Installing a dirt and/or air separator to a household heating system can potentially cut £54 off an average household gas bill as well as reducing system breakdowns, according to new research commissioned by Spirotech.

Proven by an independent study, the Spirotech dirt separator and deaerator were found to dramatically improve heating system efficiency and reliability by capturing and removing dirt and air, which can cause blockages, reduce pump performance and corrode system components.

Trials were conducted in Kiwa independent laboratory testing facilities and installed on the heating systems of 200 homes over a four year period, using Spirotech’s all-brass dirt separator and deaerator.

When a SpiroTrap MB3 dirt separator or SpiroVent RV2 deaerator was installed, annual energy use was reduced by up to 7.4%. The SpiroTrap and SpiroVent ranges also dramatically reduced repair callouts – system breakdowns were 27% lower when a dirt separator was installed, 21% lower when a deaerator was installed and 48% lower when both were fitted. All results were compared against heating systems with no dirt or air separators installed.

Commenting on the research trials, Roger Williams, Sales Director UK for Spirotech, said: “The impact of poor water quality on system performance has been recognised by heating experts for some time and we now have independent evidence of the measurable benefits dirt and air separators can deliver.

“Reduced energy use equates to lower fuel bills and carbon emissions, while fewer system blockages and component failures reduces the risk of breakdowns and prolongs the lifetime of a heating system. This is good news for tenants as comfort levels are maintained and disruptive repairs are minimised, and for housing associations, it helps to protect one of their biggest investments.

“One area of the research findings of particular interest is the impact of deaerators on system performance. While dirt and magnetite in particular have long been recognised as causing problems, the negative effect of air is far less widely acknowledged and understood in the UK, but it is just as important to remove from a system to ensure optimal efficiency and reliability, as the research study shows.”

Spirotech is the global leader in the provision of total heating and cooling system protection and water treatment, offering a comprehensive range of dirt, air and chemical solutions and analysis with market-leading warranties of up to 20 years, for both domestic and commercial applications. For further information, visit www.spirotech.co.uk.