to turn off about 1 hour before you go to bed. This will account for the time it takes for the house to warm up and cool down.
There are a variety of programmers for operating central heating (CH) and hot water (HW). The majority have the following controls: -
On/Constant –HW/CH is on 24 hours each day.
Off – the HW/CH is completely off.
Once – the HW/CH comes on at the first “ON” time selected and turns off at the second “OFF” time selected.
Twice/Auto – the HW/CH comes on for the 2 selected time periods.
Hot water only – the heating system will not operate.
If you have mislaid your instructions on how to operate your programmer you can request a copy from the manufacturer. If you are a Council tenant and require further information please contact your Neighbourhood Officer.
Gas safety
Natural gas is a very safe fuel to use in your home. However it is vital that you know what procedures to follow should you smell gas: -
-
Turn the gas off at the meter (usually located in a meter box outside your home).
-
Make sure all appliances are turned off.
-
Open a window to let the fresh air in and gas out.
-
Do not smoke or light any matches or naked flames.
-
Do not switch lights or electrical goods on or off.
-
Phone the Transco Emergency telephone number 0800 111 999.
Electric heating systems
Electric storage heating systems are very different from a “wet” gas central heating system. The majority of homes heated by electricity have a combination of storage heaters and panel heaters with an electric immersion heater for the hot water.
Storage heaters
These operate by storing heat during ‘off-peak’ periods when the electricity is cheaper, usually overnight. This heat is then released into the room the following day and evening. There are two controls (input/charge and output/boost) on the majority of storage heaters which have to be adjusted in anticipation of the following day’s weather.
‘Input’ or ‘Charge’ control: This must be set manually to ensure that an adequate amount of heat is stored during the night. In the winter, the input control must be set higher as the outside temperatures are usually colder.
‘Output’ or ‘Boost’ control: The output control tells the heater how much heat to give out during the day. If this is at the maximum setting (usually 6 or 9) you will find that the stored heat is distributed fairly quickly. It is important to set the controls to reflect the temperature outside and the times that you are in the property, e.g. if you are going out or to bed then turn the output down to the minimum setting.
Although storage heaters can be large and bulky in size because they use off-peak electricity they are much cheaper to run than panel heaters or bar fires. A well controlled storage heater should give you ten hours of useful heat a day.
As the weather gets warmer and you find you no longer need the storage heaters on, then simply turn them off at the wall. Be sure not to put clothing or ornaments on top of the heaters as they can become very hot and lead to a fire risk.
Electric immersion
Most electric storage heating systems use an electric immersion to heat hot water. This may be using ‘peak’ or more commonly ‘off-peak’ electricity (usually between 11.30pm and 8.30am). If using the latter to heat water then this will be controlled automatically by a timer and the whole tank will be heated for about five hours overnight.
The water temperature can be boosted during the day, at the peak rate, if required. If using peak electricity only, switch the immersion on for the period required to heat the water. It is expensive to keep the immersion on for long periods during ‘peak’ times.