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A lot of times, there are rooms in your house that are always warmer or colder than others are. There can be many explanations for this. For one, heat rises, so rooms on second or third floors are often too warm. In turn, basement rooms are typically too cold. Rooms with vaulted ceilings have a difficult time retaining heat, while rooms that receive long hours of sunlight are often difficult to cool down. These are just a few reasons, but regardless of why a room's temperature is uncomfortable, there's only one surefire way to even out your house's temperature: system zoning.
System zoning is pretty simple. It involves multiple thermostats that are wired to a control panel, which operates dampers within the ductwork of your forced-air system. The thermostats constantly read the temperature of their specific zone, then open or close the dampers within the ductwork according to the thermostat's settings. Not only is system zoning helpful for houses with inconsistent room temperatures, but it's also great for heating or cooling individual bedrooms based on the desired temperature setting. If you have a usually empty guest room, just shut the door and close the damper.
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If used properly, system zoning can help you save money on your energy bills. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, system zoning can save homeowners up to 30 percent on a typical heating and cooling bill. Those savings can add up to quite a sum -- the Department of Energy also estimates that heating and cooling account for 40 percent of the average household's utility costs. Because guest rooms and other seldom-used rooms don't require constant heating or cooling, system zoning allows you to save money by running temperature-controlled air to those rooms only when it is necessary.
Many homeowners are hesitant or unwilling to make the transition to programmable thermostats and system zoning because of the initial cost of installation. This is an understandable concern for anyone who's not building a new home or replacing an old HVAC system, but there are other options available. Even though installing a typical zoned system is not a do-it-yourself project, the Department of Energy's Inventions and Innovation Program funded the development of a damper system that can be retrofitted to existing ductwork. The system combines RetroZone's flex damper air control inserts with an electronic controller and air pumping system. There are no heavy motors involved, so existing ductwork does not need to be altered or supported.
The flex dampers, which come in circular and square duct models, fill with air to constrict or block the airflow within the duct. They're resistant to heat, aging, moisture, airborne chemicals and ozone, and even if they're punctured, which is unlikely, most holes will not affect the performance. Flex dampers should be installed in steel or flexible ducts. The dampers can be serviced easily by gaining access through a register. Flex dampers also work with most brands of zone-control panels.
If you're planning to install a retrofitted zone-control system, here's what you'll need to put on your shopping list:
thermostat for each zone
solenoid pump
solenoid panel
zone control panel
plenum tubing
transformer
fire rated tape
control limit switch
flex dampers
The number of zones your home needs will affect the way you set up the system. In a two-zone system, with the zones being fairly equal in size, each zone's ductwork must be capable of handling up to 70 percent of the total CFM (cubic feet per minute) of air produced by your HVAC system. In a three-zone system, the zones need to be as close in total area as possible. In this case, each zone's ductwork should be able to handle up to 50 percent of the total CFM. Installing a four-zone system requires a bit more work. The ducts need to be enlarged by one inch, and they require a static pressure relief damper and high- and low-limit protection. To avoid major damage, be sure not to completely cut off the airflow over the heat exchanger or coil of your HVAC system.
Now we'll look at another home-thermostat innovation -- the talking thermostat.
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Are you wondering how to use your central heating controls and how to use your central heating thermostat? Thermostats control most types of boilers.
If the answers to the above are yes, then you are reading the right guide.
We all need to know how to use a thermostat so we can run our homes efficiently and comfortably.
The central heating thermostats enable you to set temperatures differently in each room to suit your needs and to keep fuel bills low.
Once you are happy, make sure you read our guide on setting the best heating schedule for all seasons.
Using A Thermostat For Central Heating
If you are unsure what the temperature should be in each room to have a healthy and comfortable home you can read our other guide here.
The thermostats in your boiler replacement not only make it easier to use but also help to utilise the boiler accurately and efficiently
Each central heating room thermostat reduces your energy bills dramatically.
Controlling temperature and time is a crucial factor in the central heating system.
However, there is a lot of confusion among people, about how to use a central heating thermostat, and it is because of several types and models are available on the market.
Room Thermostats for Central Heating:
Digital central heating thermostat
Smart thermostat to control heating from your smartphone
Boiler room thermostats with a dial
Built-in boiler thermostats
Thermostatic radiator valves
Boiler thermostats with timers
Below we will discuss all you need to know about boiler thermostats and why you need to use them efficiently.
How do Heating Thermostats Work?
First things first, how does the thermostat for your boiler work?
The thermometer is what we use to see the temperature, but the thermostat controls the central heating, which shows on the thermometer. Without the thermostat, you wouldn’t be able to manage your temperature at certain times of the day.
With a thermostat, you can set what temperature you would like, if the temperature drops in your home because of the outside weather or other reasons the thermostat comes back on to heat your home.
Once the temperature is back to the desired level, the thermostat works to turn the heating off, so it doesn’t become too hot. Therefore no heating is being wasted, and there are no extra fuel charges for no reason.
The boiler thermostat is crucial, whether it is a central heating wall thermostat, digital thermostat for central heating or the best smart thermostat.
How do Room Thermostats Connect?
Some connect with the boiler by wires.
Some thermostats run with batteries and are wireless.
Smart thermostats memorise your routine and adapt to your needs.
Programmable heating thermostats follow a routine. They go on and off at set times as and when they are scheduled to do so.
Don’t confuse your boiler timer with a digital thermostat, they are two different things. A boiler timer is a mechanical device with pins usually and the boiler timer not working is different to the time set on your digital thermostat not working properly.
How to Set up a New Thermostat for your Boiler:
A couple of rules to follow when you are thinking about how to install a thermostat for central heating :
Don’t locate your thermostat in a sun trap, behind a curtain or a cupboard. The reason being, your thermostat will not get a correct reading of the temperature outside.
Where to position your thermostat – Locate your room thermostats for central heating where there is a good flow of air circulating.
When you have set up your new thermostat set it to the minimum temperature, which is not too hot, not too cold, the recommended temperature is 18 degrees, but 20 degrees is popular.
Room Thermostats on a Cold Day
When we feel a cold day we think we need to turn the heating up, but we don’t, the central heating thermostat controls the heating from the weather outside therefore if the temperature drops freezing the thermostat will leave the heating on longer.
If you wanted to, you could change the heating thermostat for it to come on earlier than usual so you get up in a warmer bedroom.
Read our guide on setting the best heating schedule for all seasons.
Programmable Thermostats
If you have programmable heating thermostats, they have the option to set the temperature and the time so you can choose if you want it hotter in the morning, turned off in the afternoon but to come on earlier in the evening. Hence, it is warm for you to arrive home from work.
Programmable heating thermostats will save wasted heating while you are at work and reduce fuel bills, but you need to take into account the heating up and cooling down if your schedule changes one day. When you but a new boiler you could get one included in the boiler cost with some new boiler deals.
Room thermostats including a dial
Your room thermostats will start turning off the heating after your room reaches the desired temperature you have set.
Once the temperature reaches your desired position, it will turn the heating off.
You have to fit the thermostat onto the wall.
Thermostats absorb the air around if the air is blocked the thermostat cannot work correctly.
It is very important to locate the thermostat not behind any cupboards or curtains.
We have a misconception that turning the thermostat on high means it would heat your home quickly; this is a myth and will cause you to have high fuel bills.
Your home will take the same amount of time to reach the required comfortable temperature. After that, it will continue heating until it reaches the temperature you set on the heating thermostat control.
Digital Room Thermostats for Central Heating
Digital thermostats have built-in sensors which can read the room temperature.
They also have electric sensors which read the actual room temperature and then set the temperature to the best degree.
Smart Thermostats
Smart thermostats provide you with the highest level of central heating temperature control.
Smart thermostats allow you to control your heating using your smartphone or tablet wherever you are.
Smart thermostats work through WiFi, and when you enter the desired temperature on the app, it connects from the WiFi to the thermostat.
Some smart thermostats you can connect by yourself if you follow the instructions which come with them.
Smart thermostats are a great way of saving money on your heating bills. You can set the temperature for as and when you need it without having to have a set routine.
Other features included in the smart thermostats are:
· Adaptable with your set routine
· Responsive behaviour upon the condition of the weather
· Recognising geolocation, which identifies people in the room or out of the room
The most popular brands to choose for smart thermostats are:
Hive and Nest. Hive won Which? Best buy in 2018.
Thermostatic Radiator Valves
While addressing thermostatic radiator valves, it doesn’t directly control the boiler valve. They control water flow by detecting how hot the water is. Even if you buy the best combi boilers or best system boilers, they don’t know how hot each room is. TRV’s can even help cheap boilers run more efficiently too.
Thermostatic radiator valves vastly help you to keep the temperature of your room at your desired point to stop the temperature from dropping or rising. If you are using TRV’s, make sure you give your central heating system a flush so they work even better.
Thermostatic radiator valves control the flow of hot water through the radiator and reduce it when the temperature reaches a certain level.
They detect the temperature when the air is flowing around them. These thermostats need to be located in an open space.
You will see symbols or numbers like 1-6, on the valve that represents the level of heat the radiator will produce.
Usually, if you set it to 3, the temperature would come out in the room is around 20°C.
It would help if you did not fit TRV to the radiators in the rooms where you already set up a wall-mounted smart thermostat, to avoid competition between the two thermostats.
You can now connect a smart thermostat with smart radiator valves to control the output of the heat of the radiator using a smartphone. It doesn’t matter whether you are in the room or outside the house.
Seasonal Temperature Settings:
In the winter season, the recommendation is to keep the thermostat set between 20-21° C. (in Fahrenheit 68-72° F).
At night in the bedroom, try to set it between 17-19 ° C (in Fahrenheit 62-60° F), this will help save energy, money and your health.
It is better to have a higher quilt tog than it is to raise the temperature. A bedroom too hot is not suitable for your concentration levels and general well-being.
In the summer season, you can turn your heating off and open a window if needed. If you need the heating for your hot water, turn it on as and when it is required to keep fuel costs low.
12 degrees is classed as too cold for a home, and 30 degrees is classed as too hot for a home.
If you go on holiday, most heating thermostats now include a holiday mode so you can switch your heating off for the number of days you will be away without it clearing your scheduled routines. This mode is another way of keeping fuel bills reduced along with reducing the boiler temperature.
Whilst there are many standard universal thermostats, most boiler manufacturers have their own controls that are designed to be used specifically with their boilers to help keep running costs down. Take a look at some of the most popular brands that have their own thermostats.
The Central Heating Thermostat Not Working
If your boiler thermostat controls are not working then there are ways to check if they are broken that you can fix yourself.
Check the thermostat is turned on.
Check the electricity is on, if the thermostat is battery-powered they may need changing.
If the thermostat is old, it may need replacing.
Check the temperature is not set below 21 degrees.
Ensure your boiler is located in an area with airflow, not behind curtains, not in a sun trap or near a radiator
If the clocks have changed or there has been a power cut the boiler can get confused. Change the clock to the correct time.
Like a car or a person as the clock gets old wear and tear can start to happen, so you need to replace it.
Replacing your controls with the latest more efficient technology could end up saving you money.
For more information on “How to Use Central Heating Thermostat” fill in our contact page, and somebody will contact you as soon as possible to help with your query. We offer various finance options and various service plans at Boiler Central