Central heating systems and water heaters should be simple to install and operate. They usually comprise a boiler, with or without integrated hot water generation, a water heater that is either independent or integrated into the boiler, and a control system.
Now more than ever, customers purchase a single system for heating and generating hot water instead of procuring separate elements. In this respect, your installer can advise you on the best choice as a function of your individual priorities.
What are my requirements ?
Heating and hot water
The output required for a heating system is a function of:
- the geographic location and the layout of the home
- the space to be heated and the degree of insulation of the home.
Although the boiler remains the heart of the installation in which heat is generated by a gas-fired or fuel oil-fired burner or by electric heating elements, the control system plays an increasingly important role : in modern installations, the temperature of the heating circuit varies as a function of the outside temperature and the control system contributes not only to a higher level of comfort for the user but also to improved fuel economy and eco-friendlier operation.
Domestic Hot Water (DHW) demand, for its part, depends on
- the number of persons in the household
- the level of hot water comfort they demand and the hot water-consuming equipment that have been or will be installed in the home
Whilst heating energy requirements have decreased over the course of the past several decades, the demands of modern life have significantly increased the need for stabile hot water supply that neither sacrifices economy nor ignores environmental protection concerns. A modern family living in Belgium with a high standard of hot water comfort typically consumes 30 to 35% of its total annual fuel budget in the form of energy to heat water. This proportion is even higher for homes situated in warmer climates and ones that are better insulated or demand greater hot water comfort. Thus the level of hot water comfort emerges more and more often as the determining factor in the selection of heating and hot water generation systems.
ACV has been a pioneer in DHW generation for the past 40 years (even when hot water demand was far lower than today) and has developed a complete range of solutions :
- independent DHW generators that answer the needs of the demanding individual as well as those of commercial applications (large hotels and hospitals) with a critical eye towards DHW quantity and quality.
- high efficiency and condensing gas and fuel oil-fired boilers for heating only from 6 to 3000 kW, along with a range of electric boilers
- innovative gas and fuel oil-fired and electric combined boilers and water heaters that supply one or more heating circuits of 20 to 240 kW and domestic hot water systems (up to 175 litres per minute of hot water) simultaneously
Your installer will advise you about the solution that best suits your needs. You have yet to select an installer and you would like us to recommend some to you ? Do not hesitate to contact us.
Before contacting your installer, and in the interest of better defining your requirements prior to his visit, we recommend that you print out this form and take the time to carefully consider all parameters in order to clearly specify the characteristics of your new installation : we work hand in hand with our installers, convinced that the quality of an installation depends above all on a good analysis of the requirements and a serious technical evaluation.
Which source of energy and what level of performance?
Natural gas
Natural gas offers a highly competitive operating cost and does not require storage.
Fuel oil
Fuel oil is one of the least expensive forms of energy over the long haul. Thanks to modern " transparent flame " type burners, it is relatively clean (low NOx), and it can result in substantial energy savings when used in high-efficiency boilers.
Electricity
There are many advantages to electricity: low initial investment, ease of installation and maintenance. The cost per kWh is generally higher than that of fuel oil or gas except in certain countries that promote the use of electricity and/or offer preferential rates for heating. It is an attractive option for applications involving the renovation of historic buildings (that have no chimney), for isolated homes (that are have no municipal fuel oil or gas service) or for intermittent use (secondary residences) and also for office buildings (simple installation and metering).
The sun, clean and free
The sun is a source of extremely low-cost energy and using it for home heating also serves to protect the environment. The initial investment can be considerable, however, and it always requires a " traditional " heating plant to make up for the energy deficit during periods of cold and weak sunlight.
High-efficiency boilers
A boiler that is more than 25 years old consumes about 30% more energy than a modern high-efficiency boiler. Thus, the amortisation of a new boiler is rapid and is fully justified in view of the increasing respect for the quality of our environment.
What type of installation ?
What type of boiler should I install and where? How can I obtain the greatest level of comfort and save energy at the same time? How much should I spend? Where should I install the system ?
Complex issues? Your installer will be able to determine the right equipment for you : he will take into account not only the technical parameters of your home but also your budget, your lifestyle and your expectations relative to comfort. You have yet to select an installer and you would like us to recommend some to you ? Do not hesitate to contact us.
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