As the winter months approach and the cost of heating your home crosses your mind you may be wondering how to ensure you use your central heating in the most efficient way.

These thoughts are totally justified and affirmed by the Energy Saving Trust as they suggest that using the controls on your central heating system correctly could save you up to 17% on your fuel bills.

However, you may have many questions regarding the operation of your central heating system and how the controls work to ensure you get the most from your boiler and central heating. But don’t worry, advice is at hand and detailed below are a number of useful tips that you can follow to get the most from your central heating system (specifically if you have radiators installed).

Programmer control

A programmer control ensures that you have control over when the heating comes on and goes off in your home. Therefore, it is your decision to decide when you need heating and when you don’t. By having a programmer control it means that you can vary when you want the heating to come on to suit you.

Many people set the heating to come on in the morning, have it off during the day when they are at work and then set it to come on the evening when they get home. By using these controls you can decide how early the boiler needs to come on to achieve your desired temperature. The programmer control used with in conjunction the thermostat control can make a central heating system as efficient as possible.

Thermostat control

Thermostat controls are devices that allow you to have control over the preferred temperature you require within your home. You could have one thermostat control that controls the temperature in the whole house or thermostat controls in each room so that you can regulate the temperature in each room. The principle of the thermostat control is that it will ensure a constant temperature in your home and you won’t be turning the central heating on and off, therefore creating additional start-up and cool-down costs each time you do this.

Last winter we experienced one of the coldest winters on record with temperatures 5.0 °C below average. If we have another cold winter this year then leaving your central heating system on and regulating the temperature through the thermostat will work out cheaper for you in the long-run and maintain a consistent temperature in your home.

It is important to decide what temperature to set the thermostat to. It is recommended by the Energy Saving Trust that the ideal temperature for a living room is 21 °C and a bedroom 18 °C and remember, by reducing the temperature in your home by just 1 °C you could potentially save up to 10% on your energy costs.

Cylinder thermostat control

If your home still uses a hot water tank then it is useful to have a cylinder thermostat control which will regulate the temperature of the hot water. This type of thermostat will need to be attached to your hot water tank and can ensure the hot water doesn’t go above 60 °C which is the most economical and efficient temperature.

Thermostatic radiator valves

Thermostatic radiator valves again allow the temperature to be controlled in each room however the temperature is controlled by regulating the flow of water your radiators receive. Therefore, when your room temperature is at the correct level you can turn down the flow of water to it. This is a good way to heat underused rooms in your home to moderate and reduce damp and condensation while ensuring the most well used rooms in your home get more heat.

If you currently don’t have any of these controls then it is worth considering implementing them in your home to become more energy efficient.

Guest Article by Sarah Wain

It seems like we’re always being told if we turn our boiler thermostat down by 1 degree we can save X amount and leaving our TVs on standby wastes electricity. But how much power do average everyday home appliances actually use?

My Electricity Bill is Confusing
Generally when you receive your monthly or quarterly electricity bills it is measured by the amount of power used which is denoted by kWh or kilowatt hours. The total amount you pay for using an appliance is calculated by multiplying the power of the appliance by the amount of time it is used. Your energy supplier should state the unit price of electricity on your bill.

For example, if you own a 2.5kW kettle and use it for 1 hour per week and your electricity unit price is £0.08. To calculate the price of using it would be 2.5 x £0.08 which is £0.20 per week or about £0.80 for the month.

Another example, if a 2.5 kW kettle is used for two hours a week, and a unit of electricity costs £0.08, then the number of units used is 2.5 kW multiplied by 2 hours. This is 5 kWh. To find the cost of using the kettle over a week you multiply the number of units used by the cost per unit. In this example the cost of running a kettle over a week would equal £0.40 of your electricity bill.

How much do appliances cost to use?
I found two online tools which were the most useful when trying to find out how much it actually costs to power every day home appliances. The first was UKPower.co.uk it gives you a drop down option so you can check various appliances.  

To power an average 100 Watts lightbulb for 1 month will cost you about £1.2. This equates to about 120 hours of use which means it costs about 1p per hour. I personally don’t like 100 Watt bulbs because they are too bright for my eyes. If you install 60 Watt bulbs the cost reduces down to about 0.72p per month which is quite a big saving over the year if you combine all bulbs together in your house. Incidentally if you are not totally sure what a Watt is here is the definition from batteryeducation.com “A watt is a measurement of total electrical power. Volts x amps = watts.”

I next checked the cost of running a TV which brought back a cost of just £1.80 for 90 hours use a month. I’m not sure how big this television is meant to be but I am presuming it is an average size of around 32 inches.

The next tool I came across is from the U.S, but is still useful for general reference. It’s from Data Vizualization and is basically the same as above but with more choice. According to this tool an electrical water heater costs about $670 per year to run. You can also find out how many kWh appliances use on average which is more useful for people from the UK because you can then compare it to your unit price on your bill.

By far the most expensive thing to run in the home is the boiler and heating system. For big savings it is best to start looking at ways to reduce your heating bills by improving insulation and energy efficiency for long-term savings.

Guest Article by Louise Goldstein

If you’re already asking yourself the question, do I need a new boiler?, then it’s clearly time to take a long serious look at your current heating device.

You might also discover that it’s time to renew, or upgrade, your whole heating system. Boilers are usually the source of the problem if you discover that your house is not being heated efficiently. Many of the older boiler models suffer from low efficiency levels which can be as low as 50%, but more usually around 70%.

If you consider that a modern, high efficiency condensing boiler operates at around 96%, you will appreciate the difference in energy cost that comes every month out of your wallet. When you compare older 70% efficient boilers to modern condensing boilers operating at 96%, you could be wasting 25p in every pound you spend on your energy.

And not only that, an older boiler sends more waste gases up the flue than a modern boiler which means you are contributing more carbon emissions to the environment.

But don’t lay the blame entirely at the feet of your boiler. It may mean that your whole central heating system is in need of an upgrade, refit, or clean. The boiler might be the heart of the system, but the network of radiators, pipes and controls are vital for the most efficient operating levels.

You need therefore to take a close look at your heating system, including the:

• radiators;
• water tanks;
• piping;
• controls.

And by close look, always err on the side of caution and get an expert to run their eye over your kit. Remember that your boiler can never be examined, serviced, moved, or repaired, by anyone other than an engineer on the Gas Safe Register. This is a legal requirement, not just good advice.

But the boiler aside, have a think about how your central heating system is functioning. Are the radiators working properly? Do they need bleeding (removing air which creates cold spots)? Flushing out (getting rid of sediment which also creates cold spots)? Or, checking for corrosion (which can lead quickly to dramatic leaks)? Water tanks – whether they be hot water tanks, or header tanks – need regularly checking for efficiency and possible corrosion. Piping does not last forever and, like radiators, the miles of pipework in your home can suffer from blockages, sludge build up and corrosion.

Controls (such as individual room thermostats) should be the most modern type you can afford, as the latest models allow the user to spread heat more efficiently throughout the house. And the latest boilers usually have built-in controls which allow the user a large degree of control over their heating system’s work rate, which will allow you in turn to control your consumption and therefore cost.

So when you consider boiler replacement, remember to take stock of your whole system as efficient central heating will mean lower energy bills.

Call British Gas on 0800 327 7832 to ask about arranging a FREE heating system survey!

Article by Alan Potts 

When you start to wonder whether it’s time to consider replacing your old heating system, it really comes down to whether your current system is as efficient as it could be.

If you don’t think your current heating system is operating at maximum efficiency – which basically means heating your house without stressing your household expenditure – then it’s time to think seriously about upgrading your heating system.

And there are a number of key reasons for taking such a step, the most important being efficiency. And some of the main indicators of an inefficient heating system include:

• noisy boiler;
• cold spots around the house;
• half-warm radiators;
• break-downs;
• high energy bills.

Let’s take a look at the boiler. It’s a well known fact that older boilers tend to be only around 70% efficient. Now a modern condensing boiler can return an efficiency rating of over 95%, so what that means is with older boilers, some 25% of the energy you are paying for is literally going up the flue. And that translates to about 25p in the pound being wasted.

Modern boilers are highly efficient and safe. They will maximise your household spend and get the most out of your central heating system. If your current boiler is starting to make noises, or appears to be labouring under the task required of it, then not only should you have it checked out for safety reasons, but you should also consider upgrading it.

High efficiency boilers are also better for the environment, as they also emit far fewer carbon emissions and will help the Government reach their demanding environmental targets.

Cold spots around the house are not just a sign that the boiler is getting to its ‘sell-by’ date. Cold areas might not only suggest that the system is becoming inefficient (blockages caused by sludge can be removed, but blockages caused by pipes corroding, or joints corroding will need greater attention), but also that the heat distribution controls are not adequate enough. Modern thermostat controls are very good at distributing the available heat around a property at a given time. Poor heat control cost the user money.

Half-warm radiators are again a sign that the heating system is not working properly. It might be a simple case of the radiator needing bleeding but it might also mean that a ‘sludge’ build-up throughout the system will necessitate a major flush out of the dirt and debris common in all systems. Or it might mean that the system’s network of pipes, valves and controls is becoming obsolete and will need replacing.

Break-downs are a major sign that all is not right and one of the biggest problems here is that older boilers are sometimes unrepairable as parts are commonly not available for the older models.

Finally, keep an eye on your energy bills. Talk to your energy provider, maybe politely ask your neighbours what they pay, or do some internet research and find out what typically your property should cost to keep warm.

If you discover you’re paying too much, then it may well be time to invest in a new heating system.

Call British Gas on 0800 327 7832 to ask further questions about arranging a heating system survey!

Article by Alan Potts 

British Gas bills are set to rise by 7% on 10 December, 2010.

The news was not unexpected and the British Gas bills for both gas and electricity are affected. It effectively means an extra £1.50 a week for a typical dual-fuel deal.

The energy giant has over eight million customers and has stated that, initially, its most vulnerable 300,000 customers will not see any increases until at least 1 April, 2011.

The company, which is the second one to announce major increases, blames the rises on the dramatic rise in wholesale prices. They state that these have risen by 25% since spring of this year. The first company out of the starting gate to announce winter fuel rises was Scottish and Southern Electricity, which also blamed wholesale price increases for its hike by nearly 10% of its domestic gas tariffs.

The managing director of British Gas Phil Bentley said: "We know that rising energy prices come at a difficult time for many.”

Another UK energy giant threw a small spanner in to the works by stating that it would actually freeze residential gas and electricity prices until at least March 2011.

Comments came thick and fast from consumer groups including Uswitch, whose spokesperson told the BBC:
“After a two year lull, household energy prices are about to resume their steady climb upwards again. Unfortunately for consumers, the 8% or £99 reduction seen over the last two years failed miserably to reverse the impact of the 42% or £381 increase seen in 2008. And now, whatever small benefit was seen is about to be wiped back out again.”

Adam Scorer, from Consumer Focus, said:
“British Gas and other suppliers respond to forward energy prices, and that will be their argument that price rises are needed," said Adam Scorer, from Consumer Focus. However, wholesale prices are around half of their peak in 2008 and yet in the same period customers prices were cut by less than 10%. Consumers will feel that suppliers did not make cuts when conditions allowed it, but are covering their profit margins as wholesale prices nudge up. At a time when there are reports of a gas glut it seems that consumers take on all the risk in this market.”

However, the Bank of England did predict, in its recent Inflation Report, that domestic gas prices would rise on average 10% by the end of 2010. This was one of the main reasons for the bank’s higher than expected inflation forecast for 2011.

Guest Article by Neil Camp