SAVINGS - ENERGY SAVING TIPS!

Over the past few years, the UK economy has suffered through Brexit, COVID and now the cost-of-living crisis. Inflation is at an all-time high, energy and gas prices are continuously increasing. It has been stated that the cost of electricity rose by 65.5% and gas prices by 128.9% within a 12-month period (December 2021 – December 2022).

Your boiler's efficiency has a significant impact on both how well it functions and how much your fuel bills will cost. Your fuel costs will be lower the more efficient your boiler is.

Here are a few recommendations to ensure your boiler is working as energy efficient as possible:

- Annual Boiler Check/Service

Similar to a car, a boiler requires regular maintenance to remain operating at its best. Having the boiler serviced annually ensures it is working as energy efficient as possible and can also contribute towards the life of the boiler. The efficiency of boilers decreases naturally over time, and as system debris accumulates, it may prevent the boiler from operating at its best.

- Replacing an Old Boiler

Despite the fact that your boiler may still be functional after 15 years, it is worth thinking about upgrading it because the efficiency levels will have decreased, increasing your fuel costs. By installing a new A-rated energy efficient boiler, you could save up to £580 on your utility bills.

- Bleed your radiators

By releasing air bubbles that have accumulated in the piping system, a fully bled radiator can emit the maximum amount of heat. This significantly raises your home's heating efficiency and as a consequence, will enable you to save money over time.

Here are a few other recommendations made by Worcester Bosch to help improve the efficiency within your household.

https://www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/energy-saving-tips

Worcester Bosch Boilers  

As accredited Worcester Bosch installers we are proud to promote their range of energy efficient boilers. Worcester Bosch was established in 1962 and since then they have released a wide variety of products. Their boilers are now all A-rated and highly energy efficient, making them cheaper to run and lower emissions contributing positively towards the climate crisis.

If you are interested in having your boiler serviced or replaced, please contact our office on 01432 880573 or send us an email to sales@neonheating.co.uk

MAGNETIC FILTERS

WHAT ARE THEY AND DO THEY REALLY WORK?

A magnetic filter is a device that is connected to your central heating system which collects the sludge circulating in your central heating system before it can damage your boiler.

How does sludge get into the system?  A central heating system is made up of a number of different metals, some are ferrous (can rust) and others are no-ferrous (cannot rust).  The metal components in central heating systems are vulnerable to corrosion.  Sometimes these metals break down and little particles break away forming sludge which can block a boilers heat exchanger, boiler pump or cause cold spots on radiators. 

A blocked boiler will often overheat, causing the system to shut down. To remove a blockage, the system may need to be power flushed or parts may need to be replaced e.g. the heat exchanger; both costly jobs that might be avoided with a magnetic filter.

Corrosion inhibitor fluid can be added to the central heating system to prevent the production of sludge but installation of a magnetic filter is a good precautionary measure to take in conjunction with this.

How does the magnetic filter work?

A magnetic filter is primarily designed to trap the sludge that is created before it reaches the boiler. A powerful magnet collects the debris, preventing it from damaging the boiler.

Some magnetic filters also include a filter which gathers non-magnetic deposits from corrosion of copper, zinc or aluminium central heating system components.  It is therefore important to speak with the engineer about the quality of the filter he intends to use.

Sludge stuck to the magnetic filter.

How is a magnetic filter maintained?

As can be seen from the picture above the build-up of sludge inside the filter can be substantial and therefore must be removed from time to time.  Your boiler engineer will usually clean the filter as part of an annual boiler service.

A magnetic filter can be installed when you have a new boiler installation or on existing systems.  When having a new boiler installation it is always important to check your boiler's warranty as some boiler manufacturers will extend the boiler warranty if a magnetic filter is installed.  

Engineers will not only recommend a magnetic filter because of the extended warranty benefit but also because of the clear benefits it has to your central heating system and your pocket - by the picture it is clear that magnetic filers really do work.

John Vaughan Chief Executive Officer at Adey states that magnetic filters have 'revolutionised central heating system care and now sits at the heart of a comprehensive, belt-and-braces, best-practice approach that delivers long-term system protection, improves performance and reduces household heating bills and carbon emissions'.

It is certainly the case with our engineers that magnetic filters are recommended as we have seen first hand at the damage sludge can do to a boiler/central heating system and the cost involved in repairing the damage when a filter has not been installed. 

Please feel free to contact us should you have any questions on magnetic filters.

Gas Safety Week: Fighting for a Gas Safe Nation

We are proud to be supporting Gas Safety Week 2016, taking place 19th – 25th September.

Gas Safety Week is an annual safety week to raise awareness of gas safety and the importance of taking care of your gas appliances. It is co-ordinated by Gas Safe Register, the official list of gas engineers who are legally allowed to work on gas.  

Badly fitted and poorly serviced gas appliances can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning. Every year thousands of people across the UK are diagnosed with carbon monoxide poisoning. It is a highly poisonous gas. You can’t see it, taste it or smell it, but it can kill quickly with no warning.

By taking care of your gas appliances properly you are taking care of your home and your loved ones. Follow these few simple checks to keep you and your family safe.

·       Check your gas appliances every year. Gas appliances should be safety checked once a year and serviced regularly by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Tenants – make sure your landlord arranges this. Set a reminder so you don’t forget at www.staygassafe.co.uk.

 ·       Check your engineer is Gas Safe registered. You can find and check an engineer at www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk or call 0800 408 5500.

 ·       Check your engineer’s Gas Safe Register ID card. Make sure they are qualified for the work you need doing. You can find this information on the back of the card.

 ·       Check for warning signs your appliances aren’t working correctly e.g. lazy yellow or orange flames instead of crisp blue ones, black marks on or around the appliance and too much condensation in the room.

 ·       Know the six signs of carbon monoxide poisoning – headaches, dizziness, breathlessness, nausea, collapse and loss of consciousness.

 ·       Have an audible carbon monoxide alarm. This will alert you if there is carbon monoxide in your home.

For gas safety advice or to find and check an engineer visit the Gas Safe Register website at www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk. Alternatively call the free helpline on 0800 408 5500.

BUILD YOUR OWN BOILER

Winner of Build a Boiler VIP day at Worcester Bosch

In around March 2016 my wife discovered that Worcester Bosch was running a competition where the winners of the competition would attend a VIP day at Worcester Bosch, which included the opportunity to build your very own Worcester Bosch boiler.  She knew instantly that this would be something that I would really enjoy and therefore entered me in the competition.

When I got home that evening she told me that she had entered me in the compitition with the closing date being sometime in April.  As this was sometime away I forgot about it until I was contacted by a member of staff from Worcester Bosch in May to confirm that I was one of the winners of the Build a Boiler VIP day.  At first I did not believe it but she assured me that I was one of the winners and that confirmation would be sent to me by post.

Sure enough confirmation was eventually received.  I was really excited and looking forward to this great opportunity and experience.  I along with the other winners attended Worcester Bosch on Wednesday the 29th June where we got to experience a VIP day with some of the team.   The day commenced with a briefing to confirm what the day would hold, we then went down to the production line and commenced with building our very own Worcester Bosch Boiler.  We all then had lunch followed by a presentation where we all had our photographs taken with our boilers and the MD of Worcester Bosch. 

I thoroughly enjoyed my day at Worcester Bosch especially building my own Worcester Bosch boiler.  Thank you Worcester Bosch and thank you to my wife for entering me in the competition in the first place. 

P.S: We have decided to raffle off the boiler to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust - please keep an eye out for our next blog which will contain further details.

HEATING OIL PRICES AT AN ALL TIME LOW!

Consumers Benefit from plummeting oil prices.

Since the 1 January 2016 heating oil prices have dropped by 10 per cent benefitting the UK's 1.4 million households on oil heating. 

This reduction in oil heating prices is on top of the 29 per cent reduction in 2015.   Meaning that oil heated households are saving hundreds of pounds on their annual fuel bills.  According to online fuel price comparison websites the average Herefordshire selling price of kerosene as of the 4 February 2016 stood at just 27.3 ppl – the lowest point since March 2007 and well over 50% cheaper than when prices peaked in spring 2013.

A comparison by the Latest Sutherland Associates table, of the most common fuels across a range of standard house types throughout the UK, puts oil as the cheapest heating fuel available – more cost effective than natural gas.   Over the past two years, oil has remained the cheapest heating fuel for off-grid homeowners with typical annual bills for a three bed house currently around £793 pa (Sutherland Tables, October 2015) – that’s 48.7% cheaper than LPG, 50% less expensive than electric storage heaters and some 24% cheaper than mains gas.

Unlike gas and electricity, oil users are saving hundreds of pounds as the price drop is being passed on to consumers. During 2015, the wholesale cost of oil fell by 44% and the average retail cost fell by a substantial 29%. By comparison, the average wholesale price of mains gas dropped by 34% but consumers only saw their fuel bills cut by a minimal 3%.

With cost of heating remaining an important driving factor for the majority of consumers, it is likely oil will continue to be the fuel of choice for existing users.  These low prices could even encourage some of the other householders on LPG and those householders using electric storage heaters to switch to oil as a much cheaper option.

Martyn Bridges, director of marketing and technical support at Worcester, Bosch Group stated that he believes that even with the geo-political influences oil prices will remain strong for the foreseeable future.  Jeremy Hawksley, director general of OFTEC, the trade association for the oil heating industry has also confirmed that he believes that the low prices are looking set to continue for the foreseeable future.

Please feel free to contact us to discuss any issues raised in our blog or to arrange a consultation to discuss upgrading your old oil boiler or replacing your existing boiler with an A rated oil boiler.

Contact us on: 01432 880573 or

Email us on: sales@neonheating.co.uk

IS DUST THE CAUSE OF YOUR HEAT LOSS?

Keep your radiators as efficient as possible!

Radiators work by means of convection - as the radiator warms the air next to it this heated air rises, drawing cool air into and through the radiator from underneath. This movement of air sets up vertical currents that will distribute heated air throughout the room.  This cycle can be seen from the picture below.

It is therefore essential that the air be able to flow freely over, under and around each radiator. Because air circulation is essential for efficient dispersal of heat, it is important that radiators be cleaned regularly. Radiators and radiator fins should never be allowed to accumulate layers of dust or lint. Such accumulations will not only keep air from flowing freely, they will also act as insulation that will slow the transmission of heat.  

When radiators are not working properly, or when they are not putting out as much heat as they should, some parts of the house will be colder than others. When this happens, people tend to turn the thermostat higher than normally required, thus adding considerably to the heating bill.

Underneath a radiator that was not working properly

This is exactly what happened at the property where the above picture was taken.  The customer contacted us complaining that the radiators in her property were not getting as hot as the use to, even with the radiator valves turned up.  She believed that there was a fault with the central heating system at the property.  In fact, as can be seen from the above picture, there was nothing wrong with the central heating system on this occasion the heat loss was caused by the accumulation of dust under the radiators which meant that convection could not take place.

Regular cleaning under radiators could therefore potentially save you money and keep you warm.

Please feel free to contact us by email at sales@neonheating.co.uk or by telephone 01432 880573 if you are experiencing similar issues.

GAS SAFE HEREFORDSHIRE

Congratulations to Hereford on being Gas Safe

As a Company we have always promoted servicing of all gas appliances and have always had a good stream of servicing each month.  However since Gas Safe week at the end of September we have seen an increase in requests for gas fire servicing, gas hob servicing and boiler servicing; especially in the Herefordshire area.

Although this is fabulous news, being gas safe should be promoted all year round as there are still many individuals who do not understand the importance of being gas safe and the potential devastating consequences.

We attended a property last week due to a gas water heater not working properly.  When the appliance was turned on flames were coming out of the bottom of the appliance, which is extremely dangerous.  

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After an investigation it became clear that as the appliance had not been serviced for a few years soot had built up inside the burner after a spider had built his nest (web and laid eggs) in the burner tube.

Needless to say the water heater needed to be stripped down and throughly cleaned; luckily for the customers there was no other damage which could have been costly.    Had this appliance been serviced on an annual basis this would not have occurred.

We recommend that you have your gas appliances serviced at least every 12 months.  For those of you who are renting a property your landlord is under a legal obligation to have all gas appliances serviced.

Come on Hereford lets continue to be a gas safe county.

For gas safety advice or to find and check an engineer visit the Gas Safe Register website at www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk. Alternatively call the free helpline on 0800 408 5500.

Gas Safety Week: Fighting for a Gas Safe nation

We are proud to be supporting Gas Safety Week 2015, taking place 14th – 20st September. 

Gas Safety Week is an annual safety week to raise awareness of gas safety and the importance of taking care of your gas appliances. It is co-ordinated by Gas Safe Register, the official list of gas engineers who are legally allowed to work on gas.  

Badly fitted and poorly serviced gas appliances can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning. Every year thousands of people across the UK are diagnosed with carbon monoxide poisoning. It is a highly poisonous gas. You can’t see it, taste it or smell it, but it can kill quickly with no warning. 

By taking care of your gas appliances properly you are taking care of your home and your loved ones. Follow these few simple checks to keep you and your family safe.

• Check your gas appliances every year. Gas appliances should be safety checked once a year and serviced regularly by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Tenants – make sure your landlord arranges this. Set a reminder so you don’t forget at www.staygassafe.co.uk.
• Check your engineer is Gas Safe registered. You can find and check an engineer at www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk or call 0800 408 5500. 
• Check your engineer’s Gas Safe Register ID card. Make sure they are qualified for the work you need doing. You can find this information on the back of the card.
• Check for warning signs your appliances aren’t working correctly e.g. lazy yellow or orange flames instead of crisp blue ones, black marks on or around the appliance and too much condensation in the room.
• Know the six signs of carbon monoxide poisoning – headaches, dizziness, breathlessness, nausea, collapse and loss of consciousness.
• Have an audible carbon monoxide alarm. This will alert you if there is carbon monoxide in your home.

For gas safety advice or to find and check an engineer visit the Gas Safe Register website at www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk. Alternatively call the free helpline on 0800 408 5500.