Some of the more sophisticated features they can offer include: However, smart controls are connected to the internet and offer more functionality. They do everything that conventional controls do, with a programmer (timer) to control when the heating is on or off and using thermostats to control the heat in your home. Many companies offer more advanced control systems for central heating, known as smart heating controls. If you’re not using a room, TRVs can also be used to either turn the radiator off completely or maintain a minimum temperature to keep the room just warm enough to prevent damp. A lower setting reduces the volume of hot water, using less energy and saving you money. Aim for the lowest setting that keeps the room to your desired temperature. They are usually marked with a scale from 0 – 6, where zero (0) is off and six (6) is fully open. TRVs can be adjusted to different settings by twisting them clockwise or anti-clockwise. We do not recommend having radiator covers, if possible. Warm air, heated by the radiator, can get trapped under the cover, and the TRV can read this thinking the room is warmer than it is. If the room temperature is lower than the TRV setting, the valve opens, increasing the flow of hot water into the radiator.Ī radiator cover can prevent the TRV getting an accurate temperature reading. If the room is warmer than the setting on the TRV, the valve will close a little, reducing the volume of hot water flowing into the radiator. They work by sensing the air temperature around them. Thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) do not control the boiler they control the flow of hot water through the radiator they are fitted to. If your hot water cylinder or tank is well insulated, you may even find that the hot water supply in the morning stays hot enough to use in the evenings. Set your water to heat up only when you need it. If you insulate your home, it will warm up faster and cool down more slowly, saving you money on heating. For example, you can make sure that the heating goes on with a warm-up time before you wake up and turns off before you leave the house. You can now set your programmer, including the warm-up and cool-down time. Then turn the heating off completely and time how long it takes for the house to start to get uncomfortably cold – this is the cool-down time. To find out your home’s ‘warm-up’ and ‘cool-down’ times, you could choose a cold evening and time how long it takes for your house to warm up to a comfortable temperature – this is the warm-up time. Generally, the average house will take about 30 minutes to heat up or cool down, but every home is different. It takes time for a house to heat up after the heating switches on and will take a while to cool down after the heating is switched off.
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Think carefully about when you need the heating, and any periods in the day when you don’t need it – for example, if everyone in the home is out at work or school, the heating can be off. The less often you have the heating and hot water on, the more money you will save. The programme you set will be unique to your heating needs, but here are a few tips if you’re looking to save energy.
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Distech controls thermostat lower temp how to#
How to set your programmer to save energy
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More sophisticated programmers now exist that are usually referred to as smart heating controls, which could offer more convenience and energy savings.ĭepending on how your central heating system was installed, programmers are either: Older programmers are simple timers that only operate once a day, but modern programmers offer options to control multiple on and off periods. If you’re not at home or don’t require heating at night, then you can programme the heating system to switch off during these times. This is useful because it means you can programme your central heating to fit around the way your home is used. A timer or programmer allows you to control when your heating and hot water comes on and when it goes off.