Residential HVAC
Enhancing boiler efficiency with smart technology
Martyn Bridges, director of technical services at Worcester Bosch, explores how smart thermostats and innovative controls can optimise existing boilers and heating systems
www.heatingandventilating.net Leveraging smart heating controls
The heating industry has evolved quickly, and modern smart thermostats have become increasingly popular among homeowners, as these devices are designed to learn from habits and preferences. By analysing home heat settings and schedules, they create a personalised heating plan tailored to a homeowner’s lifestyle. Smart thermostats offer advanced control
overheating systems, enabling homeowners to optimise schedules, monitor energy consumption, and adjust temperatures remotely. This can maximise a boiler’s energy-saving potential, ensuring a consistently comfortable and efficient home, while potentially saving money by making the boiler operate at as low a temperature as possible whilst still providing the desired comfort levels. Zoned heating controls add another layer of efficiency by dividing rooms into separate heating zones. This ensures each area receives the optimal amount of heating based on its usage and requirements. Installing zoned heating controls can further enhance a boiler’s efficiency, tailoring the system to a home’s unique needs.
Top tips for homeowners on boiler efficiency
A
s the cost of living continues to rise, homeowners are actively seeking cost- effective ways to enhance the efficiency
of their heating systems. Understanding and utilising advanced system controls, such as smart thermostats, is crucial for maximising boiler performance and reducing energy consumption.
Understanding your system
A key component in optimising boiler efficiency is the correct setup of system controls. A typical heating system includes a timer or programmer and a room thermostat. Regular systems generally also
30 July 2024
feature a cylinder thermostat. Homeowners often overlook the importance of setting these controls correctly, which can lead to inefficiencies. By ensuring the heating programmer is set to the
correct time and adjusting the on/off schedules to match individual lifestyle patterns, homeowners can significantly improve the performance of their heating system. For example, setting timers to activate heating shortly before waking up and turning it off before bedtime can ensure you’re only heating your home when needed, saving energy, and reducing costs. Adjusting thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) settings in lesser-used rooms can also direct more heat to occupied spaces.
If asked by your customers, here are some additional tips to help homeowners improve their boiler’s efficiency: 1. Adjust condensing boiler settings: for condensing combi boilers, setting the thermostat to lower temperatures, ideally around 60 degrees Celsius, can increase the condensing operation of the boiler and improve efficiency. 2. Optimise room thermostat: lowering the room thermostat by just 1 degree Celsius can save energy without sacrificing comfort. 3. Unblock furniture obstructions: moving furniture or curtains away from radiators can improve heat distribution and help rooms heat up faster. 4. Utilise radiator fans: using radiator fans can enhance heat circulation, especially in areas with poor convection currents. As the summer approaches and heating is needed less in the day and more at night, it is important that homeowners have the knowledge and tools to achieve cost-effective heating and maximise their heating systems’ efficiency. Installers can show their value by guiding homeowners through these adjustments and optimisations.
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