ADVICE AND NEWS FROM THE EXPERTS

System balancing is a simple process yet, if omitted, can significantly undermine the effectiveness of a heating system. Unbalanced systems can cause the emergence of hot and cold spots within a house, leading the consumer to feel that their system is not functioning as expected or promised. Consequently, they then turn up the temperature to negate the impact of cold spots, meaning they are not utilising their heating systems effectively.Despite the importance of balancing, there is no mandat...

How to fill up the water in your boiler should the pressure dropChecking the boiler water pressure A common occurrence that causes problems with central heating systems is a lack of water pressure in the system. Most Combi/System boilers require a pressure of a least   1bar, and the recommended pressure tends to be between 1 and 1.5 bars of atmospheric pressure. You should check the operating manual for the recommended pressure before topping it up. Most boilers will have a dial or ...

Open Therm (OT)   is a standard communications protocol used in central heating systems for the communication between a central heating boiler and a thermostatic controller.As a standard, open therm is independent of any single manufacturer. A controller from manufacturer A can in principle be used to control a boiler from manufacturer B. However, OpenTherm controllers and boilers do not in fact always work properly together. The openTherm standard comprises a number of optional fea...

The dangers of skipping system cleaning and the benefits of powerflushing and protecting both ourselves and the homeowner's interest. Powerflushing can be a hard sell. After all, it not only costs the customer money but the process also takes hours. Furthermore, the homeowner might have heard that power flushes cause leaks. However, as any professional installer, we know, system cleaning is a critical part of the water treatment process, and skipping it can be detrimental for the heating syst...

MOST of us start our day by showering, but choosing a new shower can be confusing, so what do you need to consider? 1) There are three main types of shower power, electric and mixer. Power showers are ideal for homes with plenty of hot water -they mix hot and cold water to create the desired temperature and a built-in pump boosts the flow of water, creating a powerful spray, but they do use a lot of water, An electric shower only needs cold water because it heats the water as you shower ...

Until the mid-1980s, the majority of UK water heating installations involved cistern-fed open vented low-pressure systems. While a large number of these systems remain in use, the fact that they are gravity fed means that they are often ill equipped to cater for modern lifestyles, leaving the end user frustrated as a result. More recently, combination boilers have become a `go to'; fitted on the assumption that they will provide instant hot water. However, for properties with two or more bath...