In the same way that your 'Annual Boiler Service' gives you the peace of mind that your boiler is operating efficiently, a 'Central Heating Assessment' does the same for your heating system.
Imagine you've had your Boiler Serviced and it's operating as efficiently as possible to save you money on your gas bills. . . what about the rest of the heating system?
Your boiler produces the heat, but it's the heating system that transfers that heat through your property, and there are a number of things that can reduce the effectiveness of your heating system. . .
1: Air in the radiator
When your radiator was installed, the size of the radiator would SHOULD have been calculated to provide the room it's located in, with the specific amount of heat that room requires.
Imagine for a moment the top half of this radiator is cold because it has trapped air in it, meaning only the bottom half is hot and heating the room. — In a situation where a radiator is only able to produce 50% of the heat it should, can you see how your boiler will need to be on for longer and will use more gas to heat that room, compared to having a radiator working at 100% capacity?
This is possibly the easiest problem to resolve using only a radiator key, but it still needs a degree of care because if the key (or the vent itself) breaks, you can easily cause a lot of water damage to your property.
2: Magnetite in the radiator
Magnetite, sometimes referred to a 'sludge', is a form of corrosion that accumulates in the bottom of radiators and on the walls of the pipework.
If you have radiator that is hot at the top and cold at the bottom, you likely have a build-up of magnetite in the radiator.
Magnetite in the radiator works in a similar way to air in the radiator. If 25% of the radiator was full of magnetite (Sludge), your boiler will once again need to use more gas to heat the room.
3: Faulty radiator valves
Thermostatic radiator valves open and close automatically depending on the heat of the room.
When the valve starts to leak it forms a layer of corrosion that you may not notice, but can prevent the valve from opening fully and restrict the flow of hot water entering the radiator.
Once again this can increase the amount of time your boiler needs to be running to heat a room.
4: Weak central heating pump
Modern heating systems use a pump to circulate the water through the system. When the pipework becomes partially blocked with magnetite, this places additional strain on the pump preventing the heated water from circulating throughout the entire system.
A weak or worn pump can mean the radiators at the far end of the heating circuit simply don't heat up.
. . . these are just a few things which can impact the running costs of your heating system that we can identify on a Central Heating Assessment.
How much does it cost?
A property with up to 10 radiators is a fixed price service charged at £97. Additional radiators are charged at £10 each and if you require a detailed analysis of the condition of the water in your heating system while this work is being carried out, this is available for just £7.99. (Please Note: We only work in domestic properties in Eastbourne.)
We can see inside your radiators
We use thermal imaging technology to essentially look inside each radiator and see exactly where the heat is being blocked.
Most heating problems come down to maintenance
More often than not, the cause of a fault in a heating system comes down to poor maintenance. The quality of the water inside the system deteriorates over time, and that's when problems start to arise.
Think of the water in your heating system like the oil in your car engine. Over time its condition deteriorates, and if it's not replaced when that happens, you can expect some expensive repair bills in the near future.
Caught early, this is usually a simple, inexpensive repair. Left to progress, you can expect to pay thousands of pounds to get the system operational again — and in rare cases, it can even work out cheaper to have a new system installed than to locate and clear multiple blockages throughout the pipework.
If you're experiencing problems now, or just want the reassurance it'll work when you need it, make your appointment now because catching an issue early is what keeps a repair small.
Common questions
Does this price include any repairs?
If the fault is caused by an accumulation of air in the system, provided the air valves are not corroded and are functional, there's no additional cost to remove this air for you. In every other instance, any repairs are an additional cost, dependent on the materials required to resolve the problem.
However, we will NEVER carry out additional work without your prior approval!
Do you guarantee your prices?
Yes.
We work on a Fixed Price basis. We do NOT charge by the hour, (where the longer the job takes, the more profit we would make.) and we will NOT purchase any materials to be installed in your property until you have paid for them — All of which keeps you in full control of your spending, whilst also ensuring we are never left waiting days, weeks, even months to be paid for work we have already completed.
Our work can be separated in to two distinct types. Small, fixed price services such as 'Hot Water/Heating Diagnostics', 'Gas Safety Inspections' and of course this 'Central Heating Assessment' service. — The other type is installation and repair work where replacement parts will be required and the cost of those parts will vary depending on the work requested.
When a job will require materials, we create a 'Scope-Of-Work' document detailing exactly what's included in the proposed work. If it's on the list, it's included. - If it's not on the list, it's not, and our price for the work detailed in that document is guaranteed not to rise!
This document is then sent to you by SMS or Email for your consideration. If you decide to proceed with this work, we will process an initial payment that covers the cost of sourcing the materials.
Once the materials have been obtained we will arrive at your property at the agreed time/date, process the payment for their installation and then carry out the agreed work.
Do you offer to beat a like-for-like quote?
No.
Exclusive Trades will rarely be the cheapest company in town — We're almost always beaten on price, but it's extremely rare we are beaten on cost. (The 'price' of a service is what you spend today; the 'cost' of a service is what you spend owning the installation over the coming years.)
We use high quality materials and work in full accordance with all regulations, which makes it impossible for us to match a price from another company that may use budget materials and turn a blind eye to certain regulations. Our prices are simply what it costs us to do the work correctly!
Before You Contact Us. . .
There are a few of things you should keep in mind. . .
- We work on a fixed price basis, we do not charge by the hour.
- We are not the cheapest company in town.
- Freddy will be present on all jobs.
. . . Freddy is a deaf Boxer dog and comes to work with me each day. You can find out more about Freddy in the video below.
If you have no objections to Freddy being in your home while this work takes place, contact us using the button below to schedule your appointment now.