If, like many other homeowners in the UK, you are thinking of making the switch to energy efficient electric radiators, there are a few things you should know. One of those things is how to correctly size a radiator for your property. While it's not complicated, it's something that some people do overlook and take for granted. Picking the right sized radiator for the right room is essential for maximising energy efficiency - something that could ultimately help you shave pounds off your energy bill.
When choosing an electric radiator there are many factors to consider when choosing the right brand. What's the thermostat like? How advanced is the programming? How is the heat distributed and is it cost effective? All of these questions and more should be right at the top of your list when you're looking to buy an electric radiator (or even a set of electric radiators), but don't forget to look at the what sizes that range of radiator comes in too.
Most ranges of electric radiators will come in a variety of sized, from small 450w units to bigger, more powerful 4000w units. The size of radiator you choose will have a direct impact on how efficiently it works. One of the traps people often fall into when choosing an electric radiator is picking a size simply because it's 'what fits' in the physical space they've allocated in their minds. If you choose a radiator based purely on measurements, because the 450w model is more compact and fits in between your table and sofa, you might run into some problems - particularly if you're talking about a relatively large room.
Why will a small radiator work less efficiently in a larger room?
Let's address one of the traps people often fall into and explain why this might be a bad idea. We'll take our best selling model, the RC Wave Designer Electric Radiator to use as an example here. The way the RC Wave works has energy efficiency in mind from the outset. You program the schedule, set the thermostat (you can even have different temperatures at different times of the day if you wish), and then let it get to work.
Once the radiator detects that the room has reached the desired temperature, it'll click itself off and stop consuming power. When the temperature begins to dip, it'll click back on and start consuming power again. What makes the RC Wave special (and a good example in this case) is that it's thermostat is accurate to within fractions of a degree.
So the radiator clicks on and off every few minutes to maintain a room temperature for you, with a very accurate scale. Becuase of this level of accuracy and the way the radiator works, for every hour it's on it might only consume power for maybe, 20 minutes. That's because it 'tops up' the heat when it needs to and monitors the surroundings carefully.
Now, if you select a small radiator and pop it in a large room, you basically negate this function - so one of the radiator's priory mechanisms for saving energy essentially becomes broken. A small radiator in a large room might well be able to heat the room up, but it won't work efficiently because it will have to work constantly to maintain the temperature, struggling and consuming power all of the time (instead of clicking on and off as you'd expect)
Picking a radiator that is the right size for your room will ensure this function is not lost, and will make it a very worthwhile investment indeed. Reemember, if you need any help at all with choosing the right sized radiator for your room, we have a very simple formula for working out what amount of wattage is preferable based on the size (in meters squared) of your room. If you have any concerns or trouble when selecting what size might be best, our friendly team here at Electric Radiators Direct are on standby to talk you through it and make recommendations. We'll even deliver you a quote via email at no cost and no obligation. What've you got to lose?
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Eco Stores Direct are here to bring you the very latest in energy news, views and opinions from across the UK. They are also suppliers of energy efficient electric heating solutions and are constantly assessing the market for the best products and the latest ground-breaking technology which they think will make a real difference to their customer's homes. Eco Stores Direct are devoted to helping you reduce your carbon footprint and bring down your energy bills and they work hard to raise awareness of energy efficient products that can make all the difference. For more information on their range of energy efficient designer electric radiators or designer Infrared panel heaters, call one of their friendly team today on 0330 300 4444 for a free assessment.