Tuesday, 12 November 2013

Put a cap on your heating costs

Controls help cap heating costs

Honeywell RF2 Wireless ControllerThis is the wireless option to the Honeywell Controls selection. It does not matter what the energy source is wither it be gas, oil or electric, by having the correct controls could keep a cap on heating costs by ensuring efficiency. It is the duty of the installer to ensure best practice when specifying, installing and maintaining a boiler. By overlooking the controls package could lead to a costly error. Common issues that occur are homes complaining of large oil bills due to a thirsty boiler install problem and small controls system component which can greatly affect energy efficiency. There is a grey area when it comes to oil boiler installs as boilers generally over specified sometimes a 40kw boiler being installed where a 20kw boiler would have been better suited to the job. There also seems to be confusion over control wiring and the controls.

Controls common Issues

A common controls issue is a single wired controller being incorrectly wired, this is why we would suggest that installers fit a twin channel programmer, separate room thermostat and TVR’s on all radiators and if required a smaller boiler that does the job better. A common misconception with oil boilers is that people presume they modulate like gas boilers however they do not they are simply either on or off. By fitting a lower output boiler but keep it running for longer periods means that the boiler is running at greater efficiency than a larger one which is on/off all the time. With advances in controls technology there is more flexibility for customers when it comes to picking the right controls to suit their needs. There are now wireless controls and programmable controls which give the homeowner more control over their heating and hot water needs.

Buy Heating Controls

You can buy your energy and money saving controls directly from the Trade Heating Direct Heating Controls section. The controls are available for next day delivery and have a warranty to cover you for any equipment failures.

Friday, 8 November 2013

Wireless Makes Economic Sense

Wireless Controls

Heatmiser PRT-HW Wireless is definitely more economical when it comes to controls says Graham Curtis, supplier and expert on controls, explains why installers should make the most of the wireless controls available. By simply upgrading a home’s heating controls is the easiest way to deliver instant cost savings and reduce energy bills. Even though wireless controls have been available on the market for a while, they are often overlooked by the customer and installer due to the lack of knowledge of the benefits of wireless controls. For installers wireless controls would be the best option as they can be installed quicker than fitted controllers with less disruption to the fabric of the homeowner’s house. They also have the added benefit of being more functional then the wired equivalents, resulting in an intelligent control which is easy to use & reduces both heating bills and also a homeowner’s energy use. The most common misunderstanding is that fitting wireless controls requires a complex and lengthy process which is not the case at all.

Wireless Programmer

Normally wireless controls are either a programmer with a wireless receiver that communicates with a standalone wireless thermostat. Which means by just replacing a wired timer or adding a wireless receiver, a thermostat works automatically without any extra wiring to the thermostat. By putting in wireless controls they reduce the install time, increase productivity in return giving the installer more time to answer other call outs. Another bonus with wireless controls is you do not need an electrician as there is little wiring involved. As most installs do not require Part P regulations notification relating to electrical installs. In turn this allows the installer to complete a retrofit job in half a day, without having to waste time waiting for an electrician. A perfect example of one of the wireless products that Trade Heating Direct offer is the Heatmiser PRT-HW-WTS Wireless Controller. The wireless programmer can be desk or wall mounted and the receiver can be used up to 100 meters open space.

Wireless and Regulations

Complying with Part L of building regulations is made easy with wireless heating control packs. Regulations state that a home must be zoned if a new heating system is fitted or if a property has an extension or change of use. Zoning can be created easily and more than two zones be installed by simply joining wireless controls as they take away the need for running cables through walls, ceilings and floors to define zones. As the installer is on the front line, they are best suited to informing and teaching the customer on how to use their heating controller properly to ensure they benefit from savings on their heating bills. As wireless controls are so easy to use the installer can show a customer how to programme the controller as they install them. Once the customer has been shown how to use their controls it is unlikely they will ever have to be shown again as the wireless controls are so easy to programme. Wireless pads allow for a timer to be programmed to suit the customer’s needs, thus ensuring they get the most from the heating system. Many homeowners are too aware that a programmable thermostat can be programmed to come on and off at different times of the day to suit their daily routines and can provide up to an individual 7 day control. It is important that installers check that efficient heating controls are in place at all homes they work at. Even though the initial cost to an installer and customer of buying wireless controls compared to wired ones, the saving maxes in other areas covers the cost for both parties. You can browser a wider range of wireless controls directly from our website, Trade Heating Direct.

Friday, 1 November 2013

Electric Boilers

Boiler

Trade Heating Direct BoilerThe use of electric boilers is a fairly new idea, with numerous discoveries being made regarding their efficiencies; many types of electric boilers are on the rise. One aspect which makes these a suitable alternative is that an overnight electricity tariff can be used to heat a body of water when the cost of electricity is cheapest. Depending on your provider you can have access to wide range of tariffs which cater to different needs. Any small to medium sized boiler can be replaced by an electric boiler in the home. Due to the relatively low running costs when compared with oil and gas, this market is on the up, as well as the benefits of being small, light and compact with little or no noise. Generally little maintenance is required on these units and there is no risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and no issues regarding the positioning of a flue system.

Boiler

In the past the need for an electric boiler is often necessitated in areas where houses may not have access to mains gas or have difficulty having oil delivered. Nowadays electric boilers are becoming a better choice due to their environmental and cost benefits. The initial capital cost for an electric boiler is generally higher than that of a standard gas boiler however the low cost of maintenance and the likelihood of a electric boiler outlasting its gas counterpart makes it a suitable investment for a homeowner.

Boiler at best prices

These Boilers are available for purchase from our website Trade Heating Direct Boilers and our contact information can be found there if you would like to contact us to discuss your options.