Anyone used Rointe heaters?

Richie-from-the-Boro

GrahamHampshire wrote: »

I had three Rointe radiators installed in an extension, part conservatory, it took two hours to get from 15 to 20 degrees in the morning. Rointe could not understand it and did a full heat loss assessment. The radiators were supposedly more than capable of heating the rooms, but the warm up period was so slow.

Rointe could not explain why the radiators could not achieve the 20 degree temeprature they claimed was achieveable in a reasonable time.

Rointe refunded the full cost of the radiators, but not any cost of fitting or removing them, I now have Aeroflow radiators which are radiant heat rather than the Rointe mainly convected heat.

The Aeroflow radiators heat up the room much quicker, they maintain the temperature more evenly during the day and are cheaper to run. I have checked the electrcity used with both makes of radiator and Aeroflow use about one third less electricity for a better heating performance.

All though this is my first post it is supported by detailed paperwork and is posted as a warning to try before you buy. I have no connection to either company.

- thanks for your input GrahamHampshire
- radiated heat is always much better than convected heat
- knowing the installed cost of the three Rointe radiators would be helpful to the group
- knowing the cost comparison between the installed cost of the Rionte and Aeroflow radiators would be helpful to the group

SwitheringSam

I was searching online trying to find out whether an electrical CH system is worth considering or not when I came across this thread. Only after reading 3 pages of informative and sometimes hilarious facts, opinions and comments did I realised it was dated 2009!

In the subsequent years, has any technological advancement to make an electric CH system a more economically viable option?

My situation: 2 bed flat in converted terraced building (new to me), semi-basement, listed building, solid brick walls, no gas meter (upstairs flat as gas), poor insulation, single glazed. Chimneys need work. Flat needs rewire. Has old storage system. I'm considering letting the flat out as holiday let periodically which would make me responsible for paying bills generated by people probably less stingy than me. Would prefer to get new gas supply given what I've learned on this forum but obv quite disruptive for a listed building.

Also, is it worth considering the future of national energy supply in making this decision, or is that too fracking far off? Will a drive for renewables make any headway and if so would this make electric system more sensible?

Any advice/thoughts/IMO's would be greatly appreciated.

Richie-from-the-Boro

In the subsequent years, has any technological advancement to make an electric CH system a more economically viable option?

- no - none at all, but the exponential rise in consumption, cost, and a correspondingly increasing fragility of energy security continues
- only the French built enough nuclear decades ago and have controls on cost and their own security and carbon
- hence the reason we buy megga quantities of their surplus and they own a large part of this Islands supply system

HTT insulation & chimneys

- much else could and should be done first, any money should be on insulating and reducing heat loss
- a single chimney will lose hundreds of £ per year in kWh and draughts if not sealed
- double or triple glazing to doors and widows is a good starting point before changing the heating
- Heat Loss Reduction Values are ish ! :
- - secondary glazing + insulated shutters 77%
- - secondary glazing + heavy curtains 66%
- - stand alone insulated shutters 60%
- - double-glazing 55%
- - honeycomb blinds 36%
- - modern insulated roller blinds 22%
- - internal wall insulation about £600 per room
- - chimney blank starts at about about £60 +

is it worth considering the future of national energy supply in making this decision

- no
- its never ever ever going to stop rising regardless of fracking or Putin

renewable s make any headway and if so would this make electric system more sensible

- windymills are a huge part of the cost and a very major part of the problem not part of any solution

Best of luck Sam

Smiley_Dan

yossarian_f wrote: »

Nonsense. More than 100% efficient is not possible. It is as nonsensical as saying you are 110% certain of it. IT CANNOT BE. Efficiency is the measure of how much heat energy is created from the electrical energy supplied.

While you're most likely correct with regards these Rointe heaters and other electrical resistance heaters, your wider point depends on the definition of efficiency. Heat pumps commonly release more heat energy that is used in their running, for example.

penrhyn

Note to self, don't post ironically!

Cardew

Smiley_Dan wrote: »

your wider point depends on the definition of efficiency. Heat pumps commonly release more heat energy that is used in their running, for example.

In a definition of efficiency, a heat pump is not a heater. It is an appliance to extract heat from the air/ground outside the property and transfer it into the property.


If I expend a few calories, say 200 calories, carrying a bag of coal containing, say 50,000, calories into the house - calculate my efficiency;)

CymruVilla

Hello all

I have read this thread with great interest as I have just moved to the people's republic of Cornwall and have for the first time ever come face to face with the proposition of an electric only property.

I like many others have had the 'Rointe Idea' pushed my way as the only hope for electrical heating going forward, but thankfully I have skimmed through this thread from it's inception and am grateful for the contributions of Cardew and others which has helped me think of things more objectively.

Despite doing some research this is all very new to me (I was blessed with gas in the land of my fathers) and so would appreciate some non patronising straight forward advice on the following:

I have a 3 bedroom detached bungalow with 3 storage heaters (living room, kitchen, hallway) and 3 panel heaters ( 3 bedrooms) and a fan heater in the bathroom - Water is heated my immersion heater on tank and I am on Economy 7.

I take it a Rointe conversion is not the way to go from what I have gathered from the posts on this thread, so please can I have some advice on whether I should change what I have for something better (ie more efficient and ultimately CHEAPER to run) and if so what I should change, or if not what the most efficient way would be to run what I have.

There will be 2 of us in the property most use will be evenings and weekends We will mostly be having showers with the occasional bath.

Sorry to sound so ignorant and simple, please go easy on me as a newby .....

penrhyn

If the storage heaters are old it would be worth looking at replacing them with more modern ones. Have a look at Dimplex or Creda.

What about something like a wood burning stove?

Best advise insulate the property.

Owain_Moneysaver

CymruVilla wrote: »

I have a 3 bedroom detached bungalow with 3 storage heaters (living room, kitchen, hallway) and 3 panel heaters ( 3 bedrooms) and a fan heater in the bathroom - Water is heated my immersion heater on tank and I am on Economy 7....
There will be 2 of us in the property most use will be evenings and weekends We will mostly be having showers with the occasional bath.

Agree with Penrhyn #479.

If you are renewing the storage heaters then look at Dimplex Quantum which have better heat storage so are more suitable if you're not at home during the day. They are expensive to buy though.

Make sure you are using the minimum amount of peak rate electricity. Wash and dry clothing overnight (some appliances have delay start setting so you don't have to stay up till midnight to put a wash on) and make sure your hot water cylinder is very well insulated and large enough to provide all your hot water without needing a peak rate top-up.

Check Energy Saving Trust website for any grants or discount deals available for topping up loft or wall insulation. Loft insulation is easy to DIY anyway.

Richie-from-the-Boro

CymruVilla wrote: »

Hello all

I have read this thread with great interest as I have just moved to the people's republic of Cornwall and have for the first time ever come face to face with the proposition of an electric only property.

I like many others have had the 'Rointe Idea' pushed my way as the only hope for electrical heating going forward, but thankfully I have skimmed through this thread from it's inception and am grateful for the contributions of Cardew and others which has helped me think of things more objectively.

Despite doing some research this is all very new to me (I was blessed with gas in the land of my fathers) and so would appreciate some non patronising straight forward advice on the following:

I have a 3 bedroom detached bungalow with 3 storage heaters (living room, kitchen, hallway) and 3 panel heaters ( 3 bedrooms) and a fan heater in the bathroom - Water is heated my immersion heater on tank and I am on Economy 7.

I take it a Rointe conversion is not the way to go from what I have gathered from the posts on this thread, so please can I have some advice on whether I should change what I have for something better (ie more efficient and ultimately CHEAPER to run) and if so what I should change, or if not what the most efficient way would be to run what I have.

There will be 2 of us in the property most use will be evenings and weekends We will mostly be having showers with the occasional bath.

Sorry to sound so ignorant and simple, please go easy on me as a newby .....

Welcome to the forum, a new and beautiful county and a new home.

Your new home will have an EPC, it is the case that a 10 year valid EPC' of less than B or at the very least C cope very badly with any form of panel heating compared to alternative stored heat. You have described your use and lifestyle but not your insulation, which is critical to your decision making. This lady recently went through the same as yourself, her problems thoughts and eventual decisions are here. Her actual real-time 'hands on' personal experiences will I'm sure be of help. Have a read through particularly her conclusions from #41 to #48. In her case the dwelling was a flat not house but the economies and needs re the same. Read it then come back with your thoughts. Hope this helps - CymruVilla.