Lower your energy bills with softer water supply for your central heating system
Lower your energy bills with softer water supply for your central heating system
There are several products that serve as auxiliary items for your central heating system so that it functions normally, and then there are those that work independently to give you the service you want. Irregardless of which you choose, you should take proper care of your central heating system, only then can it perform efficiently. The Government and environmental agencies repeatedly tell us about the ways to conserve energy like switching off the lights and appliances when not in use, re-adjusting the temperature of the room and washing machine according to the needs, and not leaving any electrical device in the standby mode. All the above enlisted ways effectively save energy, protect the environment and bring down the electricity bill. What is the best way to get your central heating system to work more economically? With the accumulation of the likes of limescale and gunk in your system will make it less efficient.
If you live in a region where hard water is being supplied, then you should look for water treatment methods to prevent sludge and limescale from damaging your central heating system.
Water treatment looks after your system in more than one way. A wide assortment of water treatment products is easily available like gunk remover, scale reducer, anti-freeze, magnetic scale fighter, noise reducer, electronic scale inhibitor, and the like.
You can either get hard or soft water in UK, depending on the area you live in. Living in a hard water area means that you are prone to limescale your kettle probably being the first place that you will notice limescale deposits as well as on your showerhead and taps. Limescale not only reduces the efficiency of your system, but also increases your heating bills. Just a small, thin layer of scale in your hot water cylinder can increase your fuel bills by as much as forty percent. When calcium carbonate precipitates out of the hard water, it forms limescale inside the boiler. 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.
The water treatment options work by changing water’s molecular structure, it changes the way water behaves. It can do this in different ways for example, by changing one structure for another, by taking away a structure or by inhibiting the structure from becoming solid.
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.
Remember that when two different metals are connected (for example- aluminium and brass), an anode and cathode polarity is created thus starting the process of corrosion; this is something that a competent technician should watch out for when installing your system. All gas connections must be made by a CORGI registered tradesperson.
Always plan before getting the new system installed; for instance, you should know what water treatment method should be used. If you are upgrading your current system, you must cleanse your whole system before any water treatment chemicals are added.
Heating systems take water from the mains water supply and there are various systems that you can attach to your mains supply to deal with hard water problems, however, it is worth noting that systems that are put in to soften water in your home are only for household use and will do nothing for your central heating system problems. These water softening chemicals can produce better lather and are good for your skin, but they cannot reverse the choking and pitting inside the heating system.
Corrosion, limescale and biological growth are the three prominent things you need to stop.
Corrosion will begin as soon as the tank is filled with water. Due to corrosion gunk is produced, which in its turn creates cold spots in the radiator and stops circulation. Gradual pitting can perforate the metal piping, causing the boiler or radiators to rattle.
Hard water contains magnesium and calcium and these minerals deposit as limescale in the system. Once the water is heated it leaves deposits of these minerals which form a hard crust, building up over time and blocking pipes etc. This again can manifest itself with a noisy heating system.
The next problem to deal with is the biological growth. This tends to get into the system by open tanks. The biological growth advances rapidly in the form of a slimy lining. This material can really make your system under perform by clogging up the pipework.
Various forums and websites provide useful information on water treatment. Take some time to look through this. Producers of water treatment products provide detailed data and user references on their websites. This site contains a list of manufacturers, and the products that they produce and sell to help maintain your central heating. Blogs also offer ample source of free help and information or you can contact the companies with any questions.
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!.