Maintenance guide for heating systems

When winter comes, a well-maintained heating system can make all the difference to home comfort. To be prepared for colder temperatures, it is therefore essential to devote time to the routine maintenance of the system, which includes a series of regular checks to ensure that the system is functioning properly and is energy efficient. In this way, it is possible to prevent the potential damage related to component wear and tear or leaks, which could affect the safety of the device, of the home and its impact on energy bills in the future.  

Maintenance is therefore a comprehensive, legally regulated assessment tool that also helps you make a more informed choice of the best power and gas offers for your household consumption. However, before delving into the frequency and benefits of routine maintenance, it is useful to know more about the main domestic heating systems. 

Heating systems: main types

Condensing Boiler 

Condensing boilers are extremely energy-efficient heating systems. Unlike traditional gas boilers, they do not disperse the heat of the exhaust gases produced by the combustion of methane or LPG, but rather, they recover it. A heat exchanger cools the exhaust gases, condensing the water vapour they contain, and releasing heat that is used to heat the water fed into the boiler. Condensing boilers are therefore a high-performance and environmentally friendly solution, suitable for large homes, but also for those with small spaces.

Heat pump

Even more technologically advanced, the heat pump is a mechanism that exploits heat taken from nature (from air, water or the ground) to air-condition rooms, heating them in winter and cooling them in summer. Because it is powered by electrical energy, it limits gas consumption and can be of different types depending on the source from which it draws: 

• Air to air heat pumps take thermal energy from the outside air and transfer it to the indoor environment, again in the form of air.  Modern air-conditioners with a heat pump such as those from Enel Energia exploit this mechanism. 

• Air-water heat pumps take thermal energy from the outside air and transfer it to the domestic water system for domestic hot water production and/or heating.

• Water-to-water heat pumps take thermal energy from underground aquifers for domestic hot water production and/or heating.  

• Geothermal heat pumps exploit the heat naturally present in the ground, drawing thermal energy for heating. 

Heat pumps are particularly effective in new or renovated buildings with high energy efficiency, where heat losses are minimised. The optimal combination is with low-temperature heating systems, such as radiant floor panels.

Underfloor heating

Among the most modern and efficient heating systems is underfloor heating, based on the principle of heat transfer by radiation. It consists of a series of radiant panels arranged under the floor surface, which ensure an even distribution of heat throughout the house, from the bottom up to the ceiling. The system can either consist of pipes in which hot water flows or electric elements that produce heat. This type of system is tailor-made for your home and provides maximum comfort with high performance, which is why it requires longer installation times and higher costs.

Heating system maintenance: frequency and regulations

Whatever heating system you choose for your home, it is essential to have it checked regularly. Regular maintenance improves the durability, performance efficiency, energy savings and safety of your system. For maintenance work on thermal systems, the reference regulation is Presidential Decree. 16 April 2013, No. 74, where: 

• Article 7 regulates ordinary maintenance work and
• Article 8 regulates energy efficiency checks

Ordinary maintenance is therefore mandatory by law, but the decree does not define the time intervals for interventions. In this case, it is important to follow the technical operating and maintenance instructions made available by the installation company and, in the absence of these, to consult the device's operating and maintenance manual, as drawn up by the manufacturer. Only in the event that these data are also missing will reference be made to the UNI and CEI standards. After each inspection, the service engineer in charge of maintenance must fill in the system's technical booklet and transmit the data to the Region. 

During routine maintenance activities, energy efficiency checks are also carried out for: 

• Winter air-conditioning systems with a rated useful heat output of more than 10 kW
• Summer air-conditioning systems with a rated useful heat output of more than 12 kW

The frequency of energy efficiency checks varies between every 1, 2 or 4 years depending on the type of system.

Why is regular maintenance important?

The importance of maintenance of heating systems is indicated in the third place of the rules on the correct use of installations by ENEA (National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development). But what are the real benefits of regular maintenance?

Energy efficiency and savings

Heating your home involves intensive and frequent operation of heating systems which, if not properly maintained, can consume more energy and gas than necessary and cause pollution. Regular maintenance ensures efficient fuel combustion. Or that heat exchangers (components that transfer heat to water or air) are clean, and not fouled or calcified, affecting their ability to transfer heat and forcing them to work harder and consume more energy.

Safety

Maintenance operations make it possible to detect and repair any gas or other fuel leaks, preventing situations that can endanger people’s health and safety. Modern heating systems are also equipped with safety systems that stop operation in the event of faults. Maintenance makes sure that these systems are functioning, to guarantee that the system stops in the event of problems.

System longevity

Regular maintenance makes it possible to detect and replace worn parts before they cause major damage to the system and require costly repairs. Certain factors, such as condensation, can cause corrosion of system components, but regular maintenance activities keep this process under control for longer-lasting performance.

Regulatory compliance

Let us not forget that maintenance of heating systems is mandatory by law. Carrying out regular checks ensures that you comply with regulations and avoid fines. 

Energy saving with Enel Energia

When did you last service your heating system? Consulting the technical information of your system and relying on a specialised service engineer for maintenance are the first steps in making sure that your system lasts for a long time and is safe for domestic well-being.

Find out more about products and services for your home, power and gas offers, and all the latest news and updates on the energy world at enel.it.