Perfect partners
Mark Derbyshire, Commercial Director for Heatline, explains how radiators and underfloor heating (UFH) can be used together to provide an efficient and cost-effective heating solution – alongside high efficiency condensing boilers and even with renewable technologies.
Growing pressure to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and media interest surrounding the future of our environment has led to a surge in the popularity of renewable technologies. Updates to Part L of the Building Regulations and the Government’s Renewable Energy Strategy indicate that the long term future for alternative technologies is assured and place efficiency firmly at the top of the agenda.
Whether it is solar thermal, biomass or heat pump technology, there are a variety of renewable options for a homeowner to consider. However, in the current economic climate, when there is a trend to improve rather than move and a real focus on monthly outgoings, more and more people are turning to their local installer for advice about the most cost effective way to improve energy efficiency within their home.
The most straightforward solution is to replace an ageing boiler with a high efficiency condensing model. If done properly, this can help householders make estimated annual fuel savings in the region of £275 per year.
To deliver these financial benefits, condensing boilers need to operate at lower flow temperatures than the older models. This is where UFH can play its part given that it typically operates in a temperature range of between 30 and 45ºC. However, the cost of fitting UFH throughout a building and then replacing all of the flooring can sometimes be too high to consider and, in some cases, may not even be possible.
Radiators, on the other hand, can be fitted in almost any space and setting and, when sized correctly, offer competitive efficiency and heat outputs in addition to keeping the full project costs to a more reasonable level.
Sometimes a complementary solution will involve fitting UFH in a bathroom or kitchen, where flooring material such as carpets do not act as obstacles or heat barriers, and then fitting radiators in the rest of the home. This results in an updated heating system for a lower cost, while still increasing system efficiency.
This combination approach also provides installers with the opportunity to build on their relationship with the end-user by stressing the benefits of complete system efficiency. After all, there is no point in having an efficient condensing boiler and UFH installed if the rest of the radiators in the house are not sized correctly.
By going back to basics, thoroughly checking all building dimensions and completing accurate heat-loss calculations, an installer can ensure all radiators are correctly specified to deliver increased homeowner comfort levels. The quality of the radiators should also be examined because, even if they were the right size when originally installed, they may now be suffering from old age and be leaking, rusting or corroding – all of which can impact on the overall effectiveness of the system.
Looking even further ahead, the same principles can be applied to help maximise the efficiency of renewable/alternative technologies.
UFH is regularly championed as a perfect partner for heat pumps, Micro-CHP and Biomass boilers again because of its large surface area and excellent performance at lower flow temperatures. However, as with the condensing boiler - both UFH and correctly-sized radiator systems can, and indeed are, being used together to provide an efficient and cost-effective domestic heating solution with new renewable technologies.
These fully efficient heating systems not only provide long term financial benefits for the homeowner, they result in more radiator orders for the installer and give them an edge in a highly competitive market as satisfied customers increase the number of word-of-mouth referrals – one of the most effective ways to generate new business.
With over 50 years experience in the heating industry, combined with the backing of Europe’s largest heating manufacturer, Heatline fully understands the key role radiators play in delivering optimal domestic heating efficiency. We are committed to delivering high quality, cost effective heating solutions for installers that meet the challenges we face today but also provide a flexible platform for future growth and expansion.