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FAQ
What to do if your Hive Receiver has a red status light?
If your receiver has a red status light this means it has lost connection to your thermostat. This could be due to poor signal between your devices or flat batteries in your thermostat. You may also see your heating showing as 'offline' in the Hive app.
When this happens, you can still turn your heating and hot water on and off by using the buttons on the receiver. When you press the central heating (or hot water) button, a green light will come on indicating that this function is on.
However, as the receiver is unable to communicate with the thermostat, it won't know when it has reached a target temperature so the boiler will remain on until you switch it off. You will need to press the relevant button on the receiver again to switch your heating or hot water off manually.
If you are hearing a loud noise from your boiler.
Such noises can occur even if everything seems to still be working properly, but a noisy boiler should never be ignored. For many people, they can be very worrying. Even the smallest of noises can also cause problems such as frustration and sleeplessness, which adds to the stress.
Many modern boilers now come with digital displays which include error codes. Before spending time to diagnose problems yourself, familiarise yourself with the product manual as this could save valuable time.
Here are some other remedies you can try too -
1. Bleed the system
In most cases, gurgling noises that may appear to originate in the boiler are actually caused by air elsewhere in the system. This is very common and can be easily remedied by bleeding the system. There is no need to get an expert involved, all you need to do is follow a few simple steps:
Fully open all radiator thermostats and run the heating at full temperature for 10-15 minutes with all radiators on
Turn the circulation pump off and wait until radiators are cool - usually 30-60 minutes
Bleed the radiator nearest the boiler using a bleed key or screwdriver until water comes out
Repeat this for each radiator
Turn on the boiler and check the water pressure (see below).
If you are unsure about bleeding the system or encounter difficulties at any point, it is advisable to contact a professional at the earliest instance.
2. Check the water pressure
If the water pressure is too low, this may be the culprit of your gurgling noises. Your boiler will have a pressure gauge, also known as a manometer, located in the area where the pipes are connected to the boiler itself. Most modern pressure gauges will be marked with the correct pressure level, although you may need to consult the manual. If it is too low, then increase the pressure until it is restored to the correct level. This may require a topping up of the water level.
3. Check the circulation pump
If the noises continue after you have taken the previous actions, there is a possibility that the problem may lie in the circulation pump. In most cases, the noise will be caused by this pump operating at an excessive speed. If the boiler has an option to slow it down, this may solve the problem. It may, however, be necessary to have a trained engineer perform this task.
How do I check if my condensate pipe is blocked?
In Winter, your condensate pipe may freeze and become blocked. This can easily be fixed by using a hot water bottle, or pouring warm water over the pipe itself. For more information on this check out our ‘How to’ video on YouTube. If the weather is milder it may be worth checking where the condense pipe terminates for blockages such as leaves. Usually, a gurgling noise can be heard from the boiler during attempted ignition when the condensate is blocked.
Why does my boiler lose pressure?
Often, with a newly filled system, there can be air in the water used. Over time this is released into the system causing a pressure drop. Another cause of pressure loss could be not having enough expansion in the system. There could also be a slight leak within the system which may not be noticeable without detailed checking. Finally, it could be due to a component failure within the boiler. If the system requires topping up frequently it needs to be checked by a professional to find the source of the pressure loss.
What is a condensing boiler?
A condensing boiler is a high efficiency boiler which runs at a lower temperature than older, traditional style boilers. It recovers energy through, what is termed, 'Latent Heat'. When the burned fuel products cool they turn in to a liquid and create condensation.
Why can't I get hot water?
On a combi boiler you should check that the hot water temperature is turned up on the front, check the isolation valve underneath the boiler on the cold mains pipe is vertical/open. After this it is likely there is a problem within the appliance. On either a heat only boiler or a system boiler if the central heating work and the hot water doesn't this will be a system problem, possibly a zone valve not operating.
What is frost protection?
Frost protection runs the central heating system if the temperature on the Touch thermostat reaches 5 degrees to ensure the system stays above freezing.
What does preheat mean?
‘Pre-heat’ is a function that is designed to provide you with instant hot water when required. It works by infrequently heating the plate heat exchanger so that when hot water is requested it is already heated. This feature is not compulsory however, if not selected can take a few minutes before the hot water is at the appropriate temperature.
If your boiler is leaking?
First step here is to turn off the water valve that is running to the boiler. Second step is to turn off all electrical items surrounding the boiler. Then please ring Swyft immediately or go to our after care form for the quickest resolve. Please follow this link - http://tiny.cc/fzc7fz and we will get someone to you as soon as possible.
Should I have my heating system treated or cleansed?
Swyft Energy thoroughly recommends the good practice of cleansing a heating system as an important part of the boiler installation process. It is best practice to cleanse an existing heating system prior to installation of the new boiler. After the boiler has been installed, the heating system should be cleansed of debris and refilled with inhibitor. Your chosen boiler installer should be fully conversant with all current standards/regulations relating to this part of the installation.
What to do if your Hive Thermostat has a 'No Signal' message on the display
If your thermostat is showing a 'No Signal' message, it means that it has lost connection to the receiver. You may also see your heating showing as 'offline' in the Hive app. To fix this, try the below steps:
Step 1 - Press the tab on the base of the thermostat to remove it from the wall.
Step 2 - Lift your thermostat off the hooks that hold it against the wall and take your thermostat to the receiver which you will find near to your boiler/hot water tank.
Step 3 - Remove the batteries and put them straight back in again. This will turn the thermostat off and on which should help establish a connection to the receiver.
Step 4 - Place the thermostat back on the wall, the thermostat should then display a 'Reconnecting' message.
Step 5 - Once you see an inside temperature again, try to turn the heating on. Turn the dial clockwise to increase the target temperature.
Step 6 - If the heating is on you will see an “ON” message on the thermostat display.
Step 7 - When you can see that the 'status' and 'central heating' lights on the receiver have turned green you’re done!
If your thermostat is still showing a 'No Signal' message, your heating devices should be manually reset and paired.
Restart the hub by switching it off at the wall socket and switching back on again. Give the hub 5-10 minutes to reboot and then go to the dashboard in the app and refresh the page. The 'offline' message should no longer be showing for heating. If the 'offline' message is still showing, please follow the below steps:
Step 1
Switch the boiler off at the isolation switch/fuse spur (this should be located near your Hive Receiver next to your boiler). All of the lights on the receiver will then go out.
Step 2
Press and hold down the 'back arrow' button and the 'menu' button on the thermostat at the same time (these are the bottom left and bottom middle buttons below the silver dial). Keep these buttons held down together until the thermostat display says 'Welcome, searching'.
Step 3
Remove a battery from the thermostat.
Step 4
Switch the boiler back on at the isolation switch/fuse spur – the status light on the receiver should flash either pink or amber then turn to a solid green colour.
Step 5
Hold the central heating button down on the receiver until the status light is flashing pink. Release the button and then hold it again until the status light is double flashing amber.
Step 6
In order to connect the receiver to the hub, you will need put the hub into pairing mode. You can do this by selecting 'Install devices' within the Hive app menu. From there tap 'Add another device' and then 'Go' which will start the hubs search. Leave the hub searching until the receiver status light changes to a single flash of amber.
Step 7
Put the battery back in the thermostat, the thermostat should display the 'Welcome, searching' message again. When you see the word 'Search' disappear from the screen, the receiver status light will turn green. The thermostat will then take you through a welcome tour.
Step 8
Wait 5 minutes and then go to the dashboard in the Hive app and refresh the page. The ‘offline’ message should no longer be showing for heating. Once you see an inside temperature display on your thermostat again, try to turn the heating on.
Step 9
If the heating turns on and you can see that the 'status' and 'central heating' lights on the receiver have turned green you’re done!
If you're still not back up and running chat to us at hivehome.com/contact-us.
Difference between a Combi boiler and an old boiler..
The conventional boilers used in most older homes can be also be referred to as 'regular boilers' since they have been around for so long, and are very common. These non-system, non-combi boilers produce hot water that heats the radiators directly and they also provide hot water which is stored in a cylinder (often seen in the airing cupboard). The boiler gets the cold water feed from a storage tank (called a feed and expansion tank) which is usually located above the boiler, in the attic. Because the tank is higher than the boiler, the water is fed to the boiler by gravity. This tank not only feeds the boiler, it also acts as an 'expansion' tank. Water expands as it is heated and any excess hot water flows from the central heating system back into the 'feed and expansion' tank.
The advantages of a regular or conventional boiler are several: They fill the storage cylinder with lots of hot water so there's no problem using several hot water tap at the same time. Therefore, they are ideal for large homes where there is a big demand for hot water. Regular, conventional boilers are probably the best option if you want to replace a boiler in an older central heating system, since there will be no need for lots of changes to the pipework. Regular boilers are very efficient too: The Grant Vortex Pro achieves an efficiency of up to 97% and is SEDBUK A rated.
Disadvantages: Takes up more space than a system or combi boiler set-up. Hot water cylinder can lose a lot of heat unless it's well insulated. The pump which circulates the hot water for heating and the cylinder is located outside of the boiler, so yet more space is required.
If my installer doesn't show
Don't worry, sometimes wires get crossed. Call the team and we will be able to help you straight away.
Is there a grant for boilers?
There is no direct grant for a boiler install. There is a grant available for upgrading your heating and zoning your heating.
How To Programme Your Heating Controls
Your EPH heating controls can be used to choose when you want your heating and hot water to come on at different points of the day. You can choose a different schedule for weekdays, weekends and even set up a holiday mode so you always have heat when you need it but never waste a cent on heating an empty home!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdALAKk1_Jk&feature=emb_title
Can Swyft Energy Service My Boiler?
Swyft Energy Warranty Protect will keep your gas boiler running smoothly and safely
Swyft Energy Warranty Protect is available to all Swyft Energy boiler installation customers.
Every boiler needs to be serviced once a year. We can make sure your boiler is running efficiently and safely with an annual boiler service.
For €9.99 per month (inc. VAT) Swyft Energy Warranty Protect includes the following benefits:
2 year extended warranty protection
Annual boiler service with annual boiler service certificate
60-day post service warranty
Examination Report
Automatic renewal notification
Direct Debit
Unlimited parts and labour cover**
* Price quoted includes VAT of 13.5% €8.80 +VAT = €9.99 per month
** Subject to manufacturers warranty see terms and conditions for details.
What is a boiler?
A boiler is a central heating system that heats your home using water/steam instead of air like a furnace does. The system is enclosed. It then holds water and heats it to the temperature of your choosing to provide warmth to your home.
What do I need to consider when getting a new boiler?
When replacing your boiler there are a few essential things you have to take into consideration such as the size of your household, how much water you use, your budget, whether you need to move your boiler and whether or not to change the type of boiler you use to make it more efficient for your home. We've created a list of considerations to make replacing your boiler nice and easy:
1. The size of your home:
The size of your property or home will have a direct impact on the type of boiler you will need and also the type of boiler that will accommodate your needs.
Smaller Homes & Apartments
Recommendation: Combi Boilers
Why: Combi boilers are connected directly to the water mains and thus do not need a storage tank in the attic or a cylinder.
Larger homes
Recommendation: Regular or System Boilers
Why: Regular and System Boilers can deal with higher levels of demand & require both a cylinder and storage tank depending on your choice.
2. The existing boiler system:
It may seem like a good idea to replace a regular or system boiler with a combi boiler but in many cases sticking to your existing system is the best option.
For instance, switching to a combi boiler would allow you free up space in your home, however changing systems brings with it additional costs. In addition to cost, a combi system may not be able to meet the demand of a larger house. If the existing system is older, radiators and pipes etc may not be able to deal with increased water pressures which would ultimately lead to more costs.
3. The size of the boiler:
You should consider the actual physical size of the boiler. Large boilers will obviously be unsuitable for smaller homes and apartments, compact boilers will also not likely be the best match for a larger property.
4. The number of bathrooms and showers
This is an important consideration, if you have two showers running at the same time in the morning, you can live a life free of timers, racing to get to the shower first and arguments over who is using all the water, by simply upgrading your boiler to the next model up (there isn't even much of a price difference!).
Home with 1 Bathroom
Recommendation: Combi Boiler
Why: Combi boilers heat water on demand but are unable to facilitate hot water to more than one bathroom simultaneously.
Home with 1+ Bathrooms
Recommendation: Regular or System Boiler
Why: Regular and system boilers facilitate running hot water in more than one bathroom simultaneously.
Large Family Home with 1+ Bathroom
Recommendation: Regular Boiler
Why: The amount of hot water available is only determined by the size of the hot water cylinder.
5. Water Pressure
Water pressure can determine which boiler type or size you can have, some boilers can happily work with low pressure while others are designed to have access to higher volumes. Here is a quick guide, but if you are unsure feel free to get in touch with us.
Low water pressure areas:
Recommendation: Regular boiler
Why: Regular Boiler systems can ensure high water pressure because of the downward flow from the water tank in the attic.
Combi boilers aren’t a good match for areas with low water pressure as they do not have a storage tank and rely on the mains pressure.
6. The make of boiler
It’s important to do your homework on the various makes of boilers and what each brand offers or talk to an expert here at Swyft Energy. Each boiler has an energy rating, which will effect your bills. Some brands will offer extended warranties on the boiler provided it is installed by an approved contractor and serviced in line with the manufacturers guidelines.
7. The type of property
Depending on your property type (apartment or house) and when it was built, you may find that some boiler types are more efficient than others:
Apartments & Smaller Properties:
Recommendation: Combi Boiler
Why: No storage tank or cylinder required
Older properties
Recommendation: Regular Boiler
Why: It can prove more cost effective to keep the current boiler system in older properties.
8. Future proofing your boiler Investment:
If you plan on building an extension on your property or converting your attic in the future, it is worth thinking about the type of boiler you are installing as well as the size.
For example
An extension could involve an additional bathroom and/or radiators.
An attic conversion could mean you need the storage tank removed.
9. Boiler Flow Rate
A boilers flow rate refers to how much water can flow through your boiler and how fast it can come out of a faucet or shower head.
There is a common misconception that it is best to install a boiler with the maximum flow rate. This is incorrect, there is absolutely no point in installing a boiler with a flow rate of 12 litres if your mains pressure only supplies 10 litres per minute.
10. Registered Gas Installation
In Ireland, it is illegal for anyone other than a Registered Gas Installer (RGII) to install a gas boiler. At Swyft all our installers are RGII and SEAI certified.
It is your responsibility to ensure anyone you appoint to install your gas boiler is a Registered Gas Installer.
The Gas Installer is also required to issue you with a certificate to confirm that the installation was carried out by a registered Gas Installer on a given date.
How do boilers provide heat?
Boilers provide heat which radiates, this in turn warms objects in your rooms. People tend to prefer boilers over furnaces because they can set their thermostat at a lower temperature and the heat which is radiating, can make the room feel warmer than the actual air temperature. Boilers also provide a more balanced heat throughout the home during the colder winter months.
What are the signs my boiler is inefficient?
Signs of boiler inefficiency:
- Your heating is generally sluggish
- Your bills are increasing
- Your hot water is unreliable
What is a Condensing Boiler?
Every gas and oil boiler installed in Ireland's must be a condensing boiler by law regardless of whether it is a combi, regular or system boiler.
Condensing boilers work by condensing water vapour in exhaust gases which recover latent heat that would otherwise have been wasted or vaporized through the flue.
Condensing boilers are also known as high efficiency boilers and achieve in excess of 90% efficiency. This means that for every €100 you spend on your heating bill, less than 10% will be lost and €90 will go toward heating your home!
If your boiler is older than 10 years old it could be operating at as low as 60% efficiency, meaning that for every €100 you spend on €40 could be wasted!
The three types of condensing boilers are:
Regular Boilers
System Boilers
Combi Boilers
Why should I install a condensing boiler?
In a nutshell condensing boilers are more efficient than non condensing boilers, they have increased outputs and they can save you money!
Condensing boilers have essentially become the industry standard for all boiler installations & replacements.
How does a condensing boiler work?
Similar to traditional heating systems a condensing boiler burns gas to heat water, producing a combination of carbon dioxide and water vapour. In contrast to traditional heating system, condensing boilers have a much larger heat exchanger which essentially recycles the heat in flu gases which would otherwise be lost through the flue.
What do condensing boilers mean for me?
There are 3 main benefits which condensing boilers provide homeowners.
Your home will be more energy efficiency
If your boiler is older than 10 years old it could be operating at as low as 60% efficiency. By simply upgrading your boiler you could increase your energy efficiency by 30%
You will save money
According to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland's homeowners can save up to 20% on their energy bills by upgrading to high efficiency condensing boiler & controls.
You will reduce your carbon footprint
Do your bit for the environment, condensing boilers generate fewer carbon emissions than traditional systems.