It’s time to look more closely at controls

At a time when getting even more energy efficiency out of a heating system is proving more and more difficult, leading heating controls manufacturer ESi says there is one place to look ever more closely for savings. ESi says heating controls are worth spending a bit of time on, looking for a little bit more in the way of energy and cost savings.

The decision as to which controls to include in a new build heating installation or in a heating system replacement project is not straightforward, with a wealth of options available and a range of combinations of components that can enable the homeowner to be in control of the heating in their home. ESi has introduced a new 1,2,3 Channel programmer to its range and offers its S and Y Plan kits of controls as highly cost effective ways of meeting Part L Regs in heating system installations. In addition ESi offers its still unique ESCTDEB electronic dual cylinder thermostat – a revolutionary energy saving product, developed exclusively by ESi Controls and designed for greater accuracy, more effective operation and real homeowner safety benefits.

The greatest energy and safety benefit of the ESCTDEB is the weekly one hour automatic ‘boost’ to over 61°C, disinfecting the cylinder, killing any legionnaire disease, allowing a lower storage water temperature and satisfying a number of legal and building requirements.

The selection of programmers and timers available today are many and varied and range from the simple to the far more complex. You should choose the controls you install based on the homeowners who will need to use them. In a recent survey of housing association direct labour organisations, the majority of call outs to heating system failures were as a result of the often elderly tenant being unable to master the controls – there was usually nothing wrong with the heating system itself!

Having access to the latest wifi controlled, touch screen controls, while to many, a huge plus if they are internet savvy, is perhaps to older people or vulnerable individuals who need simplicity in their controls, a step too far!

Clever use of controls can help minimise energy consumption by ensuring each room is at the right temperature for comfort, while avoiding overheating but it’s important the controls are understood and easy to use for the individuals living in that home. Ensuring they are confident and at ease with how to use the controls will keep your customer’s home cosy and cut their energy bills which is, at the end of the day, what they want from you.

ESi is typical in that it offers a range of programmers from a simple 1 Channel version to a 3 channel Multi-Purpose Programmer which enables the installer to comply with Part L of the Building Regulations by providing separate timed heating control for living and sleeping zones in a home, while also providing timed control of hot water. However, the ESi range all offer 24 Hour / 5/2 day and 7 day programming options for each channel. And these programmers also feature a “Landlord” option to encourage social housing and private tenants to allow access for annual maintenance, often a real challenge for landlords.

ESi has recently launched its 6 Series WiFi Programmable Room Thermostat, offering the latest in heating control for homes and commercial premises.

Fully OpenTherm compatible, this new range of controls allows full control via the room thermostat or via a mobile phone or tablet, with a range of features to impress even the most demanding specifier, installer or homeowner.

It includes Optimum Start/Stop, Domestic Hot Water (DHW) setpoint, Hot Water time and temperature control when working in conjunction with a wireless cylinder thermostat, full 7 day, 5/2 day or 24 hour programming options, a boost facility, a helpful Holiday Mode and is an ERP Class 5 Product. The new controls are available in white or grey.

UK Managing Director Tristan James says,

“This is the new ‘Rolls-Royce’ of our range. It has all the latest features and benefits you could want and it looks good too – it really is an impressive addition to our range. Despite the Covid situation, we’ve had a stunning year of sales and we’ve kept up with the development work as well so that we can introduce the 6 series on time. The initial response from our customers has been phenomenal.”

The new 6 series complies with all relevant directives, incorporates the latest in energy efficiency technology and is OpenTherm compatible for installers using OpenTherm in their installations. It comes with a three-year warranty and is available now from your local merchant.

Head for www.esicontrols.co.uk to find out more about the comprehensive ESi range of controls.