Dr Neil Watson, technical director at Adey, looks at the role of premium quality chemicals in central heating system maintenance and how they deliver value for money for installers.

In a recent survey of more than 1,000 installers, carried out by Adey Professional Heating Solutions, just over half of those asked (51%) pinpointed quality as the key reason for choosing a particular brand of chemicals. Dr Neil Watson looks at the role of premium quality chemicals in central heating system maintenance and how they deliver value for money for installers.

The importance of chemicals in protecting a system shouldn’t be underestimated, particularly when used with an effective system flush and magnetic filter as part of a four-step approach to best practice.

It’s reassuring to see that the quality of water treatment chemicals supersedes price when it comes to installers making a purchasing decision, so we can make a direct correlation to them wanting value for money. Professional installers will understand that dosing a system with a premium chemical will ensure it is properly protected against the effects of corrosion, helping to reduce the number of maintenance call outs they receive.

An easily recognisable sign of quality is also important when it comes to getting customer buy-in. Quality chemicals are benchmarked against BuildCert as a minimum standard, but homeowners aren’t familiar with this accreditation. However, many will recognise the seal of approval given by the Energy Savings Trust (EST), so installers can use this hallmark as a standard that will resonate more strongly with homeowners.

Driven by the changing needs of the installer and the wider industry, particularly with the increasing trend for longer boiler warranties, we are now also seeing stronger and more effective chemicals being used. They provide installers with higher levels of protection for the systems they install and, crucially, customers will also benefit from the best quality protection available.

Adey’s own installer survey also revealed that 97% of those asked stated that the majority of their work was undertaken on systems of up to 15 radiators.

New, stronger concentrated chemical formulations are perfect for modern heating systems and will provide better system protection with a single dose. A chemical that treats 125 litres, or up to 15 radiators, gives installers the confidence they haven’t under-dosed the system and there’s no danger of overdosing either.

Installers that use these chemicals as part of a best practice approach will also deliver best value for money to their customers. Providing stronger protection for longer represents a great opportunity to build customer relationships and gain repeat work. This in turn should create a reliable heating system and a reduction in energy bills, keeping the customer happy and putting the installer top of their list of trusted professionals.

Neil Watson is technical director at Adey.

Teaser image courtesy of Chukcha/Shutterstock.