What are Radiant Heaters?

What are Radiant heaters?

Radiant heaters work differently from steel convection heaters so if you asked the question “What are radiant heaters?” then we will try to explain the difference from the conventional steel convection heaters that are in the majority of homes and offices in the UK.

What’s the difference – heat is heat… isn’t it?

Well not quite. In most modern homes, the central heating system requires a boiler to heat water that is pumped around the building. This in turn heats up steel “radiators” which in turn heats the air nearest to them which moves around the room creating the warmth that we experience.

Steel radiators

Steel radiators are 80% convection heaters and 20% radiant heaters. They heat the air which moves around the room. This makes them inefficient and they contribute to the build-up of condensation because of the way we use them in conjunction with a central heating system.

Radiant heaters radiate the heat and warm the fabric of the building, in turn the air is heated up from the buildings walls. This is a much gentler heat.

SuperStone radiators

We all experience the radiant heat from the sun every day – when it is shining. The same principles apply to the radiant heat from one of the SuperStone radiators. The method of heating the specially developed glass reinforced concreate radiator can be by water or electricity. This heats the panel and in turn radiates the heat to the people, furniture and walls of the room. You feel the heat.

How the system works

There are three types of SuperStone radiator. Each is based on the thermal mass of the substrate, but each is heated from two power sources.

Electric SuperStone Radiators

These are both primary heaters and secondary heaters for your home or office.

The primary heater has a larger element and can be used alone to heat a room. It is intended that this heater is left on all the time building the heat in the room through radiant heating of the walls and infrastructure. By adding a thermostat control the room can be maintained at a set temperature independent of the central heating system.

Secondary heaters are also available which are run in conjunction with your normal central heating system. These are also intended to be run continuously in conjunction with the central heating system which operates as normal.

The advantage of this is they will maintain a set temperature for the room reducing the cold spots during the night and when you are not in the home and the central heating is switched off. When the central heating switches on with your timer settings it does not have to run as long, as it only has to raise the temperature from the background temperature maintained by the SuperStone panel.

To run a secondary heating panel for six months is less than the winter heating allowance that all people over 65 years of age receive in the UK.

Water Heated SuperStone Radiators

These are primary heaters, they are fitted into your central heating system and work like the steel radiators but give you better, gentler heating for the home.
Because of the thermal mass of the SuperStone panel the cycle time – the time the central heating system switches on and off – is reduced. This saves energy and reduces your fuel bills.

From testing we have found up to 27.8% reduction in cost when running SuperStone radiators in the system.

Dual Fuel SuperStone radiators

These are the perfect solution to retrofit and new install heating systems. By integrating them into your central heating system in a modern insulated house will enable you to reduce your ongoing heating expenditure.

New build solutions

With modern insulation solutions as you build your new home SuperStone dual heating panels will provide the most efficient low cost heating for your new home.

How the dual fuel system works.

With the addition of thermostats in each room you will have a greater control of the overall heating in your home. This rooms that do not require a higher temperature can be altered with the individual thermostat. This is difficult in current systems as they are generally controlled by a single thermostat and all rooms are set to the temperature in the area where the thermostat is located.

The electric element is switched on when the temperature drops in late October or November. For the best results and lowest overall cost, the electric element should be left on through the cold months reducing condensation and mould build up.

When your timer switches the central heating on first thing in the morning it has an easy job. It only has to warm your home up by a few degrees as the maintained temperature from the overnight electric element has maintained a temperature of around 16 degrees. The central heating will only need to be run for a short period to bring the temperature up to a comfort temperature of 22 degrees. Your room thermostats will switch off when the temperature rises to 22 and the electric element will also switch off when the central heating kicks in.

Heating Decorating

The stylish plain panels will receive a wide range of paints and can be painted to suite your interior décor or you could add a little artistic and creative style with one of the art panels.

SuperStone radiant heaters have a wide range of colours available for purchase in the SuperStone shop.

Take a look at the range of panels available in the SuperStone shop and purchase directly from us.

So if you have asked the question What are Radiant heaters? you now have the answer and where to buy them.