Emphasising the importance of water treatment to customers will become even more important as a result of the Energy-related Product Directive’s implementation, Sentinel says.

The new Energy-related Products Directive introduces energy rating labelling on boilers, certain components, and systems with newly installed components this September.


Sentinel says it is up to installers to help ensure savings that a customer expects to make once they have purchased a highly energy efficient boiler endure over the long-term.


Neil Davies, trade marketing director at Sentinel, said: “If a heating system isn’t properly cleaned, protected and maintained with high quality water treatment, the savings offered by energy efficient boilers can quickly diminish due to problems such as sludge and limescale build-up, corrosion, potential premature parts replacement and breakdowns.


“So instead of saving the customer money every year, homeowners could end up hundreds, even thousands, of pounds out of pocket.”


The company says testing and research conducted by a boiler manufacturer found that approximately 87% of boiler call-outs were due to systems without correct water treatment.


“Boiler manufacturers recognise the importance of water treatment and most insist upon it as part of the guarantee terms and conditions. Considering that replacement parts can cost as much as £350, while the cost of a new boiler averages £1,500, it’s clear that effective water treatment is in the best interest of both the homeowner and installer.”


Sentinel advises plumbing and heating engineers to follow the company’s own best practice of ‘clean, protect and maintain’ using Sentinel’s energy-saving products.


“The new boiler and system energy labelling requirements mean that highlighting the benefits of a properly cleaned and treated heating system is more important than ever,” Mr Davies said.


“For example, without proper water treatment, an ‘A’-rated boiler could have a true operating efficiency of a ‘B’-rated boiler – that’s not what the homeowner signs up for, so it’s really important that installers are aware of and promote the energy and cost-saving benefits of water treatment to their customers.”