Heating Your Home: A Guide to Central Heating Controls

Central heating controls are essential tools that enable homeowners to manage their central heating. They allow homeowners to maintain a comfortably warm environment without overheating or wasting energy. Efficient central heating controls, such as thermostats, timers, and smart systems, can significantly reduce energy usage and lower heating bills.

Whether you are considering investing in additional heating controls or simply wish to understand the controls your system has, understanding how each device works is essential.

Read on to learn more about the basics of central heating controls and how they can optimise your heating.

Basic Heating Controls

Every central heating system, including boilers and heat pumps, should include the following elements:

- A heating programmer (timer) to manage when the heating turns on and off.

- At least one thermostat or temperature reader to maintain your desired temperature.

- Thermostatic radiator valves for individual radiator control.

- A cylinder thermostat for systems with a hot water cylinder.

Aside from these basic controls which should come with your central heating system installation, there are many additional control functions that can make controlling your heating more efficient and convenient.

Heating Programmer

Heating programmers use a timer to control what time the heating comes on and when it switches off. This enables homeowners to schedule the heating to be on for the hours of the day the home is used. 

Older programmers are simple timers that only operate once a day, but modern programmers offer options to control multiple on and off periods. For instance, you can program the heating to switch on before you wake up and turn off while you're at work, saving energy during unoccupied hours.

Thermostat

A thermostat, sometimes referred to as a temperature reader, stops your home from getting warmer than the pre-set temperature. Thermostats are typically set at a comfortable temperature, between 18°C and 21°C. Once the desired temperature is reached, the heating will switch off until the temperature drops below the threshold, ensuring consistent comfort.

Some programmable room thermostats have time and temperature controls, which allow you to set different temperatures for different times of the day.

HVAC Controls

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems rely on specialised HVAC controls to manage their heating and cooling functions effectively, ensuring optimal comfort and energy efficiency. HVAC controls often have integrated thermostats or smart devices to monitor the indoor temperature and compare it to the desired setpoint. 

Based on the temperature reading, the system activates either the heating or cooling function to maintain a consistent environment. During colder months, the controls trigger the heating component, such as a furnace or heat pump, to warm the air, and in warmer months, the cooling system, like an air conditioner, is activated.

Central Heating Controls

At Pipeline & Electrical Supplies, we offer a comprehensive range of central heating controls, including temperature readers, programmable timers, HVAC controls, and more. Whether you're upgrading your system or replacing outdated parts, we have the perfect solution for your needs.

Browse our selection of central heating controls or contact our friendly team for expert advice on selecting the right solution for your home.