What can you insert in your water system to help your gas boiler
What can you insert in your water system to help your gas boiler
There are several products that serve as auxiliary items for your central heating system so that it operates normally, and then there are those that work independently to give you the service you want. In either case, your system will be well-prepared to work efficiently if you take the time to maintain it. Our Government and environmental activists have been telling us to switch off lights, turn TVs completely off instead of leaving them on standby, and lower the temperature of our washing machines as well us the thermostats of our rooms. All of these are effective ways of saving energy which will not only help environmentally but also reduce many household energy bills. But, how will you make sure that your central heating system works efficiently? As the layers of sludge and limescale starts piling up, the efficiency of the system starts dwindling increasing your energy costs.
To prevent a mass of sludge and limescale from building up in your system, especially where the water is hard, you must try water treatment.
The lifeblood of your heating system is the water that runs through it – Water Treatment maintains that water at an optimal quality to prevent damage and breakdown of the central heating system. Magnetic/electronic lime fighters, scale reducers/inhibitors, sludge reducers, noise reducers and anti-freeze are examples of the type of water treatment products that are available to you.
In the UK, depending on where you live, your water could range between hard and soft. Limescale deposits are common in areas that get hard water, and these deposits are first seen on kettles, taps and shower heads. Limescale reduces efficiency and adds to heating bills. A thin layer of limescale can increase your fuel bills by 40 percent. These are basically calcium deposits solidifying from the water. Those who live in soft water areas need not take quite so many precautions but it is always wise to seek advice if you are unsure.
Water treatment products act by modifying the water borne salts and preventing harmful reactions. Some will change one structure for another, others remove the offending structure and another will stop them from being able to make a solid leaving them in suspension.
There are different types of chemical test kits available that can help you to ascertain the corrosion potential of water by measuring the pH, chloride, iron and copper levels.
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. The service technician fitting your gas connections should possess CORGI certification, this is now called Gas Safe and is a legal requirement.
If you anticipate hard water problems, you can fit out your new central heating system with a suitable water treatment attachment. However in case you are just updating your existing one, you can start with flushing the system and then think of any water treatment, there are chemicals you can add to your central heating system to reduce corrosion and sludge build up.
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. They will not have any effect on how efficiently your system works, but they will make detergents and soaps lather up more easily.
With regards to heating systems, you have to prevent three important things viz,limescale, corrosion and biological growth.
Corrosion can begin immediately after the water starts to fill up the system from the main source after installation. One of the symptoms of corrosion is cold spots in your radiators because sludge in the system prevents the water circulating properly. Gradual pitting can perforate the metal piping, causing the boiler or radiators to rattle.
Limescale results from the presence of calcium and magnesium in water, hard water regions have these elements more than the rest of the country. Deposits of these minerals leave hard crusts in the system when the water is heated. Limescale can again make the gas central heating system noisy.
You should also be wary of biological growth. This problem occurs when tanks are open as they are in certain types of central heating system. After the biological matter gets into the tank it begins to breed and produces gunk and slime. This material can really make your system under perform by clogging up the pipework.
Plenty of free help is available on the net. Take a look at this for a few minutes to improve your awareness. It is recommended that you begin with the manufacturers of the various systems. Browse through some of the reputed water treatment companies and their acclaimed products on this page. Besides inquiring for information with company sources, you should also read opinions on specialised blogs.
In order to ensure that your gas central heating system works efficiently and your home bills are also reduced, find out the best water treatment method and apply the recommended treatments every year.