6kw central heating vs 1kw heater for 1 room

nadnerb_2

We have a 6kw boiler/pump which runs our central heating.
The problem is, the front room only has 1 working radiator under the window and the other seems to be blocked since it stays cold regardless of the valve position.
The kitchen radiator is the hottest in the house and wont turn off/down regardless of the valve position.
So it seems pointless to run the 6kw boiler to heat up our kitchen when we're sat in the front room cold.
Am I right in thinking that getting a portable electric heater of some kind would make a lot more sense?

If so, what type and power rating would you guys recommend.
Our front room is about 3.5m x 5.5m with high ceilings.

Thanks!

Andy_WSM

IMO a 1KW will be nowhere near enough for a room of that size in this weather.

The 6KW system won't cost any more to run when it is working properly as the thermostat will shut down the heater when temperature is reached. Rather than spend money on additional electric heaters, why not get a plumber out to fit a thermostatic valve on the kitchen radiator and replace the stuck valve on the one in the lounge?

That way you can have more heat in the lounge and turn the kitchen one down low enough to keep the chill off the room.

Alternatively, a 3KW oil filled radiator will almost certainly do the job in the lounge - and won't be wasteful as again, the thermostat will turn it off once the room temperature has been reached.

As has been pointed out though, no one type of electric heating is any more efficient than another, so personally I'd look at getting the neat integrated solution working properly.

nadnerb_2

Thanks for the reply.
I'll have a look at some oil radiators then

richardc1983

The central heating will cost less to run than a 3kw heater.

I would advise you get the radiator in the kitchen adjusted so you can turn it down low and have the other radiator in the lounge fixed so it is heating up.

nadnerb_2

Cheers, the plumber was round today and it turns out the whole system is borked!
Someone put the pump on backwards so none of the valves are working as they should.
Not sure why that forced some radiators on full whack and others off completely but without any valves on the radiators are all working now.
Apparently he's gonna have to drain the system completely and re-do all the plumbing.

Thank god I'm only renting and not paying for it!

richardc1983

At least you have sorted the issue and a resolution is in site!