What can you place in your water system to help your heating boiler
What can you place in your water system to help your heating boiler
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. You must have heard those environmental and government agents asking us to switch off our TV, lights etc when not in use, the room thermostats and washing machine temperatures should also be turned down to cut energy use and carbon dioxide production. All these habits will result in lower household bills in addition to protecting the environment through energy saving. But how about making your central heating system operate more effectively? The accumulation of gunk and limescale deposits in your central heating system will reduce its efficiency.
It usually happens in areas where hard water is present, you can go for water treatment to avoid these deposits.
The term ‘water treatment’ is one that is used to describe various methods of taking care of your system. A wide range of water treatment products including scale reducers and inhibitors, magnetic and electronic lime fighters, sludge removers, noise reducers and anti-freeze are available.
In the UK, depending on where you live, your water could range between hard and soft. If you are living in hard water region, then you will be more susceptible to limescale attacks; you can notice deposits in your kettle, tap and shower head. Limescale deposits inside boiler parts, pipework and radiators increases energy consumption and can lead to banging and bumping in the pipework. A tiny layer of scale inside the cylinder of your hot water can augment your fuel cost by up to forty percent. These are basically calcium deposits solidifying from the water. Soft water area residents should not worry too much, but it doesn’t hurt to ask for help if you are not so sure.
The way that most water treatments work is by changing the molecular structure of the water’s particles which, in turn alters the way it behaves. These products can neutralize limescale, loosen and remove hard deposits or even maintain the residual salts in suspension form to be flushed out periodically.
Chemical test kits are available that allow you to check the probability and speed of corrosion by gauging the levels of ph, chloride, iron and copper.
First, you must ensure that your system has been installed by a competent person just knowing that you must never directly connect aluminium to copper or brass because simply by connecting different metals can start a reaction which causes corrosion. Every gas connection should be carried out by a CORGI, Gas Safe, registered professional.
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.
Products added to the mains supply can soften hard water and improve the quality of water for domestic use, but they do not prevent or remedy deterioration of the central heating system. They do not alter the efficiency of your system, they only allow soaps and detergents to produce more lather when washing clothes.
Corrosion, limescale and biological growth are the three prominent things you need to stop.
Corrosion can start from the moment the system is set up and filled with water from the mains supply. Due to corrosion gunk is produced, which in its turn creates cold spots in the radiator and stops circulation. Pinholes can appear in the radiators and if untreated the boiler can start making noises.
Limescale is caused by calcium and magnesium which is present in the water hard water areas having far more of these minerals than other parts of the country. Heat causes these minerals to precipitate and gradually 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. Minute organisms can enter through the vents and storage tanks of the boiler. After managing to enter the system, it spreads by creating slime and sludge. This material can really make your system under perform by clogging up the pipework.
A lot of free advice is available on the internet on how to get rid of biological growth. Please spare some time and go through this or read the other informative articles in this website. It is recommended that you begin with the manufacturers of the various systems. You can see below a list of some of the most popular products and their manufacturers. Blogs are another great source of free advice and information or contact a supplier with any queries that you may have.
Good luck with your water treatment heres to energy cost-efficient central heating and hot water with lower household bills of course.