Should I blast my gas heating system every now and again even if I don't use it?

SimonFF

I hope this question is not off topic here. I have moved to a council flat and I am lucky because the building uses a mixed electric/gas system. In other words, the gas boilers are on the roof (and I live on the top floor) and each flat has an electric boiler that heats up the water coming from the boilers, or so I was told.

In any case, it is freezing outside but it's not too cold inside and I can live without heating, but my neighbour told me I should turn the heating on and take it to full blast every now and again, "otherwise the radiators will rust".

Is there any truth with that? Thanks.

Netexporter

The radiators will rust, to some extent, whatever you do. But they normally put a rust inhibitor in the water so not likely to be a problem.

FreeBear

SimonFF said: In any case, it is freezing outside but it's not too cold inside and I can live without heating, but my neighbour told me I should turn the heating on and take it to full blast every now and again, "otherwise the radiators will rust".

Running the system to prevent rust is pointless. However, firing up the system for say 10-15 minutes once a month will help to stop the pump and any zone valves seizing up. should any part of the system stop working, you get the chance to carry out a repair in a timely fashion rather than waiting for an emergency call out.

Gerry1

You need to find out a lot more about your systems, preferably via the council.  It's unlikely you have an electric boiler.

It may be a building heating system.  How are you billed?

It's very important to understand all the details, especially how you are metered and billed and what the kWh and standing charges are.

QrizB

FreeBear said:

SimonFF said: In any case, it is freezing outside but it's not too cold inside and I can live without heating, but my neighbour told me I should turn the heating on and take it to full blast every now and again, "otherwise the radiators will rust".

Running the system to prevent rust is pointless.

I don't necesarily agree. Most heating systems have rust inhibitor added to the coolant, and if it isn't circulated the inhibitor can become depleted in localised areas, leading to corrosion.

Running it every so often is probably worthwhile.

matelodave

If the system has pumps and/or motorised valves then it's worthwhile to run it for a few minutes every now and again, just to ensure that they don't seize.

I doubt it has much to do with rust but a jammed pump or valve can stop the system working properly and can be quite disruptive to repair.

SimonFF

Gerry1 said:

You need to find out a lot more about your systems, preferably via the council.  It's unlikely you have an electric boiler.

It may be a building heating system.  How are you billed?

It's very important to understand all the details, especially how you are metered and billed and what the kWh and standing charges are.

The gas engineers, when they came for the annual visit, told me that the gas boilers are on the roof and then each flat has a boiler like this:

https://www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/professional/support/literature/greenstar-hdu-installation-instructions

I am billed by the Council. There are no standing charge. I pay online. This is all I know.

QrizB

SimonFF said:

Gerry1 said:

You need to find out a lot more about your systems, preferably via the council.  It's unlikely you have an electric boiler.

It may be a building heating system.  How are you billed?

It's very important to understand all the details, especially how you are metered and billed and what the kWh and standing charges are.

The gas engineers, when they came for the annual visit, told me that the gas boilers are on the roof and then each flat has a boiler like this:

https://www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/professional/support/literature/greenstar-hdu-installation-instructions

That's not a boiler, it's a heat distribution unit. It doesn't do any heating itself.

SimonFF

QrizB said:

SimonFF said:

Gerry1 said:

You need to find out a lot more about your systems, preferably via the council.  It's unlikely you have an electric boiler.

It may be a building heating system.  How are you billed?

It's very important to understand all the details, especially how you are metered and billed and what the kWh and standing charges are.

The gas engineers, when they came for the annual visit, told me that the gas boilers are on the roof and then each flat has a boiler like this:

https://www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/professional/support/literature/greenstar-hdu-installation-instructions

That's not a boiler, it's a heat distribution unit. It doesn't do any heating itself.

Ok but does it change anything with respect to my question?

QrizB

It doesn't change the various recommendations that you should run your heating now and again, no.