If we lived in a perfect world, you’d install a heater in your home and then never think about it again. Unfortunately, the world we live in isn’t a perfect place, so if you want quality heating services, you have to work for them. It’s important to mind the quality of your heater anywhere.
Here are a few simple ways that you can boost the quality of heat in your home.
Keep the Heating ON
It might sound counterintuitive but keeping the heating on low in warmer months will help combat breakdowns in colder ones. Similar to a car, if your heating is left unused for an extended period of time, it can lead to it becoming inefficient. Not only that, but you could be in for some costly repairs if you leave your heating off for extended periods.
Bleed the Radiators / Flush Your System
Flushing that dense dirt on your system will improve its performance and increase heating efficiency. Similar to your boiler, if your radiators are unused, they can become less efficient because air pockets have gathered inside. Because air is naturally great at insulating heat, it will inhibit the effectiveness of your radiators, by trapping heat inside these pockets of air.
You’ll find if you have air pockets in your radiator that you’re having to turn them up higher to achieve the same amount of heat compared with radiators without air pockets.
This can be an additional and unnecessary cost to the average £1,354 per year spent on heating bills. To prevent a build-up of air, radiators should be bled at least once a year, usually at the start of the season around September / October.
Check Proper Insulation
If you want to improve the efficiency of your heating system, you should consider insulation. Properly insulating your home will keep the hot air in and the cold air out. By preventing the hot air from escaping through cracks and openings, you can make sure that you keep all the air inside your home, which helps your heating system ease up. While most people think of roof and wall insulation, a lot of heat is also lost through the pipe before the hot water even gets to the radiators.
Heating pipes are usually made from copper. Because copper is an excellent conductor of heat, when the heat conducts from the water inside your heating pipes to the copper pipes themselves, the cold air around the copper pipe will quickly cool the metal and will radiate along the pipe causing the water inside to cool more rapidly. Investing in insulated pipes will reduce the amount of heat lost when traveling from the boiler to the radiators.
Also, pay attention to the windows, doors, and wall cavities of your home. There’s a possibility that it still has gaps where heat can escape. Keeping it closed is not enough to keep the air inside. Make sure to seal the gaps for proper insulation.
Annual Service of Heating System
The heating system should be regularly checked by professionals, especially when winter is approaching. Neglecting regular or annual checks will increase the possibility of your room heater malfunctioning when you start using it for the winter.
Ducts Should be Sealed
Sealing the ducts will ensure that the heat will be distributed evenly around your home. These ducts are important because this is where the air from the boiler travels. There are instances when this ductwork are broken, resulting in an uneven supply of hot and cold air.
Include inspecting the ducts during your routine check-up. Although it’s not really necessary if your heating system is working correctly, it’s always better to be sure. If you see cracks or holes within the ductworks, seal it as soon as possible to avoid worsening the damage.