By Viking Heating
As we seek to make our domestic heating systems as energy efficient as possible, it’s easy to focus on futuristic heating technologies. However, some straightforward adjustments to existing systems can significantly enhance their efficiency. One such adjustment is balancing your heating system, a practice that Boiler Plus emphasised in interviews with heating engineers two years ago, and which remains critical today.
Understanding the Problem
For a domestic heating system to function efficiently, it must be balanced, meaning an equal flow of hot water must be supplied to each radiator in the house. This ensures comfort and efficiency. In homes with extensive pipe runs, it’s common for the radiator at the end of the system to receive insufficient hot water flow. Convection can also cause radiators to become too hot upstairs while remaining cool downstairs.
System imbalance can also result from changes to radiators during renovations. Adding or removing radiators without proper rebalancing leads to uneven heat distribution, causing some radiators to be cold and others excessively hot. This results in certain areas of the house being under-heated, making them uncomfortable for the occupants.
Additionally, thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) in unbalanced systems may not work correctly, causing loud water ‘streaming’ noises. Consumers often turn up the boiler to address these issues, unaware that imbalance is the root cause. This leads to higher energy bills and an inefficient heating system.
The Solution
Once system imbalance is identified, the solution involves manually adjusting radiator valves to achieve the correct flow rate across all heat emitters. Modern TRVs often include features that make this adjustment easier, allowing heating engineers to set the heat output of each radiator based on room-specific heat loss calculations. These adjustments ensure optimal heat distribution.
Heat loss calculations are especially important for low-temperature systems, providing guidelines for system balancing. By identifying where thermal energy is lost, heating engineers can make adjustments to mitigate these losses. The latest TRV technology helps maintain consistent heat and efficiency throughout the property.
Implementing Best Practices
Installing TRVs on radiators should be a routine practice for heating engineers, particularly during boiler replacements when the system is already drained. This ensures existing systems operate efficiently, maintaining comfort while saving energy.
The rise of smart home technology offers additional benefits. Many companies now provide digital zoning for heating systems, which works well with TRVs. Existing TRVs can often be upgraded to integrate with smart home systems. However, balanced systems are essential for these technologies to function effectively.
Conclusion
The domestic heating industry is always working to improve efficiency and effectiveness, often focusing on new technologies. However, optimizing existing systems should not be overlooked. As the government moves towards low-temperature heating systems in new builds, balancing heating systems will become increasingly important.
In summary, while new technologies may shape the future of domestic heating, significant improvements can be made to current systems with simple adjustments. Balancing heating systems enhances comfort, efficiency, and energy savings. Homeowners and heating professionals must adopt these best practices to optimize heating systems today and in the future.