How Do Compact Heaters Produce Enough Heat for the Room?

In certain rooms, and under certain conditions, compact heaters are most appropriate choice of heater. However, some people avoid using them entirely because they assume that their size means that they do not provide sufficient heat. 

 

 This is simply not true. Compact radiators and heaters can produce sufficient warmth for the room. As long as you’ve sized it correctly and chosen a heater/radiator that provides the correct amount of British thermal units per hour for the size of the room.

The reason that the myth exists (i.e. the myth that smaller radiators are worse) is because older radiators had single panels. In those days, the size of the radiator (in height, width, and length) had a direct relationship with the amount of heat that unit could produce.

This is no longer the case. Today, we have improved the technology to such an extent that we can derive a lot of heat from a small radiator. Certainly in comparison to older radiators, compact heaters and radiators can be vastly more efficient.

Why are compact radiators more efficient than many people supposed? It comes down to advances in technology. Here are some of these technologies:

1. Multi panels:

The myth that size matters has a grain of truth in it. It is not size per se that matters, but surface area. If you can increase the surface area of a radiator, then you can increase the amount of heat that it can produce.

One way of doing this is to increase the number of panels in a radiator. Older radiators consisted of a single panel, but nowadays many radiators have triple panels, and the vast majority have at least two panels.

This means that a compact heater with triple panels measuring 1m x .5m will produce more heat than a larger radiator of 3m x 1.5m.

2. Convector fins:

This is another way to increase surface area. The fins sit between the panels in a zigzag fashion and increase the surface area by a significant degree. Some radiators have double fins.

These two technologies alone mean that compact radiators are far more efficient than they used to be, and that they can produce more heat that many people assume. The important thing when looking for new radiators is to buy a unit that provides enough British thermal units per hour for the room.

Are you interested in buying new radiators? If you are, please visit http://www.designerradiatorsdirect.co.uk/.

How to Lower Your Heating Bills

Home-heating bills in the UK represent the fifth biggest cost for households following rent/mortgage, food, transport, and council tax. Each month, the average household spends £100 on heating bills. 

 

 Given this relatively large expense, it makes sense for us to find ways to minimise our heating bills. Today, we have collected a number of tips that will help you to save money on your bills.

Tip 1: Look for a Better Deal

There are two options here:

1. First, you can check with your existing supplier to see if they have a better tariff for you. If you are happy with your supplier and are reluctant to move suppliers, which can potentially open you up to some common problems, such as poor administration, then this is the best option.

2. Secondly, you can use a price comparison site and find the best deal for your area. Some families are saving as much as £300 a year by changing suppliers. It’s quite impressive, especially if you are with one of the big six companies, who tend to charge more for their energy than the smaller companies do.

Tip 2: Bleed the Radiator

You should bleed your radiator once or twice a year to get rid of trapped air in the system. This air will make the system less efficient.

As it is, many people never check their radiators at all. This means that it’s highly likely that their system is inefficient, and as such, that they are paying a lot more for their heating bills than is necessary.

Be sure to bleed your radiators at least once a year, including compact radiators. Some people seem to assume that smaller radiators require bleeding less often. This is not true – all your radiators should be bled at least once a year.

Tip 3: Have an Annual Boiler Service

It’s much better to take preventative action when it comes to your radiators, rather than waiting for something to go wrong.

You should have your boiler serviced each year to ensure that it is safe and running efficiently. This can save you a lot of money in the end and help to address problems and issues before they happen.

Following this advice will help you to save money on your heating bills.

Why You Might Consider a Professional Cleaner to Clean Your Radiators

You might think that keeping your radiators clean is relatively easy. All you have to do is a quick dust and a quick sponge down every now and again, right? 

Wrong, it’s actually more complicated than this. In order to look after your radiators correctly, it’s important that you follow the correct procedures. This means keeping them clean from dust (all over, including the convector fins) and making sure that when you clean them, you ensure that you dry them properly too.

However, sometimes it’s better to use a professional cleaning service to clean your radiators. Below, we’re going to look at some of the reasons why you might consider this option:

1. If you haven't cleaned the radiators in a while.

Many people completely neglect their radiators when it comes to their cleaning routine. This means that the dust and debris can build up over time and make it difficult to remove without damaging the radiator.

If your radiator hasn’t been cleaned in a while, it might be worth calling in the professionals. They’ll know which lotions and potions to use that will prevent the radiator from becoming damaged.

Harsh chemicals and abrasive materials will damage your radiator. If you have nice radiators, such as vertical designer radiators, then you should call in a professional to deal with tough stains. This will help keep your radiators safe, and, if something does go wrong, they will be liable for the damage, rather than you.

2. If you have rust spots and other signs of corrosion.

If your radiators have rust spots and other signs of corrosion, then you should call the professionals in to help you to remove this. Rust and corrosion are problematic for two reasons. First, it can lead to leaks, which can damage your property. Secondly, it can make the radiators less efficient, meaning that they cost you more in energy bills than you should be paying.

Getting rid of rust and corrosion is quite difficult. Calling in the professionals will ensure that the job is done properly, and that you don’t damage your radiators, especially if you do have vertical designer radiators!

As you can appreciate, it sometimes makes sense to call in the professional cleaners. This isn't necessarily the case, but it’s definitely something worth considering – especially if you have expensive designer radiators, which are not easy to replace.