Radiator fans

mfijohn

May I ask the experts 
Is it worth investing in a Radiator fan? as like most house are radiators ar under the window, we live in a Bungalow so the ceiling is that high, even though we have Double Glazing, loft Ins, and cavity wall Ins, we find that we need the thermostat quite high, to keep the house warm. I have read that some are re-chargeable, so maybe that would keep down the cost of running one.

alanwsg

I have some, and the difference they make is huge! - Far corners of rooms that always used to stay cold are now the first places in the house to warm up.

BUT - I'm a techy, and I made them myself out of bits & pieces I had laying around - a couple of computer fans, a length of drainpipe and an old laptop power supply. I'm astounded at the prices of them on Ebay or Amazon. I couldn't bring myself to pay those prices. But it might be worth it, if you can cobble one together yourself.

I can't imagine how a "re-chargeable" version would help. Or save money. I mean, you don't need it to be portable, just plug in it.

QrizB

mfijohn said:

... we find that we need the thermostat quite high, to keep the house warm.

Which thermostat are you talking about, the room thermostat or the boiler flow temperature?

• If you mean "the room thermostat", I don't think radiator fans are going to help you.
• If you mean "the boiler flow temperature, then yes radiator fans might help.

Adding a fan to a radiator increases the heat output. It's like having a larger or more finned/panelled radiator. Typically you'd only need one if the radiator is undersized, or if you're trying to save fuel by reducing the boiler flow temperature.

But - if the radiators are the correct size, your room will reach whatever temperature is set on the thermostat. If you're feeling cold, it's because the thermostat is set to low, you're not wearing enough clothes, or you're too sedentary. Adding radiator fans won't help you because the thermostat will still shut the heating off at the same temperature..

dunstonh

Is it worth investing in a Radiator fan?

All depends on how good the airflow is in your home and where your radiators are.    

If you radiators are behind the bed or sofa or other furniture then you are effectively blocking the heat.

If you lack trickle vents or have made your house airtight then natural airflow may create hot spots and cold spots.  If you move heat away from the thermostats (i.e. those on each radiator as well as the main) then your heating would be on longer.    However, often its not the temperature needing to be higher to warm you up but a reduction in the change of temperature as you move around.  You feel the change in temperature.  Reducing the change will allow you to run the temperature lower.

Reed_Richards

Getting a radiator fan is, possibly, a cheaper alternative to replacing a radiator with a bigger one (one with a larger surface area).  The fan will boost the heat output from the radiator so that radiator will cost more to run, whilst it's on.

Scot_39

There are bespoke fan heaters - e.g. to clip on or even sit between double radiators - some have their own thermostatic switches - so only run when the radiators are actually hot - so can plug in and forget for winter.

But before rushing out to spend say £50+ - if you already have a small desktop fan or USB fan - try just using one of those instead on low power for a few days as a trial - blowing air away from or across the top of radiator. You might be surprised.

And just check your not blocking radiator heat / air flow - behind furniture or curtains etc. - and that your radiators don't need bleeding.

But like any passive heater - GCH radiator's heat will tend to pool heat adjacent too - and directly above - all the way up to moderate to high ceiling levels.

So don't expect the room temperature at the other sided of room - to match the TRV setting.

In USA ceiling fans are more common to prevent heat pooling in winter - and to cool in summer - to improve air circulation.