Generally speaking, there are three main types of central heating systems, and the wet central heating system is by far the most popular in the UK. However, as well as the UK’s standard, there are a couple of other options available: warm air systems and storage heaters. Let’s have a look at each of these:
As the name suggests, ‘wet’ central heating systems rely on water. The system is built around a boiler which burns fuel to heat water. This hot water is then distributed through a network of pipes.
Often, the pipework feeds into radiators, which heat the room via a process called ‘convection’. This means that the radiator heats air around it, causing the warm air to rise, and cold air to fall. This cold air is heated in turn, and a circulating system of heat energy moves around the room, warming the space.
Sometimes, a wet central heating system may link to a large tank, known as a hot water cylinder. This will depend on the type of boiler you have.
Warm air systems are more popular outside the UK, however they were occasionally installed in Britain during the 1960s and 70s. With a warm air system, the central boiler heats air, usually by burning natural gas or a fossil fuel. It then distributes the hot air to a vent in the floor or wall. The system requires a heat pump on the wall outside to perform the heat exchange. Heated air systems can also double as air conditioning systems, and you’re most likely to see them in large commercial buildings.
Storage heating systems are powered by electricity. They use special bricks, which are designed to hold large amounts of heat. The system is linked to the electricity grid and the bricks are heated at lower-cost, off-peak times: late at night, for instance. They then slowly release that heat over the following day.
There are three main types of boiler used to power central heating systems, and the type of boiler used will depend on the age of the building, the age of the system, or the preferences of the owner.
Combi, or combination boilers, are usually the quickest, most efficient and most cost-effective option available. They’re able to run the central heating and provide hot water on demand from a single gas boiler unit. Combination boilers heat water instantly, meaning there is no hot water cylinder or storage tank to think about.
Regular boilers, sometimes called conventional boilers, are the traditional system, more typically found in older homes. Hot water and central heating are controlled separately. Regular boilers heat water and store it in a hot water cylinder ready for use in cold weather. The gas boiler itself, as well as the tank, are usually located in an airing cupboard or the attic.
System boilers are incredibly reliable, and typically run without issues for at least 15 years. Like regular boilers, system boilers need a tank and hot water cylinder. They are often the best choice for larger homes with greater hot water demands.
In most cases, heat generation occurs by burning natural gas, and though they do burn fuel, these modern central heating systems have impressively high efficiency ratings. However, if your system boiler is more than fifteen years old, there’s a good chance it is not the most economic or energy-efficient system available. This can mean that when you turn on the central heating, it’s costing you more than it needs to. Find out if replacing your boiler could save you money.
The system you have in your home will affect the way you control your central heating (and hot water).
This is the small box with a dial on the wall, usually in the living room or hallway. The thermostat measures the central heat inside the house and, depending on your selected setting, starts or stops the boiler sending hot water around the central heating system to the radiators.
Not all the radiators need to be running the same temperature. You can adjust them using the radiator valves. These are located on the side or back of individual radiators. They are used to adjust and control the temperature of specific rooms. Essentially, they block off the flow of hot water when the radiator gets up to temperature. It’s not very efficient to twist the radiator valve to completely ‘off’ or fully ‘on’; better to use the middle range of settings to find the perfect temperature.
The programmer is a control panel, located somewhere in the system, giving you control over what time the system turns on and off. Using the programmer is a great way to increase efficiency and reduce your carbon footprint. For a combi boiler, the programmer controls only the central heating. In other systems it may apply to the hot water, heating, or both. Modern boilers use an electric or digital programmer. Older models tend to have an analogue clock which uses pins.
This is a thermostat located on the side of the boiler itself. It is used to control the temperature that the boiler heats water up to, before it gets sent to the taps or around the central heating system. Combi boilers will have two thermostats on them, to control the hot water temperature and the central heating temperature independently.
If your system uses a hot water cylinder, there will be a thermostat fitted to the side of this unit, too. It is there for you to adjust the temperature of the water inside.
Whichever system or controls you have in your home, understanding what’s going on when you flick on the central heating is a great way to save on your energy bills and help reduce the effects of global warming. A little knowledge goes a long way, and getting to know your central heating system means understanding what’s happening behind the scenes.
Look for a button which says “clock” or “set time” on your control panel. Press it. Next, use the arrow buttons to find today’s day or date, and press the “select” button to confirm. Use the same arrow buttons to adjust the time. When you have the correct time and date on your digital boiler timer, use the “select” or “set time” button to confirm the setting.
You probably won’t want to have your central heating running all day, every day. Scheduling, or programming, allows you to set specific times for the central heating system to turn on or off.
There should be a button which says “program” or “set” (on some models, this is a switch). Press (or slide) it to enter scheduling mode. Now it’s time to think about when you want the hot water or heating to come on.
Again, use the arrows to navigate to the day of the week you want to set. Depending on the model and digital boiler timer you have, it may be necessary to select a time every day, or you may be able to group days together. Next, you’ll need to input the time for the boiler to come on. Once you have the desired time, use the “enter” or “select” button to lock it in.
After you’ve selected the time for the boiler to turn on, the programmer will switch to setting the turn-off time. Just like before, use the arrows to set the time, and “enter” or “select” to confirm. Depending on the model, some digital boiler timers support more than one timed setting per day.
Press the “set” button to confirm everything. This will remember your settings, and begin running your new boiler schedule automatically. (If your boiler has a switch, slide it to “run”).
Every mechanical boiler timer will have a round dial. This should be fairly easy to identify. The first step is to set the current time. Rotate the dial clockwise until you have it correct. It may not spin anti-clockwise.
The dial will be surrounded by pins. These look like a series of tiny switches, running all the way around. The important thing to remember is that each pin represents 15 minutes.
Have a look at the markings around the dial, and find the time you want your boiler to come on. Switch on the pin that corresponds to that time. (This may mean sliding the pin toward the center, or flicking it outward, depending on the model.) Push all consecutive pins, until you reach the time you want the boiler to turn off. For all times you want the central heating to be turned off, leave the pins as they are.
For example, if you want the boiler to be on from 06:00am-08:00am, switch on the pin at 6:00am, and every other pin until 08:00am. When the clock reaches 06:00am it will automatically start the daily cycle, and when it gets to 08:00am, it will automatically turn off.
This is an important last step but an easy one to forget. The mechanical timer will have a switch, with one option marked “timer” (this may be indicated by a small image of a clock). Make sure the switch is set to this position.
Whatever boiler model your home has, using the scheduling feature is a great way to save some cash and make your home more energy efficient. Energy costs are a concern for many, and understanding how your boiler timer works will give you the knowledge you need to keep those energy bills down and improve your home’s cost effectiveness. Plus, you’ll be able to stay warm and reduce your carbon footprint!
Radiators have long been the heat exchanger of choice for most households in the UK. They are connected to the central heating system and usually made from a heat-conducting metal like aluminium or cast-iron. The typical radiator is made up of two panels, connected by a grill, with fins running between them in a zig-zag pattern. The heat output is controlled by thermostatic radiator valves.
When your boiler runs heated water to the radiator system, the heat output happens through convection. This means that the radiator heats the air directly above it and, as the heat rises, cold air falls, which is then heated itself, creating an airflow loop that circulates hot air throughout the room. Radiators are effective at giving a blast of heat to the room, and there are countless design options available.
Underfloor heating uses a network of pipes or cables to heat the floor of a room. There are two main types of underfloor heating systems:
Hot water underfloor heating, sometimes called hydronic or wet underfloor heating, works on the same principle as the traditional central heating system. There are pipe networks beneath the floor, and when the system is switched on, hot water flows through them, radiating heat to the floor space above it.
The ‘dry’ system of underfloor heating gets its power from the electric grid, the same source of electricity for the mains supply in your home. Electrical wiring sits in the cavity underneath the floor and provides radiant heat when it is turned on. This wiring can be loose, or inlaid in a purpose-built mat.
Getting the correct ‘look’ for a room is an important consideration when designing a space, and that’s one of the main reasons so many people are turning to underfloor heating. It allows you to keep the room’s heating system totally invisible, which allows spaces to have a more ‘open’ feel, without wall space needing to be broken up by radiators. On the other hand, when it comes to design choice for radiators, your options are practically unlimited. Alongside traditional models, there are countless customisations you can select in terms of colour, shape and size, and many people use feature radiators for a conversation piece in a room.
In terms of installation, most homes in the UK are already installed with radiators, meaning you don’t have to do anything – or at least, very little. Treated well and properly maintained, a typical radiator is good to go for at least ten, if not fifteen, years. When it does finally need replacing, it’s simply a matter of removing the old one, fixing a new one to the wall, and connecting it to the central heating system. This is a quick and easy job for a professional.
If you’re looking to install underfloor heating in a new build, the process is also relatively painless, since you’re able to put the system in place before you add the final flooring level. Installing underfloor heating as a retrofit, though, can be more of a challenge. You can save some hassle if you go for electric underfloor heating, because the wiring tends to be quite thin and can be squeezed into place. Hot water underfloor heating requires more space for the pipes, and this may involve elevating the floor level, a particular pain point in older homes. You’ll also need to think about the structural integrity of the flooring, and whether it will conduct heat properly, too.
The daily, operational efficiency of the two systems is another crucial factor. While the typical central heating system runs at 70°C-90°C, water-based underfloor heating works at only about 35°C. This means the water needs much less heating, and that can lead to big savings on your energy bills. Underfloor heating is especially efficient when used in conjunction with a heat pump stationed outside the home.
Generally speaking, underfloor heating tends to be more efficient for large, open-plan spaces, whereas radiators are more effective at getting a smaller room (like a bedroom or bathroom) up to a comfortable temperature. With that said, radiators are much faster-acting than underfloor heating, so you may find that underfloor heating systems need to be turned on for longer. And, while radiators have some tried-and-tested metals as their core material, effective underfloor heating may need to be paired with particular flooring, like vinyl or specially-engineered wood.
As we said earlier, a good radiator can continue running at peak efficiency for fifteen years or more. However, to see that kind of lifespan you would need a top-line radiator unit and to take good, regular care of it. On the other hand, underfloor heating manufacturers boast that their water-based piping can run happily for more than fifty years, though again, this would entail semi-regular maintenance, checks and servicing. It’s important to remember that where radiators are comparatively easy to maintain, underfloor heating can be far more difficult to uncover for repairs or replacement.
When it comes to the running cost of underfloor heating and a radiator system, the figures are broadly similar. Running costs depend more on how much you choose to spend on energy and your home’s insulation-efficiency than the systems themselves. However, when you combine underfloor heating with a heat pump it becomes highly efficient, and that leads to big savings on cost. The price of electricity is much higher than the price of gas, and as a result the running cost of electrical underfloor heating can get significantly higher.
Any decision about heating systems needs to consider the quality of the existing insulation and windows in your home. It may be a good idea to get an estimate of your room’s heat loss, and base your decision on that – often, it’s worth upgrading your insulation at the same time as your heating system, as that can have a massive impact on your heating bills.
Many people choose underfloor heating in their bigger, most-used rooms like the living room or kitchen (especially if they’re open plan), and have radiators in the bedroom or bathroom. This can be extremely energy efficient and makes good sense economically because you can adjust your heating usage to suit your lifestyle.
One drawback of radiators is that the process of convection stirs up dust in the room and allows it to spread, which can be troublesome for people with allergies. An underfloor heating system does away with this concern.
If you do decide to go for water-based underfloor heating, be sure to earmark a space somewhere in the house to keep your control manifold. This is essentially the nerve centre of your system and allows you to independently control different areas of the house, though it’ll need its own dedicated space.
A better question might be: between underfloor heating and radiators, which system is best-suited for my home? With modern building design, underfloor heating may be a good match for open plan, well-insulated spaces, especially if it’s installed as part of the construction process. On the other hand, radiators are better for more traditionally-designed houses; they give you a quicker blast of heat, and are generally easier to maintain.
An electric boiler system simply uses electricity rather than gas to generate hot water. These boilers are connected to the mains electricity supply, and heat cold water that comes from the mains water supply, using a heating element similar to that in a kettle. The only real difference between electric boilers and traditional boilers is that they do not require gas. There has in fact been a lot of debate about whether electric boiler systems are better for the environment.
While electric boiler systems are not suitable for larger homes (due to them having limitations regarding how much water they can heat at any one time) they still offer a multitude of benefits for people with smaller properties.
As they are the newer boiler systems on the market, electric boilers are built with efficiency in mind. As water is heated directly through the system, this means that no energy is wasted as the system only needs to use electricity when heating or hot water is required, rather than needing to keep water hot for extended periods of time.
Because electric boilers don’t rely on elements inside the system moving to create heat, they are far quieter than traditional boilers. Plus, since they are usually designed for smaller homes, the units are always compact and able to fit in small spaces such as kitchen cupboards. This also means they are usually relatively quick to install.
Without the need for any gas, your home is arguably safer with an electric boiler. With a gas boiler, there is always the risk of fuel leakage which can be extremely dangerous. Electric boilers, since they only require electricity, do not have this risk.
It will come as no surprise that a more efficient boiler also makes a less expensive boiler. With a new, electric boiler model, you can rely on the system using as little energy as possible to heat the water needed for your home, meaning that you are provided with the heat quicker and at less of a cost. When you install an electric boiler system, you can rest safe in the knowledge that your bills won’t be skyrocketing anytime soon.
As previously mentioned, an electric boiler system tends to be unsuitable for larger homes. This is because they are limited to the amount of water they can heat at one time. If you have a home with 4+ bathrooms and multiple showers are in use at the same time, for example, the boiler system will not be able to meet your needs. If you need guidance as to which boiler system will work best for your home, just get in touch with our experts here at Bbright.
Usually, if you have had your boiler for more than 15 years, it will likely need to be upgraded – and not only because it might be falling apart or showing error codes. Older boilers tend to be far less efficient than newer models, and so getting a boiler upgrade will likely help you financially in the long run. Your home will be heated quicker and you will no longer have to worry about finding out-of-date replacement parts for your boiler!
Here are some other reasons why you might suspect it’s time for a boiler upgrade:
If your boiler is old or simply in need of an upgrade, you may have started to notice it emitting strange smells or making unusual rattling sounds. This is usually to do with the external pipes – sometimes there can be blockages which cause the smells, or a loosening of parts which can cause the rattling. Rattling may also mean there is an excess of air within the system. Whatever the cause, both these things are key indicators that your boiler needs to be replaced.
It’s not uncommon for boilers to need the odd repair, but when your boiler is regularly in need of attention from an engineer, new parts or leak fixes, this may be because it is out-of-date. Not only this, but many older boilers that are no longer being produced will sometimes require parts that are difficult to find online or not available at all. This can cause further issues and delay the boiler repair, potentially leaving you without heating. With a newer model, you will have a reassuring warranty and you will also be safe in the knowledge that no parts will be going out-of-date any time soon.
As mentioned previously, older boilers are usually far less efficient than the newer models available on the market, and so if you have had your boiler for several years, it should come as no surprise that your bills are creeping further up in price! Old boilers will need to work harder and use more energy to generate the same heat output as newer boilers, and so you will end up paying more for less efficiency. Quickly getting a new boiler installed should see your home heating up much faster and your bills plummeting back to normal.
At Bbright, we understand that replacing a boiler can be a hassle, so our engineers are here to make the process as simple as possible for you. We’ll help to make sure you’re choosing the right kind of boiler for your home, and that you reap all the benefits of the best boiler models on the market.
By far the best and most efficient way to make sure you’re keeping your house warm this winter while also saving money is to get a smart meter, and on top of that, use a central heating timer. A smart meter can provide you with complete visibility of the energy usage in your home, and you can use this data to inform how you time your central heating (whether you choose to do this automatically or manually).
Smart meters are designed to help you save money on your energy bills, so we recommend installing one sooner rather than later to encourage good heating habits for the future. Free smart meters are available with some of our boilers.
You will find that most homes are properly insulated, but if you’re finding that heat is escaping from your home quicker than it should be, it might be time for an investment into better insulation. While you’re waiting, try keeping your house warm this winter by making sure your curtains are closed when light isn’t coming in through the window.
Most of us are lucky in the sense that heating is readily available, but that shouldn’t stop us from using other heating methods every once in a while. Tricks like leaving your oven door open after it’s been cooking something or simply wrapping up warm can make all the difference and even save you a bit of money. Having more soft furnishings in the house can also help to keep the heat in, as can draft excluders.
You may also want to try rearranging your living room so that your sofa is not blocking your radiator (or indeed other rooms in which radiators are behind furniture). This will allow the heat to circulate more evenly around the room.
Of course, you won’t be able to heat your home in winter without an efficient boiler system in place. If you have had your boiler for a number of years and it is often in need of repairs, it may be time to bite the bullet and get a new one. Not only will you have fewer issues to deal with, but you will likely find that a newer model will heat your home quicker and more efficiently, keeping you warm throughout the winter months and saving you money, too.
There are a number of reasons why a boiler might need resetting, and you will usually be able to tell that it is experiencing a fault by locating a flashing light somewhere on the unit – or an error code if your model has an in-built screen. You may simply suddenly notice that you aren’t able to get heating and hot water in your home. Either way, resetting your boiler is a useful first step to take, as it will inform you whether the fault needs engineer’s assistance to rectify it.
If you suspect your boiler is experiencing more serious issues, for example a leak, frozen pipes or problems with the gas or electricity, we recommend you contact a Bbright engineer before trying any small fixes yourself.
‘Lockout’ means that your boiler is not working due to a safety fault. Boilers will automatically switch off to prevent danger, and so this could suggest that there is a serious fault. If you are experiencing a boiler lockout, be sure to contact an engineer as soon as you can.
Exactly how you reset your boiler will vary slightly depending on your make and model, and you should be able to find detailed information in your instruction manual. In this blog we will provide a general overview of reset instructions, but if you need further assistance you can always contact our experts.
All boiler models should have a reset button, and you will be able to find this on the outside of the unit. Its location will vary depending on your model, but in most cases it shouldn’t be too difficult to spot. If you are having trouble, consult your manual or call an engineer.
To reset your boiler, press and hold the reset button for about 10 seconds. Then, wait several minutes – your boiler may be starting up, and pressing the reset button again too soon will cause it to stop. You will be able to tell if your reset has been successful if any fault codes disappear, or if the flashing light becomes a steady light. You may also hear the system powering up again.
We recommend repeating the process only once more if the first attempt was unsuccessful. If you press and hold the boiler reset button too many times, you risk damage to the control panel. Try once more, and if you are still seeing no changes, then it’s time to call a professional boiler engineer.
IfIf you find you are resetting your boiler fairly frequently, this could mean your boiler is in need of an upgrade. Unfortunately, boilers do have an end to their lifecycle, and once they start needing regular repairs, you may also start to experience higher bill costs due to the boiler losing its efficiency. If you’re unsure, call an engineer to have them assess your boiler and recommend the ideal replacement.
If you’re just looking for the short answer to this question, then it’s ‘yes’. Underfloor heating systems can still work well even if carpet is installed on top, and there are even some additional benefits. Since radiators cause warm air to circulate, dust trapped in the carpet can circulate with it, which can be harmful to those with asthma or other allergies. However, with underfloor heating, the dust that naturally gets absorbed by the carpet is not made to circulate through the air, making your room feel cleaner and fresher.
Unfortunately, the answer is not quite as simple as that! There are some additional things to consider when installing carpet over underfloor heating systems.
People often wonder whether they will get all the benefits of a UFH system if they also have carpet installed. Since carpet is naturally insulating, it might be the case that an underfloor heating system is less efficient when there is a layer of insulation to penetrate. It’s true that this could happen with particularly thick carpets, however there are simple ways to avoid reducing the efficiency of UFH systems.
Before installing your UFH, be sure to check that your carpet and any underlay does not have a combined Tog value of more than 2.5. Tog rating is a measure of thermal resistance, and you may be familiar with the term as it often relates to duvets. You should also consider the type of carpet as well as its Tog rating. Usually, carpets with hessian backing are recommended rather than those with a rubber backing. While these can be more costly upfront, they will likely save you money in the long run as they will help to maintain the efficiency of your underfloor heating.
Often, you will be able to consult with carpeting specialists when it comes to deciding which carpet will be best suited to rooms that will have UFH.
Another thing to consider when installing underfloor heating is making sure your contractor has all the necessary information about the size of each room, whether or not each room is already carpeted, and details about your current heating system (unless you are installing UFH in a newbuild). This is so that they can ensure your UFH system is performing at maximum efficiency.
When getting underfloor heating fitted, it’s important to be wary of cowboy companies who will not have concern about the efficiency (or potential lack thereof) of your UFH system. Some companies have been known to hide disclaimers in the small print, making you liable for any inconsistencies, breakages or inefficiencies.
The short answer is yes, you can lay vinyl flooring over underfloor heating – but there are some exceptions. Underfloor heating systems can vary in terms of how they are powered – water-based UFH systems transport hot water through pipe networks underneath your floor, while electric UFH systems use mats that sit underneath your flooring and are heated up using mains electricity.
Because of the sudden rise in temperature caused by underfloor heating mats, electric systems are not usually recommended if you have vinyl flooring. This is because the sudden temperature shift and general fluctuations will cause the material to expand and contract, which overtime will damage the floor.
The best thing to do if you’re unsure is to have an experienced engineer inspect where you are planning to install your new heating system, and they will be able to recommend solutions with regards to your flooring and whether you should choose an electric or water-based underfloor heating system.
Whether you choose to have an electric or water-based underfloor heating system is just the first step, and if you’re serious about making the most of your UFH investment, there are a few other things to consider.
Ensuring that your UFH system is running at the right temperature is vital to ensure you are not only maximising efficiency, but also protecting your vinyl flooring. Generally, your system should only be operated to a maximum of 28 degrees celsius. Thanks to the efficiency of underfloor heating systems and the technology they use to spread heat throughout a room, you should not feel the need to exceed this temperature.
If you are having new vinyl flooring installed and you already have a UFH system in place, you should always make sure it is turned off for a minimum of 48 hours before the installation starts.
Making sure your UFH system and vinyl flooring is installed correctly, ideally by an expert, is key if you wish to get the most out of your investment. Underfloor heating systems are a cleaner, greener way to heat your home, and should eventually save your money on your water and electricity bills. However, if your system is not installed well, you could end up paying for costly repairs, new flooring or replacement radiators. At Bbright, we can install your UFH system in a matter of days at a time that suits you. You can get your quote here.
There have been concerns in the past about vinyl floors containing harmful plasticizers which emit toxic fumes when heated. Today however, vinyl flooring produced in Europe has to meet certain requirements, and is completely safe. We therefore recommend you choose a newer vinyl flooring if you are installing underfloor heating.