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To help you understand more
about some of the terms used on this website and also what your heating
system is doing this page has been added. I am sure that it will not
cover all the items you will need to know about but hopefully it will
help.
Energy Conservation :- This is
expressed as a SEDBUK (Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers in the UK) rating. Most of us are already familiar with this type
of rating of our domestic appliances and even light bulbs have an
energy rating! A is obviously the most efficient. New building
regulations mean that only boilers of SEDBUK A or B can be fitted
unless an Installation Assessment Procedure indicates that it is not possible to install such an
appliance. In order to met these A or B SEDBUK ratings boilers are
general condensing.
Condensing :- This is where
the temperature of the flue gases are reduced. This means that more
heat and therefore energy is taken out of the gas that is burnt. The
good news is that for once you get more for less. Ie more heat for less
gas and therefore it cost less to heat your house. (Both traditional
fan flued and combi boilers can be condensing) The boiler may plume,
this is where the water vapour appears on a cold day and looks a little
like the boiler is on fire. The boiler must also collect the condensate
which is slightly acidic like coke-a-cola and discharge it into a
drain.
Traditional :- This is the
system that most of us are familiar with. The boiler heats the
radiators and the water in the cylinder that is situated in the airing
cupboard. There are two tanks in the roof, the smaller is the expansion
tank which feeds water into the heating system. The larger tank feeds
the cylinder which provides the hot water. It also generally provides
most of the cold water round the house. The kitchen tap being supplied
from the mains. Due to this cold water being stored it is general not
used as drinking water.
Megaflow :- This is similar to
the traditional system but there is no header tank to feed the hot
water cylinder. This tank is feed from the mains via a one way value.
This provides an enclosed system. This could cause a problem as when
water is heated it expands and if the water cannot expand pressure
increases. This could lead to the tank exploding and to prevent this
several design features. The tank has an air pocket or an expansion
vessel attached to it. This allows a place for the water to expand
into. However expansion vessels do stop working sometimes and therefore
a pressure relief value is added. This releases water at a
predetermined value. The tank itself is made steal not copper which can
cope with the larger pressures that may be present. The main advantage
of this system is that the hot water and cold water can now be provided
around the house at mains pressure. This means that showers do not need
to have pumps.
Combi :- This type of boiler
heats the hot water on demand. (ie open a hot water tap and the boiler
starts to heat the water.) These boilers work well in smaller
properties where the occupants do want hot water at multiple places. In
larger homes running washing machines or dishes washers could effect
the shower temperature.
Heat store :- This is general
not a common form of heating. However the principle is that a large
volume of water is heated and the mains water is passed through a coil
in the water allowing it to be heated.
Filling loop :- This is a
flexible pipe or hose with either one or two control knobs. It is used
to fill a pressured system and should be disconnected after the system
has been filled. It is often silver in colour, which is the braiding
round the hose to prevent accidental damage. When filling a pressured
system is important not to over pressure it. Your boiler manual should
say what it should be pressured too, general it is about 1 Bar. |
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Jargon Buster |