HEATING , VENTILATION & INSULATION
MAXIMISING ENERGY EFFICIENCY : RADIATORS & HEAT PUMPS
As heat pumps become more and more popular , Nick Duggan , MD at The Radiator Centre answers our questions on which radiators are best to use with these systems and how to maximise energy efficiency .
WHY MIGHT I NEED DIFFERENT RADIATORS FOR A HEAT PUMP ?
Heat pumps work at lower temperatures than conventional boilers and as a consequence , they will heat a room to a lower temperature as well . Traditional radiators are designed for highertemperature systems and therefore may not work as effectively with a heat pump , leading to reduced heating efficiency . To compensate for this , it ’ s likely that you will either need larger radiators than you currently have or more energy efficient ones . Radiators designed for heat pumps are optimised to operate efficiently with the lower temperature output of the heat pump .
WHAT ARE THE MOST EFFICIENT RADIATORS TO USE WITH A HEAT PUMP ?
Radiators with more surface area are best as they can transfer heat more effectively into the surrounding space , although this doesn ' t always have to mean larger radiators . Energy efficient radiators are designed to maximise the amount heat generated and often includes features like fins , convectors , or other elements that increase the surface area available for heat exchange in more clever , discreet ways .
These energy-efficient radiators also include an optimised heat exchanger , which uses 90 % less water than is used in standard radiators , meaning less energy is needed to heat the water up . This also brings other advantages in that the radiators take less time to heat up and you lower your carbon footprint at the same time . For hard to heat areas many energy-efficient designs also come with a fanassisted ‘ boost ’ that can generate up to three times the amount of heat that a conventional radiator would generate .
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