Category: How-to & Tips

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#DoYouKnow the right – and safe – pressure for your #boiler and #centralheating system?

Most central heating systems today are sealed and pressurised so you need to know:

• What pressure your heating system should be running at
• Where and how you can check the pressure
• How to adjust the pressure if needed

In this blog we are going to look at what pressure your system should be running and why that is important.

First it’s useful to understand that boiler pressure is different to water pressure.

What is boiler pressure?

Boiler pressure is the pressure the hot water runs at in a sealed central heating system, including the room radiators, heated towel rails and connecting pipe work.

What is water pressure?

Water pressure is generally the pressure of the water coming out of your taps, shower, outdoor hose etc.

We’ll be taking a look at what causes water pressure problems in a future blog, so please stay tuned!

Why is boiler pressure important?

If the pressure drops too low your system may have an automatic cut-out switch that stops the boiler from operating for safety reasons.

Typically this cut-out is set at 0.5 bar (about 7 psi – pounds per square inch).

If the pressure is too high it can put a strain on your system.

So if a pipe joint, or the boiler itself, is weak then the high pressure could lead to it failing.

This could result in hot water escaping and causing damage to your property, and possibly injury to people and pets.

So checking your central heating’s boiler pressure is very important to make sure it is running properly and safely.

What should the boiler pressure be?

Most central heating systems work in the range of 1 to 2 bar (about 14-28 psi), but do check the paperwork for your system to make sure you know the correct pressure for your set up as there can be variations for different manufacturers.

If you are unsure of anything and are in the Surrey, Sussex or Hampshire area please do give us a ring and we can give you advice and check your system for you.

It is always better to be safe than sorry and we’ll be delighted to help.

In our next blog we’ll look at where and how you can check and adjust your boiler’s water pressure.

To stay updated on our tips, advice and offers from Premier Heating Surrey simply ‘Like’ our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PremierHeatingSurreyLtd , or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/PremierHeatingS .

And if you have a question or issue you would like see addressed in our blog please do not hesitate to let us know using the contact form on our Contact Us page.

Thank you!

Keith

Do you know what is the right temperature for the hot water for your bath, shower and kitchen to be safe – yet still save money?

The answer is: More than 46, but less than 70 degrees Celsius. Why?

Because a hot water temperature over 46° (ideally 60+) should ensure legionella bacteria – the cause of Legionnaires’ Disease – do not survive,.

But anything over 70° is wasting money in #gas and #electricity #energy #fuel bills, creates unnecessary #carbon and can cause painful scalding – particularly for children.

At Premier Heating Surrey we recommend setting your hot water tank thermostat to 60 degrees.

This is a good balance which keeps your water hot enough for washing, yet safe from bacteria.

It also reduces the risk of scalding accidents and helps you to #SaveMoney and reduce carbon emissions !

How to check your hot water temperature

To check your hot water temperature setting look for the thermostat attached to your hot water tank.

You should find it about a third of the way up from the bottom in a slot cut into the insulating foam.

It may be held in place with tape or a tie wrap or similar – please see our photo.

If the thermostat is set to less than 55 degrees Celsius, or more than 70 degrees Celsius, simply adjust it to 60° to be sure, safe and economical.

Be certain about your hot water

Sometimes thermostats fail or become inaccurate.

To be sure your hot water temperature is correct contact our friendly plumbers.

We have the right equipment to check the exact temperature of the water coming out of the taps in your home or business.

And we can check the working and accuracy of your thermostat.

So if you don’t know if your hot water temperature is safe, or if you are spending more than you should on energy and fuel bill, then why not give us a call?

We will be delighted to help!