What can you put in your water to help your central heating
What can you put in your water to help your central heating
There are several products that serve as auxiliary items for your central heating system so that it functions normally, and then there are those that work independently to give you the service you want. Irregardless of which you choose, you should take proper care of your heating system, only then can it perform efficiently. The Government and environmental agencies repeatedly tell us about the ways to conserve energy like switching off the lights and appliances when not in use, re-adjusting the temperature of the room and washing machine according to the needs, and not leaving any electrical device in the standby mode. By doing all this, you not only cut down on the electricity account, but also protect the environment. But how about making your central heating system operate more effectively? The accumulation of sludge and limescale deposits in your central heating system will reduce its efficiency.
If you live in a region where hard water is being supplied, then you should look for water treatment methods to prevent gunk and limescale from damaging your central heating system.
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 heating system. Various products of water treatment are available like electronic line and magnetic filters, noise reducers, sludge removers, anti-freeze and scale reducers and inhibitors.
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. Any collection of limescale will make your system run less economically and therefore increase your heating bill. Your fuel bills can increase by 40% even with small deposits of limescale in your cylinder. Limescale deposits are simply composed of calcium. If you live in a soft water region, then you need not worry about limescale that much; however, if you are unsure about the water quality, then without any hesitation seek advice.
The water treatment options work by changing water’s molecular structure, it changes the way water behaves. 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.
The outlook for possible corrosion can be determined by monitoring pH and salt levels as well as ionic conditions, using standard chemical testing kits.
To begin with, you should make certain that your system has been assembled by a qualified individual, for example it’s important to have the simple knowledge that connecting aluminum and copper or brass triggers a corrosive reaction because that’s what happens when different metals are joined. You must get your gas connections done by a person registered with CORGI as the law requires this.
You should decide about the water treatment well in advance, especially when you are installing a new heating system. If you are updating your existing system you would be looking at flushing the whole system before adding any water treatment solutions.
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 do not alter the efficiency of your system, they only allow soaps and detergents to produce more lather when washing clothes.
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 gunk in the system prevents the water circulating properly. Gradual pitting can perforate the metal piping, causing the boiler or radiators to rattle.
The calcium and magnesium present in hard water is responsible for limescale deposits. When the water is heated, these minerals deposit, forming a hard crust that grows with time and blocks the pipes. This can be another cause of the central heating making strange noises.
The next problem to deal with is the biological growth. They gets into the heating system through open tanks. After managing to enter the system, it spreads by creating slime and sludge. In addition to the tank, they grow into the pipes and block them; thereby the efficiency of the system is further reduced.
A lot of free advice is available on the internet on how to get rid of biological growth. Take a look at this for a few minutes to improve your awareness. We recommend starting with the manufacturers themselves. Below is a list of manufacturers and some of the popular products they have available. Blogs also offer ample source of free help and information or you can contact the companies with any questions.
Good luck with your water treatment heres to energy cost-efficient heating and hot water with lower household bills of course.