Size is everything
Mark Derbyshire, Commercial Director for Heatline, explains how radiators play a fundamental role in improving the efficiency of domestic heating systems and examines the benefits that right-sizing can offer independent merchants.
Energy efficiency has undoubtedly been one of the most intensely discussed topics of 2009 and looks set to be placed even higher on the agenda in 2010. This represents a great opportunity for merchants to encourage an overhaul of old, inefficient technology and promote products that ensure the whole heating system is more efficient, while also building a reputation among installers as a forward thinking and knowledgeable business.
The heating industry is currently facing some of its biggest challenges to date with stricter legislation, rising fuel costs and Government pressure all focusing minds on the promise of a greener, more energy efficient future.
Couple this with the fact that more homeowners are staying put and investing in improvements to their current property rather than moving and it’s clear why more and more installers are being asked to replace and upgrade outdated, inefficient boilers.
However, the required energy and cost savings can only be achieved if new heating technologies are supported by a completely efficient heating system.
The decision to replace radiators at the same time as the boiler is often overlooked perhaps due to customers wanting to save money and use the existing equipment or due to an assumption that the current radiators were correctly installed originally.
It is possible, however, that existing radiators may have been fitted at aesthetic proportions as opposed to the size recommended to heat the room. In addition, radiators may not be operating at their most efficient if they were not professionally installed, regularly maintained or are simply too old.
In certain cases, residue building up within a radiator can cause cold spots and potentially move around the central heating system, causing damage to the new boiler or pump and having a negative impact on overall heating efficiency.
Simply incorporating high quality, correctly sized radiators into the design of a heating system upgrade will give the newly installed technology the best chance to improve energy efficiency and deliver significant cost-savings for the customer in the long term. In addition, this gives merchants and installers a clear opportunity to promote the sale of radiator products as an essential part of any heating upgrade solution.
Customers meanwhile will benefit from the reduced energy bills and improved heating comfort that inspired the need for an upgrade in the first place. Increased customer satisfaction will therefore drive installer business, which in turn creates more merchant sales opportunities and greater profits.
While there are some that believe radiators will eventually be replaced by technology such as underfloor heating (UFH), the sometimes unwelcome financial outlay and customer disruption required to install it in many older properties underline the fact that radiators, now more than ever, have a fundamental role to play in ensuring efficiency in the domestic heating market.
What is more, radiators can also be installed in conjunction with renewable technologies and, when sized and installed correctly, provide a pragmatic and cost effective solution to customers looking to maximize the efficiency of their properties through renewables technology heating solutions such as heat pumps, Micro-CHP and Biomass boilers.
Drawing on fifty years of experience in the heating industry, Heatline is keen to promote radiators as an essential efficiency solution and recognises the profitability that radiator sales offer to merchants. We are committed to working together with our network of independent merchants to offer installers and customers the best possible advice on right-sizing and to jointly explore the many and varied opportunities for promoting and selling radiator products throughout the UK.