Which heating controls for my new boiler?
Today’s building regulations state that all boiler installations must be fitted with at least one room thermostat. Any plumber will tell you this is a technology that has been around for 30 years and in our eyes is not suitable when fitting the latest condensing boilers.
The problem with a traditional room thermostat is this. When your house reaches the required temperature (as set on your room thermostat) the thermostat tells your new boiler to turn off. Once your home drops below the set temperature, you guessed it, on it comes again. All-in-all your boiler is being told to turn on and off and that is all the information it ever gets.
Modern boilers are capable of running at different outputs so simply telling them to come on when it’s cold and off when it’s warm is not good enough.
The more sophisticated controls like Vaillant’s weather compensator take into account, the outside temperature, the inside temperature and the rate at which your house loses heat. It then tells the boiler the most efficient output to run at to reach and maintain the desired temperature, better for the environment and saves you money.
should i install a combination boiler?
In order to answer that question, it’s best to find out what kind of existing system you already have in place. Click below to see our handy guide that can help you spot what kind of boiler you have currently in your home.
What is a powerflush?
Power flushing is a way to make your central heating system more efficient and last longer. It cleans your boiler and radiators, removing rust from your system. I am sure you have all heard of the term “a sludgy heating system” if not, sludge is what builds up in a poorly-maintained heating system over years or – if the system is installed incorrectly – months.
Sludge is iron oxide, most commonly known as rust, and can rot right through a radiator or the components within your boiler. If necessary, a central heating power flush will clean this sludge from your central heating and give you the opportunity to start again with a clean system. All our boiler replacements benefit from a full power flush.
How much will a Boiler Service Cost?
How often should I have my boiler serviced?
All gas appliances should be serviced annually to insure safe operation of the appliance. If you have a new gas appliance (new boiler) you will need to have the boiler services annually as part of the T&C of the manufacturer’s warranty. You may also find that your home insurance also stipulates that gas appliances are serviced annually.
plastic or copper pipe?
90% of our installers are carried out in traditional copper and end-feed solder joints. We only use plastic in new builds as the pipework is usually installed through holes in the joist and it is not possible to fit copper pipe this way.
Does my boiler have to be on an outside wall?
Although it is easier to install a boiler on an outside wall due to the flue, it is possible and quite common to install a boiler on an internal wall.
The flue can rise vertically through the loft and exit the roof via a lead slate.
Will we be without hot water and heating during The install of a new boiler?
Depending on the amount of work you are having carried out you may be without heating and/or hot water for a couple of days. We do supply heaters during installation in the colder months at no extra charge. Here is a rough idea of how long you may be without heating or hot water.
- Combi boiler replacement – No heating or hot water 9h during working day.
- Back boiler to combi boiler – up to 24h No heating or hot water.
- Complete installation radiators and combi – up to 2-3 No heating or hot water.
- Complete installation system boiler, radiators and cylinder – up to 2 days no hot water 3 days no heating.
Will our plumbers remove our carpets and refit them when fitting a new boiler?
What kind of after service will i get?
Boost Plumbing engineers always provide prompt and efficient service to both our domestic and commercial customers at a price you can afford. You can rest assured that the work we undertake will be completed to a very high standard using only the highest quality materials. Over the years, we have built a very strong customer base in our area due to our outstanding customer service and attention to detail. Our accredited gas engineers will remain professional in their work throughout our time with you. We are friendly, approachable and both tidy and respectful of you and your property.
Do I Need To Be At Home During The Installation?
We will need somebody to be home on arrival for around 20 minutes. We usually start at 8:00 am but can be earlier on request.
Once installation is complete, we will need to explain and demonstrate the boiler and heating controls to the homeowner, this will take around 20 minutes.
Other than that, we are quite happy to be left.
Should I leave my heating on when I go on holiday?
Most modern heating controls have a holiday function where you set the date you leave and return as well as the temperature you would like it while you are away. Smart controls have the option of controlling your heating from your smartphone from anywhere in the world as well as holiday function. If you do not have any of these facilities and only have a timer and thermostat, simply set your thermostat between 5 and 10 degrees when you leave and set it back to your normal temperature when you return.
Will our existing heating system be ok with our new boiler?
There are two main types of heating systems; open-vented and unvented (pressurised).
An open-vented system relies on a header tank in the loft to feed the water to the system and allow for expansion in the system as it heats up. This type of system operating pressure will depend on how high the header tank is (usually about 4m giving you 0.5 bar at the lowest point in the system). A comment open-vented system would be a Baxi back boiler.
Unvented, pressurised or sealed systems (all meaning the same) has a component called an expansion vessel in them which accommodates the expansion in the heating as it heats up, as a header tank would in an open-vented system. An expansion vessel is sealed, unlike a header tank. This type of system relies on filling the heating directly from the cold main and will operate between around 0.7 and 3.0 bar. All combi boilers are unvented systems.
So you can see that when swapping from an open-vented system to an unvented system there is an increase in pressure and with that comes the possibility of leaks. Once your system conversion is complete, we will run the system at 3 bar and up to 80 degrees for at least two hours, this will highlight any issues so we can fix them there and then.
Will The Heating Engineers Make A Mess?
We go to great lengths to insure your house is kept clean and tidy while we are working.
Floors will always be covered with carpet protector or dust sheets and your house will be left as we find it at the end of each day.
Where in my house can i fit my new boiler?
If you are installing a combi boiler then there are a few factors that need to be considered. Hot water drew off time, the further your combi boiler is from any hot water taps the longer the hot water will take to reach the tap. Existing heating system, if you have an existing heating system (radiators) you will want to consider where the heating flow and return pipework is and not the smaller 15mm but 22mm.
The boiler will need to connect to this and it can usually be found in the airing cupboard or by the existing boiler. Flue, a pipe that is 110mm needs to go from the boiler to the outside. This pipe can be installed vertically through a roof or horizontally through a wall but it does have some limitations so be sure to double-check with your installation.
What Is a Boiler Flue?
A flue is a means for products of combustion to exit the appliance (boiler) to the outside atmosphere.
Most modern flues are now also responsible for bringing in clean air to fuel combustion in your boiler (a pipe within a pipe). They are usually around 110mm in diameter.
We Are Here To Help You
If you have any more questions or would like further information about any of our services, please get in touch today. Fill in our contact form and we can give you a free quotation with no obligation.
At Boost Plumbing, we have a ‘no fix, no fee’ policy, meaning if we can’t fix the problem, you won’t be charged a penny. What do you have to lose?
Call us today on 0117 900 0986 and speak to one of our friendly, knowledgeable team.
get in touch today
Be it a straightforward boiler replacement or a bespoke underfloor heating system, Boost Plumbers, Bristol would be happy to offer free advice and a free quotation. Boost Plumbing, Local Plumbers Bristol & Bath.
Boost Plumbing provides plumbing, heating and boiler services in Bristol, Bath, Keynsham, Saltford, Peasedown St John and the local area.
