Are you impacting the heating boiler with a bad water system
Are you impacting the heating boiler with a bad water system
Manufacturers have made multiple products and services that you can add to your gas central heating system to help it to perform efficiently for a longer period of time. Irregardless of which you choose, you should take proper care of your central heating system, only then can it perform efficiently. It is now well known, thanks to advice given by governments and environmental organisations, that we should save energy wherever possible by turning off lights, washing clothes at lower temperatures, switching TVs off and turning down thermostats. All of these are effective ways of saving energy which will not only help environmentally but also reduce many household energy bills. Are you paying the same attention to your central heating system? The heating system is also prone to reduced efficiency caused by corrosion, limescale formation and gunk buildup.
To prevent a mass of gunk and limescale from building up in your system, especially where the water is hard, you must try water treatment.
Water treatment looks after your system in more than one way. sludge extractors, limescale inhibitors, electronic and magnetic lime reducers, anti-freeze compounds and noise reducing agents are some of the extensive water treatment products sold in the market today.
Your location in the UK caninfluence the extent of your water’s hardness or softness. If you find a build up of limescale in your kettle and on your shower head you probable live in a hard water area. Any collection of limescale will make your system run less economically and therefore increase your heating bill. A tiny layer of scale inside the cylinder of your hot water can augment your fuel cost by up to 40%. Limescale deposits are simply composed of calcium. Although those living in soft water areas will not have to take as many provisions, if you are unsure you should still get professional advice.
A majority of water treatment methods alter the molecular structure of water and the associated particles, and thereby changes the way water behaves. Some methods change one structure into another; a few others, remove the interfering structure; and the remaining, prevent the formation of limescale.
There are chemical test kits which will measure the ph and chloride levels and also the iron and copper levels so that you can measure the probable corrosion potential and rate.
Your system must be installed by a professional, never connect brass or copper to aluminum as this can lead to corrosion through the interaction of these metals. Every gas connection should be carried out by a CORGI, Gas Safe, registered professional.
Don’t rush in to making a decision, always carefully consider what type of water treatment you need with your particular system. If you are updating your existing system you would be looking at flushing the whole system before adding any water treatment solutions.
It is worth noting that mains water supplies heating systems, but that any system you use to soften water will not help with any central heating problems that you may be having. You will be able to make lather with detergents and soaps more easily but your heating system will still have problems with efficiency.
Limescale formation, acidic corrosion and bio-chemical gunk are the main causes of heating system damage.
The first problem that you may have to face is corrosion, it can start as soon as the system is installed and filled with water. Corrosion produces sludge and this prevents free circulation, this can eventually lead to formation of cold spots on radiators. It can cause pinholes in the radiators and if left can cause the boiler to become noisy.
In hard water areas the calcium and magnesium in the water causes limescale. Heat causes these minerals to precipitate and bit by bit encrust the inner lining of pipes, leading to obstruction. A vibrating and wheezing heating system can be a real nuisance.
Biological growth in the system is another one to avoid. They gets into the heating system through open tanks. After managing to enter the system, it spreads by creating slime and gunk. It can also cover the inside of the pipework resulting in clogs and negatively affecting the operation of the whole system.
A lot of free advice is available on the internet on how to get rid of biological growth. These resources cover product details as well as user feedback. Kick-start with the manufacturers and their web sites. Some well known manufacturers and their popular products are listed in this site, such as Sentinel or Fernox. Besides inquiring for information with company sources, you should also read opinions on specialised blogs.
In order to ensure that your central heating system works efficiently and your family bills are also decreased, find out the best water treatment method and apply the recommended treatments annually.