PowerSwitch

Posted: **29 Jan 2014, 15:45**

Is this any good? Is it truly worth the money or will it be WEEEd in a short time? I've an inherent dislike of gadgetry (and distrust of adverts) and I take some persuading to purchase any new stuff, either battery or mains.

Is there a better way to improve the efficiency of water-filled radiators (apart from the old trick of a reflective yoke stuck to the wall behind it)?

Posted: **29 Jan 2014, 16:18**

I'm sure this type of product has been discussed before. It certainly won't make the savings it claims. If your radiators are part of a well designed CH system and not against poorly insulated exterior walls (as mine are) then I think it will waste energy (as electricity is a poor way to heat a house directly).

It won't affect radiant output from the radiator, but it might increase convection in the room. This might in turn increase drafts and make the heating less efficient overall.

Of course, if your radiators are blocked behind sofas and other furnature (

) then it probably would help.

Posted: **30 Jan 2014, 20:49**

I'm pretty sceptical that it could have anything more than a small effect. Which magazine claim to have found some sort of saving but there is precious little detail about the test procedure that I can find and sadly they're now promoting it as one of the top 10 eco products:

5. Radiator Booster - savings: variable

The radiator booster helps save energy and money but the fan makes a small noise The Radiator Booster RBI-707-TT claims to help cut your heating bill by 10%. It’s a white telescopic tube that sits on top of your radiator, and a small thermostatic fan draws the heat trapped behind the radiator and distributes it more evenly around the room, which could help you to reduce your thermostat setting.

Our test lab found that with the radiator booster fitted, the room heated up more quickly, the thermostat needed to come on less often and energy consumption dropped. On the downside, the fan does make a small noise, and not all of our testers were keen on its appearance. One said: 'It looks cheap, like I’ve left something on the radiator by accident.' If you’re not bothered by its looks, it could be £20 well spent.

A well sited radiator should have little trouble doing its job of making the air convect. I can see that forcing convection might very modestly improve the efficiency of the emitter but I'd be amazed if it was anything other than a small improvement.

What is true is that having a sofa right up in front of your radiator or a 'radiator shelf' (or worse still a box to hide your radiators away or even worse still curtains hanging over the radiator!) inhibits air convection and means that you'll have to run the boiler for longer.

Posted: **30 Jan 2014, 20:59**

This Dutch radiator booster saving is very crudely based on reducing your thermostat by a degree:

http://www.eco-logisch.nl/pdfupload/gog ... ooster.pdf

I have no quibbles about getting a saving by turning down your thermostat but I question whether the radiator booster would contribute that much to your comfort.

Of course, if fitting a radiator booster makes you *think* that you feel more comfortable and you turn down the thermostat then it's worked. But then people who strap magnets to their gas line also often claim that their house felt warmer and could turn down their thermostat.

Whatever works I guess but much cheaper to spend your money on good quality draught proofing and turn down your thermostat!

Posted: **31 Jan 2014, 02:37**

By moving the air over the radiator more quickly it will lower the temperature that the radiator and the air reaches. This should reduce the temperature of the air in the higher levels of the room where conduction takes it and therefore reduce the heat losses at these higher levels - head height and above. There might be savings but not very high I would think and they would depend on the age and insulation levels of the house. The older the house, the less insulation normally present and the greater the savings.

Posted: **31 Jan 2014, 10:28**

Thanks guys for your input. I think I've enough stuff now so won't be buying these gadgets.

However, if someone here does get one, it would be interesting to know the results.