As the temperature drops, proper central heating becomes more and more important. Ensuring that your central heating system is working correctly should be a top priority for you and your family with a single faulty part capable of ruining your winter holiday season. There are a number of issues that can surface during the cold winter months. One common issue is frost damage, which can harm boilers and pipes, preventing them from working efficiently.



Traditionally, central heating systems were designed with the frost thermostat installed in close proximity to the boiler. The thermostat would start and stop the boiler until the desired air temperature was met. When the thermostat registered that extra heat was being released from the boiler, the central heating system would be shut down to conserve energy and prevent overheating of the home.

In recent years, the boiler and nearby pipes have been insulated much better (thus effectively saving energy) that the frost thermostat can no longer effectively determine when the air temperature has reached the requested degree. This can prove to be problematic, as it may lead to overheating.

The pipe thermostat is one solution. The product is installed on the boiler return pipe. This thermostat detects changes in pipe temperature and prevents overheating by shutting off the system when necessary. There are several UK companies that sell the frost thermostat and low limit pipe thermostat together in one kit. These products allow you to adjust room temperature and provide frost protection for your boilers and pipes.

Installation and set up of these new thermostats is simple and quite intuitive. Guidelines for complete wiring and installation arrive in the kit, ensuring simple installation. The frost thermostat is usually set to 5C and the pipe thermostat is commonly set to 25C. Additional pipe thermostats can be bought for other exposed pipes, to further insure that your system is completely protected.

If the pipe thermostat fails to meet your needs, there are other solutions. A fully programmable room thermostat is one option. These devices can be installed in a number of locations throughout your home, usually in a living room or bedroom. Their job is to measure and monitor the temperature of the room. The thermostat can be set to change the room temperature several times a day, depending on the homeowner's needs. There are several kits that operate by means of radio signal, from the thermostat to the boiler. These Radio Frequency (RF) thermostats require no wiring, which makes them very easy to install.

Thermostats are an important element of your home heating system but, there are other variables that impact your heating efficiency. By sectioning the home off into zones, waste can be avoided. The use of zones, allows you to focus the heat where you need it most. More populated areas can be kept warmer than empty rooms that do not require as much heating. This minor change can produce great results. Not only will heating bills be lower but, system efficiency will be greatly improved.