How to Use Your Heating Controls More Efficiently
Heating controls are easy to overlook, but they decide when your home is heated, which rooms receive heat and how hard your boiler has to work. Using them properly can improve comfort and avoid heating the house when you do not need to.
Heatline is based near Sutton Coldfield Town Centre, serving homes around the town centre, Sutton Park, Boldmere, Four Oaks, Mere Green, Wylde Green and surrounding neighbourhoods. Different Sutton Coldfield properties can have very different heating needs, so good controls are especially useful for matching heat to the way each home is actually used.
Energy Saving Trust says controls such as programmers, thermostats and thermostatic radiator valves help you heat your home only when needed. Their current guidance also notes that many homes are comfortable with a room thermostat somewhere in the region of 18–21°C, although the right setting depends on the household and property.
Use a schedule instead of leaving the heating on all day
If your home is empty for predictable periods, set your programmer or smart thermostat around your normal routine. The aim is to bring the home up to temperature when you need it, not to heat empty rooms for hours.
Set the room thermostat for comfort, not maximum heat
Turning a room thermostat to a very high temperature does not normally make the room warm up faster; it simply asks the heating to continue until a higher temperature is reached.
Choose the lowest setting that keeps the household comfortable, then make small adjustments rather than large changes.
Use thermostatic radiator valves room by room
Thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) allow you to reduce heat in rooms that need less warmth while keeping frequently used spaces more comfortable. Avoid treating every room exactly the same if they are used differently.
Do not block the thermostat or TRVs
Furniture, heavy curtains and radiator covers can affect the way controls sense room temperature. Keep thermostats and TRVs reasonably exposed to the air in the room.
Check your boiler flow temperature
Modern condensing boilers can operate more efficiently when return-water temperatures are lower. Energy Saving Trust advises that reducing boiler flow temperature can save energy where the system still heats the home effectively.
However, the correct setting depends on the boiler and system. Homes with a separate hot-water cylinder need particular care because one boiler control may also affect stored hot water. If you are unsure, ask an engineer before making significant changes.
Would a smart thermostat help?
A smart thermostat can make scheduling easier and may offer remote control, learning features or better visibility of how your heating is being used. It is not a magic fix for every home, but it can be useful if your current programmer is awkward, outdated or does not match your routine.
Heatline installs and advises on smart heating controls across Sutton Coldfield and Birmingham.
Do controls need upgrading when you replace a boiler?
It is a good time to review them. If you are planning a new boiler installation, ask whether your existing controls are compatible and whether an upgrade would make the system easier to manage.
For advice on controls or heating performance, call Heatline on 0121 517 0585 or request a quote.