The world of heating and plumbing can be confusing. It’s full of jargon that no one understands, which can lead to uncertainty and worry if you need to speak to a professional. Have no fear, GreenSmart to the rescue!
Our alphabetised list of the common terms used in the plumbing, heating and gas industry will no longer leave you wondering what on earth your plumber just said. So, without further ado, let’s get into it.
A.
Automatic Air vent: A device used to release trapped air from heating systems or pipes, ensuring efficient water or air circulation and preventing airlocks.
Airlock: When trapped air blocks the water from getting to the hot water taps or central heating system.
B.
Back Boiler: Large boilers fitted behind a fireplace that were installed in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Back boilers are no longer being made, and should be replaced.
Balancing Radiators: This makes sure that all of the radiators around your home are heating up evenly. This process is tricky and time consuming, so should be undertaken by a professional.
Bleeding radiators: The process of freeing trapped air from the heating system in order to regulate the heat circulation.
Boiler: A heating appliance that uses gas, oil, or electricity to heat water providing central heating and hot water for buildings.
C.
Capacity (in terms of cylinders): The amount of water in litres that the cylinder is able to store. Homes with more bathrooms will need a cylinder with a larger capacity.
Combination (Combi) boiler: A central heating and hot water system in one unit. It differs from other boilers as it doesn’t require any external parts. They are only recommended for homes with one bathroom, as their hot water supply is limited.
Condemned Boiler: A boiler that has been labelled unsafe by a professional heating engineer. They will stick a ‘Danger Do Not Use’ sticker to the boiler, and you should seek to get it replaced as soon as possible.
Condensate Pipe: When a condensing boiler recycles heat from waste gases, it produces condensation. This liquid is sent down the condensate pipe and directed away from the property to an external drain.
Condensing Boiler: A high-efficiency boiler that recovers and utilises heat from water vapour (condensation) to increase overall efficiency.
D.
Domestic Hot Water (DHW): Water that comes from a hot tap or cylinder.
Drainage: The system of pipes and fittings designed to carry waste water from buildings to a sewer or other disposal point.
E.
Electric boiler: Rather than burning fuel, electric boilers turn electricity into heat. They’re very efficient as all of the electricity can be turned into heat.
Energy-related Products Directive (ErP Directive): A directive introduced by the EU in 2015 to reduce carbon emissions. It included new criteria for manufacturers to produce more energy-efficient products and a new labelling system to classify product efficiency. This updated the way we classify boiler efficiency.
Expansion Vessel: A component in a closed heating system that absorbs the expansion of water as it heats up, helping to maintain a safe pressure level.
F.
Fan: This is used to push or pull harmful gases through the boiler’s flue pipe. As fuel is burnt in the boiler, harmful gases are released, and it is crucial to have a fan to redirect those gases out of the boiler and away from your home.
Feed (Cistern) and Expansion Tank: Fitted in the loft, the feed and expansion tank fills with cold water from the mains, which is fed to the heating system.
Flue: Waste gases from burning fuel are emitted out into the atmosphere through the flue. These need to be fitted in a safe location inline with the Boiler Flue Regulations.
Fossil Fuel: A natural energy resource formed from the remains of ancient plants and organisms that lived millions of years ago. These fuels include coal, oil, and natural gas, and are considered non-renewable because their formation process takes millions of years. Fossil fuels are burned to produce energy, such as electricity, heat, and transportation fuels, but their use releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, contributing to global warming and climate change.
G.
Gas: Most boilers across the UK run on natural gas. It’s supplied directly to homes via the gas network and then burned by the boiler.
Gas Metre: A device used to measure the amount of natural gas consumed by a building.
Gas Safe: A gas boiler service, repair, or replacement must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered heating engineer. They’re the only people qualified to work on gas appliances.
Green Plumbing: The investment in eco-friendly modifications and products to minimise water consumption, conserve energy, decrease chemical effects and lower utility bills.
Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP): A renewable heating system that extracts heat from the ground to provide warmth for buildings. It utilises the constant temperature of the earth to heat a fluid, which then transfers the heat to a heating system or hot water supply.
H.
Heat Exchanger: A device inside the boiler that allows the heat from burning gas to be transferred through the surface of internal pipes to the water supply. This creates the hot water, which is then directed around the heating system. The heat exchanger is a crucial part of the boiler.
I.
Immersion Heater: An electric heating element used to heat water in storage tanks, typically used as a backup for central heating systems.
Increase Boiler Pressure: Boiler pressure should sit between 1 and 2 bar (always check the manufacturer’s instructions though). Your system has low pressure if it drops below 1 bar and needs to be increased. You can take a pressure reading by looking at the pressure gauge on the boiler.
Insulation: A material (that often looks like a thick fluffy rug) used to prevent heat escaping from the home through the walls, roof, or floor. Increasing the level of insulation in your home will increase efficiency and help to lower your heating bills.
J.
Joule: The unit of energy used to measure heat output, especially in underfloor heating systems.
K.
Kerosene: A type of fuel used in some oil-fired boilers and stoves.
Kilowatt (kW): A measurement of a boiler’s power. You’ll see this when looking at the output rating.
L.
Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG): This is a fuel that can be stored in canisters. Many gas boilers can be converted to run on LPG.
Low-carbon: Heating systems that emit no or little carbon into the atmosphere. These are mainly renewable heating systems such as heat pumps.
Low Water Cut-Off: A safety device in boilers that shuts off the burner if the water level becomes too low, preventing damage.
M.
Magnetic Filter: Catches any debris (rust, limescale, and sludge) from the heating system before it has a chance to build-up. It will usually sit within the piping to filter the flowing water before it enters the rest of the system.
Manifold: A distribution point in underfloor heating systems that directs hot water to individual heating circuits.
Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS): The MCS certifies, quality assures, and provides consumer protection for installations and installers of small-scale renewable technologies (such as solar PV, biomass, wind, and heat pumps).
N.
Natural Gas: A flammable gas composed mainly of methane, used as a common fuel for heating and cooking.
Non-condensing: In boilers that are non-condensing, heat can escape through the flue pipe. They were replaced with condensing boilers so that this lost heat can be recycled back into the heating system.
Non-Return Valve: A one-way valve that allows fluid or gas to flow in one direction only, preventing backflow in plumbing systems.
O.
Overflow Pipe: A pipe that discharges excess water from a plumbing system, preventing flooding or damage.
P.
Pilot Light: A small gas flame that ignites the main burner in a gas appliance like a boiler or water heater.
Powerflush: The action of flushing chemicals through the heating system to clear out any rust, limescale, and debris.
Primary Circuit Board (PCB): This is the ‘brain’ of the boiler. It controls all of the electrical parts of the boiler, such as the fan and digital display. If something goes wrong with it, the boiler won’t work.
Q.
Quote: An estimated price for the work from a qualified professional. Get in touch to request a quote.
R.
Radiator: A heat-emitting device used to warm rooms by transferring heat from hot water or steam.
Regular boiler: (also known as a heat-only boiler) These are a traditional heating system that includes external elements – a feed and expansion tank (also known as a cistern) and a hot water cylinder. They take up a lot of space in a home and are now only recommended if the need is to replace an existing regular boiler.
Renewable: Energy sources that will never run dry – the opposite of fossil fuels. Renewable energy sources include the air, wind, and sun (solar). Also known as sustainable energy sources.
S.
Smart Thermostat: A remote device that controls your central heating. You can use a smart thermostat with an app or smart device. They are made to give you better control and help cut down bills by allowing you to monitor your usage more closely.
Solar Photovoltaic (Solar PV): Panels that turn solar energy into electricity that can be used to power the electrical appliances in your home.
Solar Thermal: Panels that absorb heat from the sun to warm the water stored in a cylinder. Fitting a solar water heating system could give your home free hot water!
Stopcock/ Stop tap: A tap or lever used to control the flow of water into your property. An external stopcock controls water into your street or block, an internal stopcock is located in your property and can switch your water on or off.
Seasonal Coefficient of Performance / Seasonal Performance Factor (SCoP/ SPF): A rating given to heat pumps based on how they will perform in different temperatures.
T.
Thermostat: A device that regulates temperature by controlling heating or cooling systems.
Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs): These enable you to set a temperature on individual radiators and shut off the flow of water when your desired temperature is reached. They are considered ‘smarter’ than manual valves, but not as advanced as WiFi-enabled valves.
U.
Underfloor Heating: A heating system where heat is provided through pipes or electrical elements installed under the floor.
Unvented Cylinder: A hot water cylinder that has a direct connection to the mains water supply.
V.
Vented Cylinder: These hot water cylinders are fed from a cold water tank in the loft.
Vent Pipe: A pipe that allows air to enter plumbing systems, equalising pressure and preventing syphoning.
W.
Warranty: The manufacturer’s coverage in the event of a boiler issue. Warranty periods typically range from 1 to 10 years or even longer. A boiler with a longer warranty is likely to be more reliable than one with a shorter warranty.
Water Hammer Arrestor: A device used to prevent banging noises (water hammer) in plumbing systems caused by sudden pressure changes.
Y.
Yellow tipping: A flame condition caused by a severe reduction in primary air – the yellow colour is caused by glowing carbon particles in the flame and can be corrected by the injection of more primary air
Z.
Zone Valve: A valve used to control the flow of hot water to specific heating zones in a building.
So, there you have it, an A-Z list of all the terms that you will need to understand conversations happening in the plumbing and gas world. And if you’re still stuck, contact us today, one of our friendly team will be happy to talk you through everything you want to know!
