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"Opentherm" or weather compensated heating systems are Intelligent Heating Systems.
Intelligent Heating Systems use temperature profiling for programming to allow the boiler to tick over as opposed to constantly turning themselves on and off which puts strain on the boilers and wastes gas. The system delivers the right amount of heat to the house to maintain the temperature as programmed by the householder, burning gas at very high efficiencies. As the system consistently ticks over comfort is enhnaced as the room temperture is maintained at either a day time temperature or set back temperature.
Cycling between the two temperatures (typically 20c and 15c) ensures that
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the house never gets too cool.
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A small amount of gas is burnt at high efficiencies putting low temperature water into the system for longer giving a higher degree of comfort.
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Wear and tear is reduced on the boiler, much like a car cruising at 30mph, rather than racing along at 70mph. This is in fact how many, but not all, condensing boilers are now designed. Evidence from Corgi gas installers suggests that consistently turning a boiler on and off, and running it a higher temperature, compromises boiler life.
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Users of these systems run their houses at a slightly lower temperature as the whole fabric of the house is kept at reasonable temperature.
For the householder once set up user intervention becomes minimal and is reduced to the use of an economy programme, a party function and a holiday programme. The rest is automatic, even turning its self on and off at the beginning and end of winter.
Economy Programme
If you go out when the heating is prgrammed to be at a day time setting, by using this function the system goes into reduced or set back mode. If the outside temperture is above this the system turns it self off. If it is below the reduced temperature it ticks over at low temperatures, burning gas at very high efficiencies. This ensures that the boiler does not have to work hard to raise the temperature for when the house is occupied
Party Function.
If you are staying up all night, or have a day off work, this function puts the system into a higher temperature level for as long as you want
IN BOTH CASES AT THE NEXT TIME CHANGE THE NORMAL PROGRAMME IS RESUMED
Holiday Programme.
This runs the system in reduced mode while you are away.
No wastage
When a conventional system shuts down, heat is retained in the pipes and boiler which is of no use. As an intelligent heating system never shuts down, no such waste occurs. One of the most appreciated features of these systems is that houses do not over heat. If the temperature is rising outside then the system won't put more heat in the system. Conversely if the temperature is dropping outside incremental amounts of heat are put in the system, using gas burnt at very high efficiencies.
We're going for warm rooms not hot radiators!
By keeping radiators warm almost all of the time room maintain constant temperatures. Allowing the system to cycle between two temperatures ensures that gas is burnt at very high efficiencies, and this is where the saving is made.