With the winter season quickly approaching, central heating for your home becomes a priority. In order to keep your home warm, all components of your central heating system must be in proper working order. However, there are some typical faults with the system that tend to happen at the worst possible time. One such common problem is frost damage, which can damage and sometimes destroy boilers and pipes.

In previous years, the central heating system was designed with the frost thermostat located near the boiler. Its job was to start the boiler when the air temperature dropped and stop the boiler when the air temperature reached an acceptable level. If the thermostat detected excessive heat escaping from the boiler or surrounding pipes it quickly turned off the system, in order to conserve energy and prevent excessive heating of the home.

A new development in insulation materials for central heating systems has made the frost thermostat's job much more challenging. Modern boilers and pipes are much more insulated than their older counterparts. Energy conservation was the goal of this alteration; unfortunately the problem of overheating persists. The frost thermostat is no longer able to detect changes in temperature accurately. As such, overheating and energy waste continue to occur.

The pipe thermostat is one solution. The product is installed on the boiler return pipe. This thermostat detects changes in pipe temperature and prevents overheating by shutting off the system when necessary. There are several UK companies that sell the frost thermostat and low limit pipe thermostat together in one kit. These products allow you to adjust room temperature and provide frost protection for your boilers and pipes.

The new thermostats are easy to install and set up. Complete installation and wiring guidelines are all contained in one box making it simple for the installer. The frost thermostat is set to a typical temperature of 5C and the pipe thermostat is put to a typical temperature of 25C. Extra frost thermostats can also be installed to provide complete defence, if the pipes are exposed further around the property (e.g. in a shed, in a garage etc.).

If the pipe thermostat fails to meet your needs, there are other solutions. A fully programmable room thermostat is one option. These devices can be installed in a number of locations throughout your home, usually in a living room or bedroom. Their job is to measure and monitor the temperature of the room. The thermostat can be set to change the room temperature several times a day, depending on the homeowner's needs. There are several kits that operate by means of radio signal, from the thermostat to the boiler. These Radio Frequency (RF) thermostats require no wiring, which makes them very easy to install.

However, it is important to note that a thermostat is not the only way to heat your home in the most effective way. Adjusting the zones where heat is distributed can be a big energy saver. Focus heat where most time is spent and allow rooms that are not frequently used to remain cooler. This simple change will impact the efficiency of your central heating system greatly and help you reduce your heating bills.

Article Source: http://www.energyefficienthomearticles.com

Tal Potishman, editor of Heating Central, writes articles about home boilers , boilers, Hampstead plumbers, underfloor heating and solar thermal. He specializes in helping save money by advising on efficient heating.

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