Radiator
experts are often asked if electric heaters "efficient" and, more
specifically, whether heat storage are more "efficient" than other types
of electric heating.
When it comes to the radiator, can be interpreted in many ways the word "efficiency". From our experience, when a customer asks: "Which radiators are most efficient?" it could mean
Which radiators are made of the most heat for its size?
Which cooler is the cheapest to run?
Which cooler uses the least fuel?
Which radiator heats up the fastest?
Which cooler is the most environmentally friendly?
Electric heaters are usually considered 100% efficient as almost 100% of the electricity consumed by the radiator is converted into heat, and looked into the room. (This differs from background music hot water central heating systems, in which a portion of the heat through the pipes on the way to the radiators and the boiler can be lost.) Therefore could argue that all electric heaters equal in efficiency than the energy in the put the radiators is the same amount of heat.
So the above questions can not be answered by looking at efficiency, but the key to choosing the best electric heater is to decide which would be most effective in your specific situation.
This article is designed to help clear information and facts, choose the electric heating product, best to give the heater to your unique lifestyle and needs. This will then enable you to potential waste of energy, which in turn help reduce the amount of fuel you use, therefore reducing the cost of your electricity bill and your impact on the environment.
Whichever form of electric heating you choose, we always recommend looking at the various utilities to compare the rates on pricing because the cost of electricity can vary considerably, prices will not only between providers but also offered between the wide varieties of tariffs of each vary suppliers.
Below we have a summary of electric heating options available on the market detailing their advantages and disadvantages, so you choose which option is best for your home is provided.
Electric heaters or electric heaters usually come in two different styles:
Heat storage or
- On demand heaters, namely;
- Radiant heating;
- Convectors and
- Liquid-filled electric radiators.
Heat storage
These take advantage of the cheaper electricity, the economy is on a night tariff. Current is to heat ceramic bricks inside the heater overnight, then "save" the heat and slowly release it gradually over the course of the following day. Heat storage has historically been seen as the only real alternative to gas central heating and are still a common sight in homes across the UK.
Example: Using a heat requires memory in a room, 1 kW of heat
Require a heat store, which consumes about 3.2 kilowatts or kW per hour.
Economy 7 tariff = 7 hours of electricity at a cheaper price during the night.
Thermal storage to "charge" for this 7 hours consume 3.2 kW per hour for 7 hours set.
Consumed a total of 22.4kW per night.
Gives 22.4kW the heat consumed over a period of 24 hours 0.933kW = heat capacity of heat per hour.
This means that storage heaters are efficient, as much as they give all the energy they consume, but they do consume a lot of energy. Interestingly, storage heaters were originally developed during the strikes of the late seventies, and it is an argument that the government promoted their use at this time because they are keen to keep running the power plants around the country were dependent on the coal industry.
Heat storage offer a practical solution for many homeowners, such as how the heat is released throughout the day, heat storage are better suited for people who are retired or at home all day. Alternatively, if you work full time and do not require heating during the day, storage heaters may not be the best option released as heat, even if you are not there, what to be unnecessary energy waste.
The type of heat storage it is harder to control than "on demand" heating products. For example, consider the following scenarios:
They spontaneously decide to go for the day, but you have already paid the heating for that day;
You go on vacation and turn off the heater, but it is not a "charge" in the heater when you return, meaning time sitting in a cold house, and
You might want to turn off the heating in the summer, but an unexpected cold snap could mean you need to do an urgent "boost" on the heaters during the day, would have been charged with a high peak rate.
This lack of controllability makes homeowners hesitant from the given hour charge time and differ in practice.
As a heat storage age may break their inner insulation, what consumes heat too quickly and so additional heating may be necessary later in the day, this would be additional heating at the tip are calculated per hour, rather than the savings rate. Note that the peak prices on Economy fares are significantly higher than at any time in non-economy rates and these rates generally apply to all devices used during peak hours, not only radiator.
Heat storage are often considered unattractive and the nature of their construction, they are quite bulky protruding significantly into a room.
On demand heaters
The following 3 forms of electrical heating consume electricity "on demand" as opposed heat storage. "On demand" heating products allow you to only turn on the heater when you need heat, and turn it off when you do not need heat. This makes it the better option for the prevention of waste of energy, since it only the radiator and, if necessary, and there is no need to second guess what will do the weather 24 hours in advance, what British especially with the unpredictable climate. On-demand heaters are with regular, non-economy electricity tariffs that do not use cheaper usually used night rates.
For example, when using requires an on-demand in a space heating, heat 1kW
- Requires an on-demand heater that consumes 1 kW per hour.
- Standard electricity price = same rate at all times of the day.
- For someone who works at 09.00 clock clock 05.00, set on-demand heater timer to come on at 7 clock in the morning to 08:00 and 06:00 to 11 clock, so consumes 1kW per hour for 6 hours.
- Consumed a total of 6 kW per day provide a heat output of 1 kW of heat per hour.
This example shows a significant reduction in the amount of energy from someone, the standard hours of work used; when comparing a heat reservoir with an on demand heater, despite the electricity at a higher rate than the rates for the Economy 7 tariff this could still the cheapest option in this type of scenario.
On demand heating products, as described below, generally a better solution than heat storage to the question "what is the most efficient radiator?"
Radiant heating panels are either hollow or, more commonly, are a closed unit. An electric element inside the cooler, which is heated and radiates heat uniformly concealed from the front of the radiator. Radiant heat is absorbed by the furniture, fabrics and carpet in a room, so that the heat for longer. This type of heater is particularly good for people with allergies dust as flat screen makes it easy to clean and they do not "convect" heat or increased air flow to heat a room, these factors help to reduce the amount of dust in circulation in a room.
Convectors or heating systems that make use of convection, warm a room by the principle that hot air rises. Electric convector heaters usually consist of a hollow case, top and bottom with a visible open coil heating element. (Often when these heaters are turned on and you are in them, you can see the heating element glowing red inside of the radiator.) Convection heater works by creating a cycle of air circulation, cool air comes from the bottom of the radiator, it is from the bottom the radiator peeled and then heated and rises or "convected" as it passes, the heating element emitting warm air from the top of the cooler. This warm air rises to the ceiling, cools and falls back to the ground then repeats the process. Electric heaters also operate on the same principle, the only major difference is that the fan forces air over the electric element to the acceleration of the movement of hot air. This means that heater will blow warm air in a room very quickly, but once they are off, the room will cool down almost immediately. Heaters, sometimes the cause of black dots can be seen on the walls of the convection heaters work, these caused by the rest of the dust drawn upwardly into the radiator and the open burned member.
Liquid-filled electrical heaters work in a manner similar to surface heating type heater, they are sealed units having an internal heating element that releases this heat to the outer case, the elements are in a liquid such as oil, water and corrosion or submerged heat carrier / gel instead . dry Depending on the design of the radiator, the heat generated entirely radiation or a combination of radiation and convection. Historically, oil was used to fill electric heaters. But water is now becoming more common because it provides a clean way, for example, The National Trust, used with water-filled electric heaters because they do not want to risk with oil, could lead to a historic property or its contents damage.
So in summary, a cooler is designed for only one vessel can depend inserted energy in the form of heat and the amount of heat that is a radiator publications on the amount of energy, this is particularly important for electric heaters, where they perform at about 100% efficiency.
Heat storage, a large amount of cheap electricity, but lacks controllability what a waste of energy. "On demand" heaters use less power and offer greater flexibility, but this power is not on an economy fare.
Convection immediately warms the air in a room, but the heat dissipates almost immediately turned off as the heat source. Radiant heat takes longer to heat a room, because it heats objects not only the air, but that means that the room stays warm much longer.
In practice, there are many aspects that will determine the best cooler (s) for your project including your lifestyle such as hours worked, size restrictions, interior design, budget and availability, your choice will be governed by the priority factors. The research shows that when it comes to heating, there is no magic "one-size fits all" solution.
For more advice on choosing the most effective electric heating product to speak with an electric heater specialists.
Posted by Helena Gerwitz, General Manager of Feature Radiators, a leading UK retailers and distributors of electric radiators and electric heating systems.
Feature Radiators is a one-stop shop for all the high performance, stylish electric heating at competitive prices.
Our electrical collection consists of the best contemporary, designer, traditional cast iron made electric radiators and heated towel rails on the market in terms of quality, design and value for money.
Electrical products are our exclusive IRad range of radiators, which wirelessly connect to a centrally controlled electric heating system that is easy to install, easy to use and comfortable offer for the eye, and our electric cast iron range, perfect for use in old buildings, where piped central heating can not be installed or extended.
With a variety of electric models on display in our showroom, West Yorkshire, expert advice, unrivaled customer service and nationwide delivery, we are widely recognized as the UK's leading electric heating specialists....
