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Radiator under the window
How to choose a good radiator: 5 criteria
The right power
The power of a radiator is expressed in watts. It depends on the volume to be heated, but also on the type of room and the ideal temperature desired by the user. In a well-insulated house, an average of 93 W/m3 is needed to heat a bathroom at 24 °C, 85 W/m3 for a living room at 22 °C, 77 W/m3 for a kitchen at 20 °C and 70 W/m3 for a room at 18°C. If the house is not well insulated, the power will have to be higher. In a room larger than 25 m2, it is better to install two or three smaller wattage radiators, rather than just one large one, to better distribute the heat.
With electric radiators it is estimated that 750 W are needed to heat a space of 5 to 9 m2, and more than 1500 W for a room of more than 20 m2. With a low temperature model (electric or gas), 70 W are needed per cubic meter of room volume. With central heating (oil or gas), there are 50 W per cubic meter.
The materials
Dense and heavy cast iron offers excellent thermal return and preserves air quality, but takes a long time to heat up. It is mainly used for central heating radiators. Cheap steel is used for basic convectors, as well as radiant and radiant models. Without inertia, it heats and cools quickly. Like the latter, aluminum heats up and cools quickly, but it is lighter and has better structural quality. Used for radiant or inertia radiators, it is often combined with other materials for more performance: glycol oil for a fluid inertia model, ceramic, soapstone or volcanic stone for dry inertia. Lava stone offers a very high heating value. It is the material that best accumulates heat, then restore it slowly and evenly. Additionally, lava heaters are the least bulky of the inertial models. Soapstone accumulates a lot of heat in a small area. Beware of reconstituted soapstone, based on a cement binder, which is much less efficient. As for ceramics, it is an excellent material for fluid inertia radiators. Restores heat evenly and gradually.
Electric heaters
Convectors, often nicknamed “toasters,” are the first generation of electric heaters. They remain inefficient and dry out the air. They rise in temperature quickly, but do not regain heat once extinguished. Its only advantage: the price. Radiant and radiant models produce infrared rays and provide comfort similar to the heat of the sun. Inertial radiators represent the new generation of heat emitters. They can be fluid inertia (contain glycol or mineral oil) or dry inertia (soapstone, ceramic, volcanic stone heating core, etc.). With the latter, it is the material itself that stores and releases heat. Soft heat radiators consist of a cast iron or aluminum radiating front panel heated by a first resistance and a stone or liquid heating core with a second resistance. The radiator does not exceed 70°C. The heat is very pleasant, homogeneous and the air does not dry out. Storage models are made of refractory material to store a lot of heat and release it for a long time (up to 8 hours of heating once turned off). Therefore, they can operate during off-peak hours and be turned off during peak hours, but they have the disadvantage of being bulky and heavy. Storage models are made of refractory material to store a lot of heat and release it for a long time (up to 8 hours of heating once turned off). Therefore, they can operate during off-peak hours and be turned off during peak hours, but they have the disadvantage of being bulky and heavy. Storage models are made of refractory material to store a lot of heat and release it for a long time (up to 8 hours of heating once turned off). Therefore, they can operate during off-peak hours and be turned off during peak hours, but they have the disadvantage of being bulky and heavy.
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