article feature

How Heating Controls Can Optimize Energy Savings 

When it comes to efficient home heating the aim should be to waste as little fuel and heat as possible. Most people don't even realise how important their heating controls are, or, how, by making some slight adjustments, big energy bill savings can be achieved.

Using heating controls correctly is the easiest way to keep rooms at a comfortable temperature. Fitting the correct heating controls could typically save around $250 - $350 a year. What's more, the combination of fitting a condensing boiler together with a full set of heating controls could save around $500 - $700 a year.

Heating controls allow three important elements to be controlled:

1. When the heating is on.

2. How warm it is.

3. Where you want the warmth.

They will also make sure that the boiler is only turned on when it needs to be. What makes a full set of heating controls?

A properly controlled heating system should typically have a time programmer and a room thermostat, or, a combined programmable room thermostat, plus thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs). A cylinder thermostat is also recommended if a regular condensing boiler with a hot water cylinder is installed.

Programmers allow you to set when the heating and hot water come 'On' and go 'Off' again. By installing a programmer, and heating your home and hot water only as and when necessary, you will save energy and money. These can be either manually or digitally operated.

A room thermostat constantly measures the air temperature of a space and can be set to whatever temperature suits you best. They are usually in halls, stairs or landing areas to sense the average temperature of a home's main living spaces. When the temperature falls below the setting, the thermostat switches on the central heating; once the room reaches the set temperature, the thermostat switches the heating off. Please note that the heating needs to be switched on for the thermostat to work.

A programmable room thermostat lets you choose the times you want your home to be heated and the temperature you want it to reach whilst it is on. In other words, it allows you to heat rooms or the whole house to different temperatures in your home at appropriate times of the day and week. And again, by heating your home and hot water only as and when necessary, you will save energy and money. Similarly to the heating programmer these may be digitally or manually controlled.

Savings and costs

Ideally you should time your heating to go off 30 minutes before you leave the property, and come on again 30 minutes before you are due to return. Thermostats should be set at the lowest comfortable temperature - typically between 18°C and 21°C (64°F and 70°F). Lowering a thermostat by just 1°C could save around $100 - $140 a year.

Manual room thermostats cost in the region of $25 - $40, digital room thermostats cost $40 - $120 and digital wireless room thermostats cost around $140 - $200. This does not include the installation cost - some wiring may be required. Consult a suitably qualified electrician if necessary. Digital programmers allow even more accurate temperature control so savings are larger.

Many people have a full set of heating controls installed but do not optimise them to maximise their energy savings. You should take a little time to find out what each control does. If you have any of these controls already refer to the instruction manuals that came with them for specific advice on your particular make and model. If you don't have any manuals to hand, copies can usually be downloaded from manufacturers' websites.