Radiators Work Well With Heat Pumps….. Official!

Here in the UK the changing nature of the heating sector is seeing companies like Stelrad needing to adjust to the new requirements of the heating sector, in particular to meet the demands of the new renewable heating systems that are becoming ever more popular. The rise and rise of the heat pump marketplace is seeing the need for larger and higher capacity radiators.

Stelrad has responded to these needs by broadening its already massive range of sizes and shapes for its most popular radiators and the introduction of in particular, 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. Stelrad continues to mount its ‘Fit for the Future’ campaign, highlighting that despite what you might see and read, radiators are very much able to provide the levels of comfort heating and hot water required in UK homes, when paired with heat pumps.

Stelrad offers a simple to use and free radiator sizing and heat loss calculator along with a Renewables Advice page on its website. Facts and helpful information are also shared through a free to take CPD also available on its website, to anyone – not myths and misleading statements. The arrival of the new upgrade to Building Regulations with effect from 15th June in England and from November last year in Wales brings with it a realisation that the key figure to bear in mind is 55°C – the maximum flow temperature for all new wet heating systems from this date. The regulations also say that heating appliances and radiators should not be oversized. TRVs need to be fitted to every radiator except where there is a room thermostat fitted.

The differential between the flow and return should be 10°C – giving a 45°C return, and a mean water temperature of 50°C. This will have an impact on radiators but simply means that sizing of radiators is more important than ever and Stelrad is offering all the advice you could need through their website to point installers and specifiers in the right direction with regard to using the right radiators in the right applications.

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. www.stelrad.com