Shrink your energy invoices with softer water for your central heating
Shrink your energy invoices with softer water for your central heating
You can find a number of products that can be added to your central heating system to help it run smoother as well as some products that can take care of themselves. In either case, your system will be well-prepared to work efficiently if you take the time to maintain it. Environmental agencies and local authorities constantly advise us to economise our carbon footprint by switching off unneeded lights and electric devices and by setting our thermostats at lower temperatures. All the above enlisted ways effectively save energy, protect the environment and bring down the electricity bill. 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 encompasses many different remedies for the protection of your system. A wide assortment of water treatment products is easily available like sludge remover, scale reducer, anti-freeze, magnetic scale fighter, noise reducer, electronic scale inhibitor, and the like.
If you are living in UK, you should first ascertain the hardness of the water you are getting. Limescale deposits are common in areas that get hard water, and these deposits are first seen on kettles, taps and shower heads. 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. Limescale is simply calcium deposits in your system. Soft water which contains less calcium salts is less prone to this scale formation, however it is advisable to test the water and take precautions.
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. It can do this in different ways for example, by changing one structure for another, by taking away a structure or by inhibiting the structure from becoming solid.
You can find out the ph and chloride, iron and copper levels with chemical test kits, which will allow you to measure the likely corrosion rate in your system.
Remember that when two different metals are connected (for example- aluminium and brass), an anode and cathode polarity is created thus starting the process of corrosion; this is something that a competent technician should watch out for when installing your system. You must get your gas connections done by a person registered with CORGI as the law requires this.
It is a good idea to plan ahead, if you are having a new system installed, think which water treatment you will require as some can be fitted to your system. Before using a water treatment remedy on your present system, ensure that the entire heating system is completely flushed out.
Heating systems get their supply of water from the main water source of your household and many mechanisms can be connected to the main source to solve water issues, yet, you should keep in mind that water softening systems installed for your home are only meant to serve your household needs and will not help with the hard water problem affecting your central heating system. These water softening chemicals can produce better lather and are good for your skin, but they cannot reverse the choking and pitting inside the heating system.
Corrosion, limescale and biological growth are the three prominent things you need to stop.
Right from the time the system is installed and commissioned, internal conditions can cause corrosion to set in. Corrosion causes gunk in the system which can restrict the circulation causing cold spots on your radiators. Pinholes can also appear in the radiator and if the problem is not sorted out in good time your boiler could start to make noises.
Limescale results from the presence of calcium and magnesium in water, hard water regions have these elements more than the rest of the country. Heat causes these minerals to precipitate and bit by bit encrust the inner lining of pipes, leading to obstruction. This again can manifest itself with a noisy heating system.
Biological growth in the system is another one to avoid. Minute organisms can enter through the vents and storage tanks of the boiler. After entering into the system, they starts breeding and produce slime and gunk. This material can really make your system under perform by clogging up the pipework.
Various forums and websites provide useful information on water treatment. It would be wise to take time to go through some of this information. Kick-start with the manufacturers and their web sites. Below is a list of manufacturers and some of the popular products they have available. You can also find a lot of really useful information and tips through forums as well as speaking to suppliers directly with any specific questions that you may have.
All the best with your treatment and let’s hope you can get your central heating systems working as expeditiously as possible to save you some hard cash.