Radiator fans

nportland

Has anyone heard of these? Are they useful?  Try 2b energy efficient as possible,  double glazed,  roof fully insulated,   thick curtains on room even of door into hall. spend most time in - living room.  Have google nest which actually seems unnecessarily complicated. And radiator thermostat valves. And dehumidifier when dry clothes. Since only use radiator on wall near living end,  not one under window,  was told radiator fans might help faster. Eon have them. But don't seem any info on energy trust website . Thanks 

QrizB

If you are referring to fans that increase the airflow over a central heating radiator, yes they can increase the effective power output of a radiator, but at the expense of your boiler using more energy. They could be useful if your radiators are undersized or if you need extra heat temporarily in a room.

What exactly are you trying to achieve?

FreeBear

QrizB said:

If you are referring to fans that increase the airflow over a central heating radiator, yes they can increase the effective power output of a radiator, but at the expense of your boiler using more energy. They could be useful if your radiators are undersized or if you need extra heat temporarily in a room.

I have a plinth heater in my kitchen (and a new one due to be delivered tomorrow). Basically, a small radiator with a two speed fan attached. At low speed it is rated for 1730W@70°C, and 2058W@70°C - That extra heat needs to be supplied by the boiler, so it won't be any more efficient than a standard radiator. The fan will consume ~25W of electricity which needs to be factored in to any efficiency calculations. On the plus side, it is very compact and doesn't take up any wall space.

Have seen these radiator fans (they look like two or three computer fans stuck in a plastic extrusion). Prices range from £20 to £130 or more - Yes, they will blow warm air around, but the more expensive versions are probably not worth the money.

matelodave

You could try it out by rigging up a cheap computer fan from Amazon (lhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/140mm-case-fan/s?k=140mm+case+fan) and a random 12v plug-in power supply (you usually get a new one every time you change your router - dont chuck them, they are quite handy)

or one of these with an old usb phone charger - https://www.amazon.co.uk/BRIEFCEC-Computer-1500RPM-Cooling-Radiator/dp/B08PBS5YQ3?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.HSRAv6FY52f9f7nEFyFOHoMQ0Zf9aQPfU6U5XG_niZyKjqwNwqYaTrTnCUoT7c8V2aVjDfN9Dlnb1HmJ7-NmB-uDm5QimIdC-aEk1x4zGcWF-PNTO6O8mnx_HTWr6J2FIKDk0-D2eaMjJB97klc3PqDORIEkY1TLXSRnOMH8Mz0xKMNcSV--lZWGW4lvZE65WYwLjDd7DjcAmciAK9lcrjQVfobGBJ23EY-6PdtpcH8.eMd--nxP_a7-CTCOwE6qYVq4av7DsB22s1pv2F6F0iM&dib_tag=se&keywords=5v+fan&qid=1735896463&sr=8-15&th=1

Scot_39

nportland said:

Has anyone heard of these? Are they useful?  Try 2b energy efficient as possible,  double glazed,  roof fully insulated,   thick curtains on room even of door into hall. spend most time in - living room.  Have google nest which actually seems unnecessarily complicated. And radiator thermostat valves. And dehumidifier when dry clothes. Since only use radiator on wall near living end,  not one under window,  was told radiator fans might help faster. Eon have them. But don't seem any info on energy trust website . Thanks 

Radiator fans do 2 things

They increase air flow across a hot surface.  And so increase the effective power.

And they increase the air circulation in the room - some diverting heat flow horizontally - to further stop heat pooling near walls etc above the radiator  - more important if thats a window or external wall arguably.

A standard room fan - even little usb fans maybe - can achieve both goals to some extent without the bespoke kit.  

But you might well be able to bring the under window rad back into use efficiently by fitting one that diverts heat flow horizontally away from window - depending on curtain arrangement.

So your room will heat faster, or have a more uniform temp profile from wall to wall.
 
Chances are without good air circulation - horizontalky even a m or so from your 1 rad will be few degrees cooler than close to it and definitely cooler than immediately above it.

With tall ceilings especially a ceiling fan might also be a useful addition.

nportland

What trying to  do is warm room faster and circulate heat better.   There are  2 double type radiators in living room both have the best radiator reflect heater foil recommend buy energy savings trust.   The one under window is off.  The other which i use is on end wall of my end terrace house.   Can't have cavity wall filled as not cavity walls. It does have radiator shelf above it but least 8 inches higher than radiator.  Trying 2b efficient as possible.  Do have electric fire with the blow air heater 2KW  in.
if i have warm room quickly  will use it but don't like using as i know expensive 2 run Thr other thought was 2 put the radiator foil i have left stick 2 under side radiator shelf? Any ideas ?
Thanks again n sims

nportland

I have seen cheap type that sits above radiator that serm ok and dearer type 3 round flat fans that go underneath.  Don't know which better either?

FreeBear

nportland said: if i have warm room quickly  will use it but don't like using as i know expensive 2 run Thr other thought was 2 put the radiator foil i have left stick 2 under side radiator shelf? Any ideas ?
Thanks again n sims

I've gone from trying to heat rooms up quickly to heating slowly. Turned the flow temperature down to 50°C (had been up to 60°C). Although it takes twice as long to get the rooms up to temperature, I'm using less gas doing so. BUT my radiators are deliberately oversized so that I can get away with a lower boiler temperature.

Forcing more air across the radiator will have the same effect as using a larger one. Working out the actual output will be difficult without knowing how much air is being blown around. But for the sake of £20-30, it is worth giving it a go. Just bear in mind that it will increase the amount of gas used.

Longer term, it would pay to do a proper heat loss calculation and see what size radiators are needed, and then add a bit more.

QrizB

nportland said:

There are  2 double type radiators in living room both have the best radiator reflect heater foil recommend buy energy savings trust.   The one under window is off.

The simplest and cheapest option would be to turn this othe radiator back on. Why have you turned it off?

Chrysalis

Interesting idea, I also recently heard of reflectors, which I had planned at some point to look into.

missile

If you are looking for additional heating for short period, you might be better buying an electric fan heater?