Living in the unpredictable climate of the UK, many households rely on their central heating systems to keep warm. 

However, while using your central heating may cost more than you’d like, there are ways to make your heating system more efficient.

What capacity combi boiler is most efficient?

What boiler capacity is the most efficient for your home will depend on several factors. The main things you need to consider when calculating the optimal capacity are the size of your home, the number of bathrooms you have and the number of bedrooms. 

For example, in a standard 3 bedroom home containing a bath, shower and up to 10 radiators, a great energy efficient choice would be a 24kw boiler. 

However, it’s not just dependent on the size of your home and how many bathrooms you have. A good heating engineer will be able to calculate the correct size of boiler for your home by carrying out a series of checks, which includes checking the flow rate of your incoming water mains. 

This is why it’s always a good idea to have someone attend your home to carry out a full survey. It’s also good for getting a feel for the company you might choose to change your boiler.

What is flow temperature?

Flow temperature refers to the temperature of the water in the supply pipe of a heating system. 

The hot water is distributed via the pipework, and most of it is directed to radiators. The rest of the water makes its way to other facilities in the home where the water is used directly, like showers and taps.

You might have heard that reducing the flow temperature on your combi boiler will help to make it more efficient and in turn, save you energy and reduce bills. Reducing the flow temperature on your combi boiler could make your combi boiler run more efficiently and help you to save energy.

You should only turn down the flow temperature on combi boilers. Most traditional heating systems are set up to run at 80 degrees, but they can operate at a lower temperature.

How do I set the flow temperature on my combi boiler?

The exact steps to change your combi boiler’s flow temperature will vary from model to model and brand to brand. However, in general, the flow temperature can usually be changed by one of the following:

Dials 

Your combi boiler may come with one or two dials that can be used to adjust the temperature. More often than not, your boiler will have two dials. 

One of these dials will change the heating temperature and the other is for adjusting the hot water temperature.

To change the flow temperature, you would use the radiator temperature dial. You may need to turn it to the halfway point to reach 60°C.

Digital displays

Certain modern combi boilers come with digital displays, which can make adjusting your boiler flow temperature a bit easier. For example, the Worcester Bosch 4000 and 8000 combi boilers both have a digital display. You can see a radiator symbol which indicates that you are in the heating mode of the boiler, and you can then use the temperature buttons to turn the temperature down to the required level. 

Your boiler may also have dials, in which case you will be able to adjust the flow temperature by turning the dial and viewing the settings on the digital display. 

Some modern boilers may have no dials at all, and you will be able to adjust the flow temperature using buttons on the digital display. These displays will usually feature + and – buttons that can be used to increase or decrease the temperature. 

Will changing flow temperature change how warm my home is?

Changing the flow temperature of your boiler to the recommended 60°C may change the temperature of your home. 

Reducing the flow temperature means your radiators will be colder to touch and it will take slightly longer for your home to heat up when the radiators initially turn on.

You need to experiment with the flow temperature on your boiler over a period of a few days to find a temperature that suits your home and occupants. You need to find a temperature that heats your home up at the speed you want and to the comfort level that you want.

What is the most economical setting for a boiler?

For modern combi boilers, the most economical setting for the flow temperature should be set anywhere between 60 and 70°C. 

If you want to have a good balance between warmth and efficiency, you will want to be keeping your boiler at around 65°C. 

For those who prefer higher temperatures, don’t set your boiler above 70°C. This can cause your boiler to become overworked and will likely reduce the overall efficiency, as well as the boiler’s actual lifespan. 

What temperature should my boiler be set at for central heating?

When it comes to central heating, the best range is between 18 and 21°C, since this is within most people’s comfort zones. 

For bedroom temperatures, try to keep it between 16 and 19°C. This is the most comfortable temperature for a good night’s sleep. 

Is it cheaper to keep a combi boiler on all the time?

Many people think that keeping their combi boiler on low all the time is cheaper than simply just putting it on when you need it, but this is a myth. Instead, it is much more energy efficient and cheaper to only switch your heating on when you need to. 

Constantly heating your home will not only result in energy being used, but also lost. In a standard home, heat loss is quite significant compared to the heat you’re putting into it through your boilers and radiators.

If you constantly leave your heating on low, your home may struggle to reach the desired temperature, meaning that energy will be used for long periods of time. 

Check out our guide for more detail on whether you should leave your heating on low all of the time.

What temperature should my boiler be set at in winter?

In the winter, your boiler should be set at around 65°C. Setting it a few degrees higher won’t hurt, but again, try not to exceed 70°C. 

Be aware of the type of people who live in your household. For example, if you live with elderly family members or have young children, your boiler temperature should not be below 60°C since it can increase the risk of illness. 

How to adjust the water temperature on combi boiler

As we’ve mentioned, your boiler will usually have two dials – one for the heating temperature and the other for the water temperature. Adjusting one will not affect the other. 

To change your water temperature, simply turn the dial to your desired temperature and then perform a thermometer test. You should be able to do this straight away. From here, you can keep making small adjustments until you’re happy with the temperature. 

Ways to make your combi boiler more efficient

Other ways that you can make your combi boiler more efficient include:

Having a programmable room thermostat or smart thermostat:

If you have a new boiler installation, this should be fitted as standard and your heating engineer will recommend a good control. This means that you can set your boiler for times when you are in your home, or you could even use a smart control app on your mobile phone to turn your boiler on and off or change settings.

If you don’t have thermostatic radiator valves on your radiators, it is worth investing in these as you can then adjust the room temperatures individually.

Have your combi boiler serviced annually:

As well as validating any warranty that you have on your boiler, a boiler service helps to keep your boiler running as efficiently as possible. 

A heating engineer will carry out various checks on your boiler and clean out certain components to ensure maximum efficiency. A boiler service is also useful for spotting any potential issues so you can call out the manufacturer. 

At Lacey Plumbing & Heating, we specialise in all kinds of domestic and commercial heating needs. 

If you have any questions or concerns about your combi boiler, or you are interested in having a combi boiler installed, feel free to contact our professional and friendly team.

Do businesses need regular plumbing maintenance?

While preventative maintenance is not needed on a regular basis, it is a must for businesses who are looking to reduce their spendings and downtime. 

With efficient, regular preventative maintenance scheduling, you will be able to ensure that all of your plumbing assets, like toilets and sinks, are well maintained and working as efficiently as possible. 

Investing some time initially to build out a regular plumbing maintenance schedule will inevitably save you time down the line, as well as potentially saving you thousands of pounds worth of repairs.

What is planned and reactive plumbing maintenance?

Planned plumbing maintenance

Planned plumbing maintenance refers to the scheduled and agreed upon work that is carried out on equipment over an agreed period of time. 

For example, on an agreed period of a year, it means that over a 12 month period, you can schedule work to be done on equipment every 3 to 6 months. This basically means that you know when your equipment will be out of service, and you can plan around it. 

With planned plumbing in place, it means things like commercial boiler servicing can be scheduled regularly so you can ensure that it is running at maximum potential.

You might also have items such as hot water heaters, valves and toilets that you need inspecting annually to keep up with your health and safety obligations. 

Reactive plumbing maintenance 

Reactive plumbing maintenance refers to attending an issue only when it occurs, also referred to as emergency maintenance.

Following a reactive maintenance mindset means that you can’t predict when things will go wrong and you won’t know if the parts will be available for repairing the problem. However, it’s always good to have the number of a reliable plumbing and heating company on record as unfortunately, emergencies happen.

Why is commercial plumbing maintenance important to businesses?

Commercial plumbing is an invaluable asset to any commercial property. A business’s plumbing is likely to have a high volume of usage each day, so it’s important to have a strong system that can keep up with this demand.

Regular commercial plumbing maintenance can ensure that these businesses have reliable plumbing that stays in good condition. Without this, businesses can suffer from increased downtime which can affect overall productivity, as well as unexpected costs that could have been avoided through planned plumbing maintenance. 

By checking potential problems regularly, commercial plumbing maintenance can help to catch any issues before they happen, which will inevitably help to extend the lifespan of your plumbing. 

The benefits of regular plumbing maintenance

There are a number of benefits to regular plumbing maintenance, including:

Reduced energy costs 

Regular maintenance can help to reduce your business’s running costs by ensuring that your plumbing runs more efficiently. When parts of your plumbing are not properly maintained, they tend to use more energy which leads to higher utility bills each month. 

Regularly scheduled maintenance allows plumbers to detect any areas where there may be an issue with efficiency, and these issues can be addressed in a quick and cost effective way. 

Prevent leaks 

Another benefit of regular maintenance is that it can prevent leaks from happening or worsening over time. Leaks are one of the most common plumbing issues, but they can be easily prevented through plumbing checks. 

Ensure safe plumbing 

Regularly scheduled maintenance can ensure that your commercial property is adhering to correct health and safety standards, which is especially important when your plumbing may be used by a variety of different ages. 

Professional commercial plumbers will ensure all safety protocols are followed during an inspection, whilst also checking for health and safety issues, such as corrosion and sanitation.  

Common commercial plumbing problems

Some of the most common commercial plumbing problems include:

• Broken toilets e.g. not flushing or over flushing
• Burst pipes and leaks
• Low water pressure
• Leaking or broken taps 
• Broken hot water heaters

If you own a commercial property, feel free to contact our team for more information on commercial plumbing maintenance and how it could benefit your business.

Knowing the difference between plumbers and the services they provide can give you a good idea of what kind of plumber you will need for your property. 

Different plumbers specialise in different areas. Although the fundamentals are the same, how they apply their plumbing skills will differ depending on the type of plumbing service that is performed.

What jobs do commercial plumbers do?

Commercial plumbers work on large and complex plumbing infrastructures, dealing with water supply, pressure and waste, as well as installing and maintaining safety features.

They will also work with drawings and plumbing designs, and plan commercial plumbing installations including boilers, pipework, waste and sanitary installations. 

Commercial plumbers will work on sites such as:

• Schools
• Residential care homes
• Hotels 
• Shops 
• Office buildings 
• Public houses and restaurants

What jobs do domestic plumbers do?

Domestic plumbers work on a much smaller scale compared to commercial plumbers, mainly working in homes and smaller residential buildings. 

They have the skills and qualifications to work within homes, maintaining and installing the following:

• Boilers and heating pipework
• Radiators
• Domestic appliances like showers and taps
• Sanitaryware like toilets, baths and taps

Domestic plumbers also respond to emergency call-outs like boiler breakdowns or leaking pipes. They will also conduct annual servicing on a variety of different boilers. 

What is the main difference between commercial and domestic plumbing?

The main difference between commercial and domestic plumbing is the scale in which plumbers work on. Commercial plumbing often requires a lot more pipework and deals with everything on a larger scale.

Plumbing in commercial properties has a lot more demand and usage than that of residential properties. 

In domestic properties, there tends to only be two to three floors that only require pipework, toilets, sinks and showers, whereas commercial properties can have many stories with plumbing facilities on each floor, with lots of pipework. 

Commercial plumbers have the experience and knowledge to maintain, repair and install large and complex plumbing and pipework systems throughout larger properties. They also have the necessary training to work with industrial grade boilers, pipes and sewers.

It is often the case that commercial plumbers will also have a project manager to quote, plan, design and co-ordinate the work within a commercial premises.

How do I know what type of plumber I need?

Generally speaking, you should be able to get a good idea of what plumber you need based on the type of building you’re in. 

However, if you’re not sure or you’re looking for someone with industry-specific experience, our team at Lacey Plumbing & Heating are highly experienced in both the domestic and commercial sector.

Radiator valves are an essential part of how our homes are heated. They control the flow of hot water through pipes and ensure your radiator heats up efficiently and effectively. 

Thermostatic radiator valves do this exact job, however they are one of the many heating controls that can be used for modulating radiator temperatures within different rooms.

What are smart TRVs?

Smart TRVs are designed to provide the same room by room heating control, connecting to your thermostat to create the zoned heating system. 

However, smart TRVs can be electronically controlled through apps for smartphones, tablets and computers. This means whether you’re at home, or out and about, you’ll be able to control your home’s heating from a simple app.  You are also able to adjust each room individually at different times and different temperatures using the app.

Are TRVs a legal requirement?

As part of the new rules in England, in newly built homes or homes which have had a boiler replaced, TRVs must be installed in every room. 

This is part of the UK government’s mission to increase the energy efficiency of new and existing homes. 

How do thermostatic radiator valves work?

TRVs are made up of two parts: the thermostatic head and the valve body. 

The thermostatic head contains an actuator that expands and contracts as temperature rises and falls. The valve body has a sprung plunger inside that closes and opens the supply of water into the radiator.

Expansion as the room heats blocks the valve to receive less hot water into the radiator. 

Contraction as the room cools opens the valve to receive more hot water in the radiator. 

How do thermostatic radiator valves connect to your radiator?

TRVs attach to the top of your radiator’s flow pipe valve body, which is the pipe which pumps the water into your radiator. 

You will need a qualified Plumbing & Heating Engineer to fit new thermostatic radiators valves for you as your heating system may need to be fully drained and refilled. 

Can I put TRVs on all of my radiators?

You can put TRVs on most radiators in your home, however, there must be a suitable bypass  installed between the flow and return. There must also be a suitable system interlock which shuts off the heating once a desired temperature has been reached. 

You don’t need to put a TRV on any radiators which are in the same room as your room thermostat. Your heating engineer will be able to advise you on this.

Where should thermostatic radiator valves go?

Most modern TRVs are bi-directional, meaning they can be fitted on the flow or return pipe of your radiator. 

However, it is always best to fit the TRV on the flow pipe that enters your radiator. 

How to set thermostatic radiator valves

Thermostatic radiator valves have numbers or symbols on them representing how much heat the radiator is putting out. 

When correctly fitted, the TRV will automatically detect the temperature in the room and let more or less hot water into the radiator depending on what setting you have the valves on.

What do the settings on thermostatic radiator valves mean?

The numbers on thermostatic radiator valves refer to the temperature in the room, not the temperature of the radiator. When the temperature drops below these temperatures, the TRV will allow hot water to flow to the radiator. 

• 0= off
• *= 7°C
• 1= 10°C
• 2= 15°C
• 3= 20°C
• 4= 25°C
• 5= 30°C

Fully functional TRVs will detect the temperature of the room and automatically adjust the amount of hot water in the radiator accordingly. 

Cost benefits of thermostatic radiator valves

Thermostatic radiator valves can help you to save money by allowing you to adjust the temperature on different radiators in your home. 

TRVs have been known to reduce energy bills by around 40%, since you only heat up rooms in your home that need to be heated, rather than turning on every radiator in your home. 

However, how much you can save with TRVs will depend on several factors including your insulation, the performance of your radiators and the number of rooms you regularly heat. 

How long do thermostatic radiator valves last?

Ordinary thermostatic radiator valves last around 15 years, but some more expensive, higher quality ones may last longer than this.