PHAM NEWS | FEBRUARY 2024 DomesticBoilers 33


What more installers can do to maximise system effi ciency


With energy prices still a major concern for many consumers, Ian Trott from Baxi off ers advice on some of the measures heating engineers should focus on to optimise the effi ciency of home heating systems.


H


ome heating is typically a large user of energy, so it follows that many


homeowners are taking a closer look at opportunities to maximise system effi ciency and drive down their energy usage. Heating engineers are playing an increasingly important role in ensuring their customers have a reliable heating and hot water provision while also helping to protect them against unnecessarily high energy bills. By embracing their role as energy consultants, installers can guide customers towards energy effi cient methods that will suit their needs. Most modern boilers work


extremely effi ciently if installed, commissioned and used correctly, as well as being serviced regularly. However, there is still an opportunity to explore other incremental ways of boosting performance even further. So it’s important that installers widen the conversation from the boiler itself to other available means of optimising effi ciency at no cost to comfort.


Holistic approach Heating installers should take a holistic view, considering the system and building fabric as a whole. Fitting loft or cavity wall insulation and improving windows, for example, will have a major eff ect on how the building retains heat. If the home is well insulated and the windows are double or triple glazed, the boiler will have less work to do, meaning less energy will be used. While not strictly an installer’s specialism, these recommendations go hand- in-hand with the effi cient performance of the property’s heating system.


 Explaining the benefi ts of Baxi’s uSense smart room thermostat to a customer


There is of course a price


Ian Trott Training manager at Baxi


By acting as energy consultants, heating installers can provide invaluable support for their customers, guiding them towards greener and more cost-effective choices


tag attached to each of these upgrades. However, not making them can turn out to be a false economy, especially if the resident intends to be there for several more years. Not only will a better insulated home mean less energy is needed to run the boiler, but – when a replacement boiler is eventually needed – it may well be that a lower kW output or a low-temperature heating solution such as a heat pump could be used due to the added heat retention of the insulation and windows. Both a lower kW output boiler and a heat pump would very likely be more energy effi cient than a traditional boiler with a larger kW output.


Temperature control Along with recommending insulation and new windows, installers should consider Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs) as part of the blueprint for an effi cient boiler-led system too. All new radiators should be installed with TRVs yet many older systems are unlikely to have them. Adding them retrospectively might, therefore, be an option. Discussing the energy saving benefi ts of TRVs with customers (and the impact they can have on their heating bill) will ensure


that homeowners are informed of the available options and can make a decision that is right for them.


Heat losses It is increasingly important that heating engineers can carry out accurate room-by-room heat loss calculations as this will enable correct sizing of a boiler or other heating source. Understanding where heat is being wasted provides installers with the opportunity to discuss with their customers the reason for these calculations and how an accurately sized system will benefi t them. A common misconception


is that oversizing a boiler will help meet a building’s heating demand more effi ciently. In fact, the opposite is true as oversized boilers use more energy to get up to temperature. A correctly sized boiler, in contrast, will be able to overcome the heat loss without overshooting, meaning much less energy is wasted. This illustrates the importance of heat loss calculations as, armed with this information, installers can accurately recommend the most effi cient boiler model and size for the heating requirement at the property.


Smart solutions With so many heating control options for consumers to choose from, this opens up another opportunity for installers to help their customers select the most suitable option. Smart thermostats have been available for a few years and, thanks to the welcome customisability they off er, are becoming increasingly commonplace in homes. Our uSense 2 smart room thermostat, for example, allows users to see their boiler settings and make any bespoke adjustments as necessary. An added convenience is the ability to monitor energy consumption


and control a heating system remotely from a user’s phone. It also makes fl exible


scheduling easy as users can pre-set desired temperatures for diff erent days. If a customer is working from home three days per week, they’ll likely want the heating on for those days rather than the days they’re away. Controls literally put the householder in control, allowing them to create customised heating routines to suit their lifestyles. Recommending weather


compensation is another way installers can help boost boiler effi ciency. The Baxi IFOS (in-fl ue outdoor sensor), for example, uses a sensor inside the outdoor part of the fl ue to register changes to weather conditions as they happen. By using IFOS, a boiler will send more heat to radiators on days that are 2°C below freezing than it will when the weather is 5°C above zero. Heating installers can


discuss the changes customers can expect to see to their bills if they choose to have IFOS installed. Similarly, it is recommended that they talk about the change customers can expect from their heating system. On warmer days, for example, it is important for customers to be aware of how weather compensation works so they can rest assured that they will be warm – even if their radiators might not be. Boiler technology has reached


a point where it is able to function at extremely high levels of effi ciency. But taking a broader approach to heat loss management and use of the right accessories can still make a diff erence to householders, bringing important effi ciency gains. By acting as energy consultants, heating installers can provide invaluable support for their customers, guiding them towards greener and more cost-eff ective choices. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/224/50


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