Are designer radiators heat efficient?
26 September 2022
Can designer radiators deliver efficient heating and help drive down your energy bills?
Agadon Designer Radiators at the forefront of innovation and design
Radiator technology and design has developed exponentially and all designer radiators will provide high levels of heat efficiency. If you're looking for the best designer radiator to give you the best heat output, for the lowest energy input, then our team of radiator specialists can help. They can answer any queries you may have about the types of designer radiators and how they can heat your home as efficiently as possible.
For example: Larger radiators are often more efficient. If your old radiators are quite small, they will need to be hotter to heat the room to your preferred temperature, which means the boiler is working harder. Larger radiators are more efficient as they can run at a lower temperature and still heat the room sufficiently.
Our team of experts can advise on the best types of heating control for your chosen designer radiator to maximise efficiency through heat management.
What space do you need to heat?
Different areas of your living space will require different heating, for example a hallway with stairs will be more difficult to heat than an enclosed room. A kitchen will have other heat sources and rooms only frequented periodically, like a bathroom will need a different approach again. So when considering efficient heating, you need to consider the room’s use – and then factor this into the heating plan.
What heating system is in place?
Adding a new radiator location to an existing wet central heating system can be an expensive process. However, swapping an old inefficient radiator out for a new more efficient radiator can be a relatively simple process for a professional.
If you need to heat a space efficiently there are lots of options and understanding what they are, gives you choices on how you can make heating each room more energy efficient. There are different technologies, for example in addition to a wet central heating system there are electric designer radiators, the most energy efficient of these being infrared.
You may have come across it in an outside restaurant or pub, where they heat outside spaces. The reason infrared is so energy efficient is because it works like the sun to deliver an even spread of heat across a room. Warming people and objects directly, which in turn anew the warmth back into a room.
If you're looking to save money on your heating bills, infrared heaters are the ideal choice. They can be used to provide a cost efficient heat source to support a wet system (i.e. if there's a cool spot in a room, hallway or conservatory). They can also be used to provide almost instant heat in place of turning on the entire wet central heating system.
Here are 3 simple steps to deliver efficient heating and help drive down your energy bills
1 - Make sure you understand the space needing heat
Use a BTU calculator to get an accurate understanding of the heat needed to effectively warm the space in question. BTU stands for British Thermal Units and is a unit of measurement for energy. You will see BTU used when referring to the amount of heat output a radiator emits to increase the heat in a room. You can calculate the BTU heat output needed with a BTU Calculator. Typically this is relevant to the room usage, i.e. lounge, hallways, bathroom, bedroom and kitchen, etc. This is because the type of room is likely to influence the level of heat required. Our rule of thumb is to go over the BTU number and use a thermostat to regulate the temperature and avoid the discomfort and expense of overheating.
2 - Maximise efficiency through heat management
Heat management controls can ensure a comfortable temperature is maintained at the minimal energy consumption throughout the different areas of your living space.
If a wet system use a TRV (Thermostatic Radiator Valve)
The TRV is a valve that adjusts the flow of water into your radiator depending on the setting, and reacts to the room temperature. As the room temperature changes, the valve head expands or contracts, adjusting a pin in the valve body so that it opens or closes. If the room heats, the adjusting pin expands and restricts the valve body so the radiator receives less hot water flow. The key benefit of a TRV is its energy saving potential through controlling individual room temperatures. Because it redirects the hot water to the cooler rooms and avoids overheating warmer rooms. This in turn controls the boilers efficiency as it only produces the heat needed, saving energy (and therefore money) by avoiding overheating a space.
If infrared then use with digital controls, e.g. timers and thermostats
This highly flexible and potentially portable heat is a very different technology. Coupled with a digital thermostat, it can switch itself on and off to maintain a constant room temperature. With low running costs, low installation costs and zero ongoing maintenance, infrared radiators offer the perfect flexible heating solution. The slimline infrared panels can be mounted on walls and ceilings, providing discreet and efficient heating anywhere in the home.
3 - Choose the right radiator design
Given the location and heating needs will determine the BTU's required and whether you go for a wet central heating system radiator, an infrared or maybe even dual fuel radiator (a vertical wet system which has an electric element so it can be turned on in isolation of the central heating). Then the next consideration is the radiator design style. The standard ubiquitous 'non-designer' radiators have fins at the back, which provide excellent heat efficiency through increasing the heat disruption surface area and convection. They just don't look that good.
So which radiators look good and give good heat dispersion?
With the advances in technology and design, this is largely subjective. The margins are finite and there are likely to be other factors which can influence the efficient heating of a room - for example, floor covering (carpets or ceramic/wood), window coverings (curtains, blinds etc). The reason designer radiators are so popular is because people want to create a look for their home. So if you want more energy efficient heating, consider the other factors in conjunction with your heat source. The most efficient way to make your heating efficient and help drive down your energy bills is through making sure the space is adequately serviced and you maximise efficiency through heat management.
Please give us a call on 01530 564 122 or email us at sales@agadon.co.uk if you would like to visit our extensive showroom or simply get more information and expert advice.
