Kitchen Electric Radiators
Customer Questions
Kitchens are uniquely suited to benefit from the precision heating control offered by electric radiators because temperatures fluctuate more widely in this area than in any other room in the house. Cooking, cleaning, boiling water and the use of other electrical appliances often means that the temperature in the kitchen is higher than in the rest of the house – but few heating systems are adapted to compensate for the additional heat. Even on the coldest winter evenings you can find yourself sweating with the back door open as your central heating system overheats your kitchen whilst you cook a roast dinner, set the washing machine running and boil up some vegetables – wasting energy while the rest of your house is comparably chilly. Worse still, you might have your central heating thermostat mounted in the kitchen where it can switch off your entire heating system when it senses a rise in the kitchen temperature – regardless of the real temperature of the rest of your house!
Electric radiators can overcome this problem with high precision thermostats which respond immediately to changes in room temperature without having an impact on the other rooms in your house. When the thermostat senses that the temperature has risen above set levels it will switch the radiator off until the temperature returns below the required level. This will ensure you don’t waste energy heating a room which is already being kept comfortably warm by the efforts of your kitchen appliances! Meanwhile, the rest of the radiators in your house will use their own thermostats to maintain comfort temperatures elsewhere accurately and independently – so fluctuations of the temperature in the kitchen will not affect your bedroom, living room or bathroom.
The most effective radiators for kitchen heating will be those which offer the fastest response times; electric radiators with aluminium elements typically heat up and cool down the fastest, so a Haverland RC Wave or Haverland SmartWave electric radiator would be ideal for use in your kitchen.
To truly take advantage of the energy saving potential of electric radiators you should always choose a radiator with a built in thermostat. The thermostat will ensure you’re only ever using the minimum energy required to maintain your set temperatures, whilst making sure your rooms never drop below your chosen comfort levels.
An electric radiator with built in thermostat can be particularly cost effective in a kitchen because the thermostat will switch the radiator off whenever the heat from the oven and other cooking appliances raises the room temperature to a level that does not require additional heating.
Choosing a radiator with built in programming control can also be advantageous in your kitchen. A programmable timer allows you to set a heating schedule for each day of every week – so you can adapt your heating in each room to suit your lifestyle. Many of us only use our kitchens at certain times of the day, and a programmable timer allows us to take advantage of this fact. Always cook dinner between 6pm and 8pm? Set your kitchen radiators to maintain a comfortable temperature of 21 ˚C. Only visit your kitchen to make quick cups of tea after 8pm? Maybe you could reduce the heat to an economy temperature of 16 ˚C. Never set foot in your kitchen between 9am and 5pm on a weekday because you’re at work? You can programme your radiators to switch off altogether during the day and warm up ready for your return. It’s a simple idea that uses smart technology to make big savings on your heating bills.
Electric radiators are a safe and practical choice for kitchen heating. Unlike gas central heating boilers they do not contain fuel burning elements so cannot produce carbon monoxide.
Electric radiators must not be installed within reaching distance of sources of running water, such as your sink. For guidance on safe locations for fitting kitchen radiators, give our sales team a call on 0330 300 4444.
The size of the electric radiators you will need for your kitchen will depend on the size of the room, the quality of the insulation and the type of property you are heating. You can use our radiator wattage calculator to work out the total wattage required from your radiators to heat the room efficiently. You will then need to choose a radiator or combination of radiators which add up to the required wattage.
If your kitchen has a ceiling height of more than 2.7m you may require more powerful radiators to adequately heat the space. If you have a high ceilinged property we recommend speaking to our expert sales advisors before purchasing. The team will be happy to provide you with a free quote based on the dimensions of your room, along with any additional guidance you need to make the best choice for your home.
