Radiators Feature
Heating, Ventilation & Services
Manage heating the easy way
Nicola Martin at RadiWarm explains the simplicity and efficiency of electric pipeless radiators.
F
or landlords and housing managers, heating presents some pressing challenges; sharply rising prices and the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions, to name but two. In terms of solutions, we hear a lot about
heat pumps and solar panels, and rightly so. Electric pipeless radiators are also a good solution for both landlords and tenants but are not as well-known as they deserve to be. Furthermore, while some new heating appliances require expensive infrastructure that can be disruptive and time-consuming to install, pipeless radiators, by contrast, are a simple plug-and-play solution, needing only a standard 3-prong plug. Until recently, pipeless radiators were generally used as an additional heat
source, but that is changing; nowadays they are being specified as the main heating system in housing and apartments.
EFFICIENT Two stand-out benefits are their controllability and energy efficiency achieved whilst maintaining a comfortable ambient temperature similar to a traditional “wet” system. How is all this achieved? Te answer is smart radiators. Tey are oſten water or silica-sand filled and contain, for example, an internal miniature boiler, pump and thermostat with soſtware to manage temperatures. So when
a room reaches the preset temperature, the soſtware will switch to eco-saving mode to maintain it. For the duration of the programme, typically it only needs to consume electricity for 1/3 of that time and then is switched off for the remaining 2/3 of the period. Another reason they consume so little energy is that there is no hidden pipework (as in a conventional heating system) which wastes heat. And as they are electric, they are obviously more sustainable than oil or gas.
HOW IT WORKS Landlords and managers like the ease and speed of installation compared to conventional heating systems (no floorboards to take up nor external pumps or pipework to fit). Usually the radiators arrive fully sealed, ready to be mounted on wall brackets in a matter of minutes. Standard wall brackets are usually included in the price. Once that’s done, landlords know there is almost no on-going maintenance – no need for flushing, bleeding, topping up nor annual service checks. All this saves money and avoids inconvenience for tenants. Most pipeless ranges are offered in a variety of sizes sometimes including
upright ones for tight spaces or with special thin shells for small rooms. Many manufacturers offer interactive guides to help calculate the correct size of
www.housingmmonline.co.uk | HMMFebruary/March 2022 | 49
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