• How are central heating circulator pumps sized?

Installers often have questions about choosing the correct central heating circulation pump, particularly when it comes to sizing. Relative to the performance of the existing pump, a new pump should be checked for compatibility with the existing heating system to facilitate the correct delivery head and volume flow.

To optimise energy efficiency, installers need to determine the heating system's needs based on the number of central heating radiators or the area of underfloor heating that the pump will supply hot water to. Fortunately, sizing the system is no longer a daunting task.

Installers can use the Wilo-Assistant app to choose the right model for the job, making their work easier. Additionally, the Wilo PICO range, which includes the Wilo Yonos-PICO and Wilo-Stratos PICO, provides clear instructions on the inside of the packaging box.

• How do you change a circulator pump?

Before replacing a circulator pump, installers must either drain the system down or isolate the existing pump via the valves to ensure that water is not still flowing through the pump. Alongside this, installers must also make sure that electrical isolation has taken place. Once these have been done, the old pump can be removed.

Next, the replacement pump should be checked to ensure that it has the same dimensions as the old pump. If it does not, the installer will need to make adjustments to the pipework to ensure that it matches the new pump's measurements. Once the pump and new gaskets have been properly fitted, installers should refer to the manufacturer's manual to ensure that the pump is correctly oriented.

After the union nuts have been tightened and any insulation jackets have been fitted around the pump, the wiring and electrical connections can be made. For the Stratos PICO pump, this process is made easier with the use of the Wilo-Connector, which makes wiring tool-free.

The Stratos PICO comes with Wilo’s Dynamic Adapt Plus smart feature which automatically adjusts the pump to meet the requirements of the heating system, minimising the set-up time. Alternatively, installers can use assisting software applications and the pump’s LCD screen to make hydronic balancing simple with minimal data entry required to correctly balance the system.

• Do circulating pumps run continuously?

It depends. If the heating system has an old heating circulation pump, it will have an AC motor that operates at a set speed, typically with one to three speed choices. These older motors cannot be adjusted and consume more electricity and increase running costs compared to newer, intelligent models.

On the other hand, newer heating circulation pumps use EC motor technology. These advanced motors are highly efficient and can run at different speeds to meet the specific demands of the system. They allow for pump configurations and can adjust their speed up or down as needed, operating at a much lower speed than AC motor equivalents. Thanks to these advances in technology and user controls, new generation pumps pay for themselves over two or three years in savings made on energy bills.

• How do you check if a circulator pump is working?

Numerous manufacturers of heating circulation pumps offer informative step-by-step guides for each of their products, which installers can use as a reference during service calls. Some of the latest models, such as the Stratos PICO, have the option to be equipped with Bluetooth modules.

Installers can also use the Wilo-Assistant app to get real-time technical information on their mobile devices with intelligent assistance technology. This enables them to download reports and monitor the pump's performance. System problems can also be found early using Wilo's ‘fault signal assistant’ tool. This tool can identify the cause of the problem, describe the issue, and provide solutions, both on the app and on the LCD screen.

Wilo Yonos and Stratos PICO pumps conveniently display live information regarding flow, head, and importantly energy usage, plus simple LED colours indicate that they are running.

• How many watts does a circulator pump use?

An inefficient circulator pump, specifically fixed speed models, can consume more than 80 watts whereas Wilo domestic heating circulator pumps, even at their highest setting, will only consume around 40 watts.

At their lowest setting, Wilo pumps can consume as little as four watts of energy, emphasising the need for widespread adoption of newer technology by professionals, especially for domestic hot water supply.

• What else should be considered when choosing a circulating pump?

There are a range of factors to consider when choosing a circulator pump. We would encourage domestic installers to discuss the switch from an EC motor to an AC motor with homeowners as a key priority.

Physical features and add-ons on a pump should also be considered. New models, such as the Stratos PICO, include an easy-to-use LCD screen, user interface, and a thermal insulation shell as standard which reduces lagging time for installers and contributes to energy savings through reduced heat-loss.

Installers should also consider ease of electrical connectivity. To avoid tricky electrical terminal connections in cramped spaces, installers should use the latest features available on the Stratos PICO. The Wilo-Connector is a mains connection cable which simply requires the strip down of three wires, before inserting them into the correct terminal.

The sustainability credentials of products and the manufacturers behind them should also be considered. Some pumps on the market have travelled thousands of miles and are not manufactured within modern factories, which contributes to global warming. The Wilo-Stratos PICO circulating pump range is manufactured in a Climate Neutral modern factory from a company that has achieved an EcoVadis Platinum level – which is only awarded to the top 1% of companies in the world for sustainability credentials.

For more information about heating circulators and the Stratos PICO, CLICK HERE