Frequently Asked Questions

Q1.      What is the difference between the Ecowarmth heating system and other types of electrical heating?       

A1.       Most other electrical heating systems - including night storage heating - use mainly heated convected air to warm a room. This is generally inefficient, unhealthy (especially for allergy sufferers) and expensive. The heat generated rises quickly to the ceiling, where nobody sits, leaving cold floors, just where people need the heat, althought that is where they sit. Ecowarmth radiators copy the sun and use radiant heat which is healthy, very efficient and very economical. Remember in winter when the sun is shining and the air temperature is near freezing, your skin soon warms up when exposed to the radiant heat of the sun. In the Alps skiers actually sunbathe without problems even though the air temperatures are low! The radiant heat of our heating system also warms up the walls and the furniture of your home too and so only occasional top-up heat is required. Remember  a stone or rock, warmed by the sun will warm up more intensely and quickly than one heated by warm air alone. top

Q2.     Why are Ecowarmth radiators so efficient?

A2.       The unique Chamotte fire-clay energy cells with the embedded heating elements inside all Ecowarmth radiators work together with a finely tuned "Intelligent Thermostat", all controlled by a unique “Power Management System”, to provide fast, healthy radiant heat to warm up the room to the desired comfort level. 100% of electricity input is turned into heat and once the fire-clay has absorbed as much heat as possible, excess heat is put out into the room to heat the room up to the desired temperature. After that, only the top-up heat is generated and radiated out. So on average, you will only need approximately 10 - 12 minutes of electricity consumption for 60 minutes of warmth. Our free demonstration (* Free Demo available only in SW England at present) will convince you very quickly just how efficient Ecowarmth radiators are.

The Ecowarmth “Intelligent Thermostat” has been especially developed and manufactured in Cornwall by Teddington Electronics for us and is exclusive to Ecowarmth ~
"Established German Technology fine-tuned by Cornish Engineering."

WARNING! Other similar heating systems can sometimes have problems coping with the fluctuation in the electricity supply in the UK which can negatively affect the thermostatic control and lead to higher electricity bills. With Ecowarmth and its exclusive "Intelligent Thermostat with Power Management System", you can be sure that this problem will not occur.top

Q3.      Do or can Ecowarmth radiators use Economy 7 tariff electricity?

A3.      If you require heating at night when the Economy 7 tariff is valid, then naturally the Ecowarmth radiators will only use Economy 7 electricity, provided of course that your electricity meter is correctly set-up so as to also allow our radiators to work during the day. This is generally only a small job for your electrician or our installer*. (*Any such work will incur a small extra cost to you). You may also wish to check out the Economy 10 tariffs possibly available from your electricity supplier. .Even when using Standard Tariff electricity, Ecowarmth radiators are much cheaper to run than Night sStorage heating+ extra evening heat. See running cost comparison ltop

Q4.      Do I need to switch off the Ecowarmth radiators at night?

A4.       No. With the Ecowarmth heating system, the thermostatic control allows you to turn the heat down to a comfortable level of background heat. The heating “top-up” process used by Ecowarmth radiators means that very little electricity will be used at night. When you awake, the room is not cold and if you require more heat then by turning the control knob up a little, the room will soon be as warm and cosy as you require. Heating a  room up from a temperature of say 15 ° C to 20 ° C requires much less energy than heating up from cold. We can also of course supply Wireless Thermostats with programmable timers for the highest level of comfortable control. These cost a little extra than the standard integrated thermostats.top

Q5.      Can I use existing night storage cabling for my Ecowarmth radiators?

A5.       If you are changing over fully from night storage heating to Ecowarmth radiators, then it can sometimes make sense to use the existing cabling. Your electrician will need to provide sockets for the Ecowarmth radiators (although Ecowarmth radiators can also be hard wired by our installer) and this will involve some minor corrections in the meter box. Note: This means extra coststop

Q6.      What sizes do Ecowarmth radiators come in?

A6.      Ecowarmth radiators come in many different lengths, heights and power ratings to suit all heating requirements. Check “products” for more details.top

Q7.      Why do some Ecowarmth radiators with the same power ratings (e.g. 2.0Kw and 2.5Kw) come in different sizes?

A7.       The wider the radiator the more surface area is available and an even better distribution of radiant heat is possible. This means that the wider radiators are even more economical as regards running costs. Unfortunately some houses do not have the wall space to take the larger radiators and so a smaller one can be fitted without sacrificing on the actual power output which is required.top

Q8.      How do I control my Ecowarmth radiators?

A8.       Each Ecowarmth radiator is fitted with an sensitive "Intelligent Thermostat with PMS" control made up of a control knob at the top of the side panel and a finely tuned feeler or sensor which slightly protrudes from the base of the control panel. The sensor continually measures the air temperature at floor level (where it is always coldest) and sends signals to the thermostat’s Power Management System (PMS) to increase or decrease the heat, according to the setting of the control knob. This permits YOU to be in control of the level of warmth YOU feel is most comfortable for YOU! No more problems as with night storage guessing what tomorrow's weather will be.We also supply state of the art wireless programmable thermostats and timers.top

Q9.      How expensive are Ecowarmth radiators?

A9.       It all depends on which size and power of radiator you require. Ecowarmth radiators cover a wide power spectrum from 0.5 Kw output to 3.0 Kw output. Small radiators cost less than large ones and a whole set for a house (6 – 7 radiators) costs on average between £3,300 - £4,000.(incl. VAT, Delivery and Installation). We also do package prices for example from £1,970 for 3 radiators and from £2,920 for 5 radiators for a typical modern house. The investment cost is comparable and usually cheaper than a normal central heating system using Gas or Oil. With Ecowarmth there are no maintenance and service contracts required, no repairs and no redecorating to worry about. So comparing “whole life costs” of:  Capital Investment + Maintenance Costs + Running Costs , then Ecowarmth works out as one of the least expensive systems and has the least amount of trauma and/or mess with the installation. Remember, when comparing costs with other systems; make sure you always take into account all future costs. Running costs for gas and oil have increased a lot more than costs for electricity and are likely to continue to do so in the future.top

Q10.    How long does it take to install the Ecowarmth heating system?

A10.    On average it takes about 30 minutes to completely unpack and install an Ecowarmth radiator to the wall and to plug it in to an existing socket. So installation is a very fast and clean job and with the least amount of inconvenience to you and also with no mess to worry about. top

Q11. Are Ecowarmth radiators guaranteed against defects?

A11.   Of course! All Ecowarmth radiators are supplied with a 10 year manufacturer backed guarantee of quality. The thermostats and powder coating are covered by a manufacturer’s two year guarantee. Provided you have not misused the Ecowarmth (sw) Ltd radiator, then we will replace the defective radiator within the guarantee period with a new one, without cost to you. The Ecowarmth guarantee is also transferable to new owners should you wish to sell your property within the guarantee period.top

Q12.    How are Ecowarmth (radiators fixed to the wall?

A12.     Theradiators have a simple but effective fixing system which can be used on most walls including even plasterboard! Only with cob walls or similar, do we recommend to use castors or special support feet. See “products” for details of the fixing system and the range of accessories. top

Q13.    Can I install the radiators myself?

A13.     Yes….except for where hard wiring of radiators is required in bathrooms and Guest WCs. Under current Building Regulations Part P, you will need a registered electrician to carry out such work. If you are simply fitting your Ecowarmth (SW) Ltd radiators to the wall (or on castors or feet) and plan to plug into a standard 230V 13 Amp socket, then you can now install Ecowarmth radiators yourself. Should you require a registered electrician in your area then contact us and we will organise the contact for you.top

Q14.    What is the delivery time for Ecowarmth radiators?

A14.     We usually aim to deliver and install your Ecowarmth radiators within 3 - 4 weeks of confirmation of your order. We are looking at ways to shorten this, by delivering from stock. We are able to deliver direct to you, should you wish to install yourself or have your own electrician or builder to do this work  Should you require delivery much later, then that is no problem, as once you have paid a holding deposit, you automatically receive price protection on your order for up to 12 months! Due to the increasing demands for steel in China and India, the price of steel is continually rising (80% in the past year alone), so get your price protection by placing your order with a holding deposit (usually 10% of order value) ASAP.top

Q15.     What safety features do Ecowarmth radiators have?

A15.     All Ecowarmth radiators conform to rigid safety regulations in the manner of manufacture as well as usage as prescribed by the German authorities. All Ecowarmth radiators have VDE (Association of German Electrical & Electronic Engineers), GS (Proven Safety) and CE (Certificate of Electrical Suitability) certification. Each internal energy cell is linked with wiring containing sensors, which automatically switch the radiator (or that section) off should the radiator suddenly start to overheat, if for example some clothing has covered a section of the radiator. NEW: All Ecowarmth radiators now contain energy cells which have been specially coated to protect against water damage.top

Q16.    How long have Ecowarmth radiators been available?

A16.    This type of electric radiator was first introduced to the German market in 1973. Since then many hundreds of thousands of these radiators have been successfully installed all over Europe. So the Ecowarmth radiator is a well tried and tested product. Ecowarmth is proud to announce a massive increase in the intelligence of its electrical radiators, with the addition in 2006 of a specially developed “Intelligent Thermostat” with an integrated and unique “Power Management System”,exclusive to Ecowarmth , which is designed to cope with the fluctuations in the electricity supply within the UK and give you even more economical running costs. A case of

“German Technology – Fine Tuned by Cornish Engineering” or “Radiators with Brains” Ecowarmth offers heating , which is more sensitive, more controllable, more affordable, just plain brainier than anything else available.top

Q17.    How can I convince myself that the Ecowarmth system really works?

A17.    Simple, if you live in the South West of England, just contact us for a local consultant to visit you with a demonstration radiator. This is completely FREE and without obligation. FEEL and EXPERIENCE for yourself how effective the system works and then ask the consultant to carry out the FREE survey. After that he/she can calculate YOUR heating requirements, work out the best package of radiators for you, calculate the running costs and give you the best price. Only when you have ALL of the valid information, can you make a valid decision as to whether Ecowarmth for you!

NO COST - NO OBLIGATION - NO PRESSURE - NO HASSLE

Should you live outside of the South West then contact us for existing customer contact details so you can check with them as to how happy they are with their Ecowarmth radiators. As we expand into other areas we will also increase our local representation.top

Q18.    Is the best location for an Ecowarmth radiator under a window?

A18.     Whilst in the past windows were usually areas where the most cold came into a room due to single glazing and draughty framework it is no longer necessary in these days of excellent double glazing. Furthermore it does not make sense to locate an Ecowarmth radiator there if you have curtains which then block the heat from being radiated into the room. Our trained consultants will advise the best positioning for your chosen radiator for each room. Remember, cold air sinks to the floor and will eventually be sucked into the ribbed front and back of the Ecowarmth radiator to get warmed up. The thermostat feeler/sensor is located at floor level and measures the air temperature there, so the radiator automatically will adjust to the situation. Just the same if in winter the sun shines into the room, the thermostat shuts the Ecowarmth radiator off until more heat is required. Compare this to night storage radiators, which are not able to be switched off and you can only open the windows to let the excess heat out or close the curtains to keep the sun out!top

Q19.    Are Ecowarmth radiators suitable for bathrooms?

A19.   Yes, providing the radiator is at least 60 cm from a water source and is hard wired to an electricity supply by a certified electrician who can also test the installation regarding supplementary equipotential bonding, which is required under Building regulations Part P.top

Q20.    Are there Grants available from local Councils for Ecowarmth radiators?

A20.   

Certain Councils do approve Warm Front Grants for the Ecowarmth heating system. Other councils provide loans. Check with your local Council to see if they provide help. We are listed with EAGA, if the Council concerned requires more information about our heating system, please let us know so that we can make contact with them.top

Q21.   Do you have existing customers I can contact?

A21.    Yes, Ecowarmth (SW) Ltd have many satisfied customers, who are more than happy to have you call them. Contact us per email or Freephone to be given details of existing Ecowarmth customers near you.top

Q22.    If I install the radiators on castors, can I move them from room to room?

A22.    Whilst this is physically possible, we do not recommend it on a regular basis as the radiators have been chosen to supply a particular heating requirement for a particular room. A different room has a different requirement. Also, by taking the heating from a room, you allow that room to cool down and it will require extra energy (extra costs!) to heat back up to the basic level it had before. Check out “New Infra-Red Heating” for information about a very innovative range of Infra-Red foil panel heaters for such situations.top

Q23.    What happens if I sell my house and move elsewhere?

A23.     Whilst Ecowarmth radiators are easy to take off the wall and you can take them with you, remember that they have been chosen for that particular property. It is much better to use Ecowarmth heating as an added value bonus when selling your property and increase the sales price you set. top

Q24. Are Ecowarmth radiators safe for children and the elderly?

A24     Yes, once the Ecowarmth radiator has created sufficient basic heat in the room, it will only produce top up heat to keep the room warm. This means that surface temperatures of our radiators are lower than most other types of radiator heating on the market. top

Q25.    Are Ecowarmth (radiators sold in retail outlets or DIY stores?

A25.    No, we deliver directly from the factory to you. It is also IMPERATIVE, that your heating requirement be correctly calculated and that you are given the correct information as to how the system works. This can be done by carrying out a free survey of your property either by us (in the SW of England) or by you completing the customer own survey form and taking into account YOUR particular situation.top

Q26.    What happens if I recommend other customers?

A26.     This happens all the time ascustomers are so satisfied. We put a high priority on receiving recommendations from existing customers and have an attractive “Recommendation Bonus Scheme” to say “thank you”. Contact us for more details.top

Q27.    I have a property abroad on the continent - can you supply me there?

A27.    There are different ways of helping you with this. Once we receive the “customer’s own survey form” for your property abroad, we can quote a price with delivery to your home in the UK, so that you can take the Radiators with you when you next travel to your property abroad. Alternatively, if you (and maybe friends and neighbours) are ordering sufficient for at least a pallet load (10 - 12 radiators), then we can quote for delivery directly to your property. You will then either have to install the radiators yourself or find a local electrician to do the work for you.top

Q28.    What colours do you supply?

A28.    Whilst the majority of our clients wish to have our standard and neutral (Ivory) colour, we can now offer other colours according to the RAL Colour code. These radiators are especially manufactured for you and therefore cost 10% extra - and have a slightly longer delivery date. Check “products” for details of RAL colours. top

Q29.    I have an old house with poor electrical wiring. Can I still use Ecowarmth radiators?

A29.    For safety’s sake, the power rating and state of the wiring etc will need to be checked by a qualified and registered electrician and possibly upgraded. Contact us should your require assistance in finding a local registered electrician.top

Q30.   Does Ecowarmth supply other heating products?

A30.   Ecowarmth supplies not only their unique range of electrical storage radiators, but can also now supply an innovative range of Infra-Red heating foil products. Please check “New Infra-Red Heating” for further details. top

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