Radiators work well with heat pumps...official!

The rise and rise of the heat pump is seeing the need for larger and higher capacity radiators. Stelrad has responded to these needs by broadening its already massive range for its most popular radiators and the introduction of a wider range of vertical radiators. It is also meeting the enhanced need for its K3 radiators – with three panels and three fins - offering 50% more heating capacity from a radiator with the same footprint as a K2 format radiator, for example.

As heat pumps become more widely accepted and increasingly used in new build developments around the country, the use of K3 radiators is expected to multiply many times over until they are almost the ‘norm’ for UK homes.

Much thought has gone into the latest radiator developments and it’s all to ensure that the radiators available from Stelrad are ‘fit for the future’ – able to continue providing the levels of heat required in homes in the UK to keep everyone comfortable.

And good news for buyers and specifiers of radiators – Stelrad has announced a more than 30% price reduction in its K3 radiators with effect from 1st May 2023.

Low temperature heating systems have brought with them perhaps understandable questions that installers and specifiers want answers to. Can we still use products we use now with traditional boiler driven heating systems if the heat source is a heat pump? Is there anything we need to consider that we take for granted nowadays? The answer is of course yes – we need to look closely at how to ensure that the heat generated is shared effectively in the new home or the existing home that is having its heating system upgraded.

In new build housing, using a heat pump-based solution is a relatively simple solution. The heating system can be designed into the home at the outset so you know the parameters in which the heating system has to operate – the method of construction, the size of the rooms, the number, type and size of doors and windows – so the heat loss calculations can be done up front and radiators sized accordingly. The levels of insulation can be agreed at the outset that will provide the best support for any heating system chosen, whether radiators or underfloor heating. The key to radiators operating well in any situation is to size them properly at the outset, which involves accurately working out heat loss calculations to achieve the necessary number of BTUs required to provide comfort heating in each room and to select a radiator that can provide that level of heating.

“...can radiators work well with air source heat pumps? Very definitely yes, they can - and they already are in a host of installations across the UK.”

Stelrad offers a simple to use and free radiator sizing and heat loss calculator along with a Renewables Advice page on its website at www.stelrad.ie. Facts and helpful information are also shared through a free to take CPD also available on its website, to anyone.

So, do we need to ditch radiators altogether and look for alternatives as some are suggesting?

The answer is a resounding no. Radiators are very much ‘fit for the future’ but as always, correct sizing will need to be undertaken to ensure that they keep the home warm and cosy.

But can radiators work well with air source heat pumps? Very definitely yes, they can - and they already are in a host of installations across the UK. Head for www.stelrad.com for more information. You can call for information on 0844 543 6200 or email marketing@stelrad.com. Alternatively, you can also see regular updates from Stelrad on Twitter @Stelrad and Facebook @StelradRadiators.