With heating season just around the corner, and energy costs expected to spike again, installers are being urged to fit energy-efficient heating circulator pumps and always look to improve a home’s efficiency where possible.
Heating circulators
Heating circulators, also known as central heating pumps, circulate hot water around the central heating system and can help certain heating systems run more effectively.
Given the alarming scale of inefficiency across the UK’s building fabric, this technology can play an important role in upgrading the effectiveness of UK homes’ heating systems.
Challenges due to fixed-speed AC pumps
Old, fixed-speed AC pumps are likely to reduce the efficiency of the heating system
Over 15 million UK households are energy inefficient, and many may have old, fixed-speed AC pumps.
These are likely to reduce the efficiency of the heating system, while are also susceptible to being in danger of breaking down during the cold months. This can then potentially result in additional callout fees and putting vulnerable people at risk.
Use of energy-efficient ‘smart’ products
Additionally, recent estimates have shown more than 100,000 non-compliant central heating pumps are sold in the UK per year, with significantly reduced efficiency in comparison to their legal counterparts.
Wilo is urging installers to consider energy-efficient ‘smart’ products that are properly certified and offer better control of the heating in buildings, which can then go on to provide better insights on how heating systems are performing.
intelligent insights
David Williamson, Sales & Marketing Director at Wilo UK, said, “The winters have become increasingly daunting for homeowners over the last few years, and while it was promising to see the Government provide support last year, we cannot guarantee that this will continue."
“It is important that installers protect peoples’ homes through the systems installed within them. Newer, smart products are not only inherently more efficient, but they also give the installer intelligent insights into where they can reduce energy wastage in their heating system, maximizing the potential savings for homeowners.”
Wilo-Stratos PICO
Wilo-Stratos PICO is one of the highest-efficiency circulator pumps in the manufacturer’s range
David recommends installers think about the choices they make when installing a replacement pump.
Critically, it is important to not install like-for-like products without considering the long-term benefits to homeowners of better products, like the Wilo-Stratos PICO, one of the highest-efficiency circulator pumps in the manufacturer’s range of central heating circulators.
selecting the right pump
David continued, “There are many cheap products on the market, and the danger is that installers may choose these in an attempt to save the homeowner money."
"However, the reality is that this short-term saving will cost more in the long run. By picking the right pump, installers can not only aid the fight against rising energy bills, but they can also help property owners save time and expense in the long term.”
