Nicola Martin at RadiWarm explains the simplicity and efficiency of electric pipeless radiators
For 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? The answer is smart radiators. They are often water or silica-sand filled and contain, for example, an internal miniature boiler, pump and thermostat with software to manage temperatures. So when a room reaches the preset temperature, the software 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 radiator for any room. Additionally, some are IP44 rated, enabling them to be used in bathrooms or at least in a “Zone 2” bathroom space where there is no risk of water spray.
Different ranges have different features, some very sophisticated in terms of heating management. For anyone trying pipeless radiators for the first time, an entry-level silica-sand filled range is a good place to start.
In control
Any heating system needs a good control function. Thankfully pipeless radiators are controllable either individually or grouped into zones (say all the radiators in the bedrooms are grouped into one zone). A control system might include a programmable thermostat and timer device fitted in the home, whereby each radiator can be connected by radio frequency (RF) link to the control unit so heating can be programmed from a central point with different settings for each day of the week and for each zone, if needed. And often there are additional functions like boosts, overrides and the ability to see the heating status of each zone at a glance – the current temperature vs the target temperature. Tenants are reporting that this precise heating control noticeably contributes to lower bills.
A very useful but usually more expensive option, offered by many radiator manufacturers, is remote controllability. Using a gateway that plugs into an existing wifi router, heating programmes can be managed from a web-based app on a smartphone or tablet. In most accommodations we have seen, however, the in-home RF-based controller is specified.
Safety
Landlords know how vital safety is. Hot radiators can sometimes cause scalds or burns and the elderly are particularly vulnerable. A good idea is to choose a protective low-temperature cover for pipeless radiators which ensures they never exceed 43OC but are still warm enough to heat the space efficiently. Many low surface temperature (LST) models also meet strict NHS safety guidelines making them ideal for retirement accommodation.
When not to use
Pipeless radiators are usually designed with industry standard shells like Type 22. But where interior design is paramount, a bespoke radiator might be needed which many manufacturers cannot currently offer cost-effectively.
Although pipeless radiators are available in various sizes, some rooms have insufficient wall space or have internal walls so thin that they cannot support the radiators, not even with additional load-bearing discs.
Conclusion
Electric pipeless radiators, once considered suitable only as additions to main heating systems, are now widely specified for houses and apartments. Managers are reporting improved efficiency and lower heating bills. And with almost no on-going maintenance, they are set to become the heating system of choice for many.
Nicola Martin is sales manager at RadiWarm.