When we start looking for a heating system, the vast majority of people opt for a thermal emitter that has a good thermal result in the short term. It is a good option as long as we are clear about the factors that characterize them and thus be able to decide if they suit us. Among these determining factors are consumption, efficiency, types of existing thermal emitters, equipment price, and installation. Here are 9 points you should keep in mind.
1. What are the three types of heat emitters?
Three types of heat emitters are currently on the market: dry, fluid, and ceramic. All of these, despite having the same purpose and being electrical, work differently:
1. Fluid thermal emitters: it is based on an electrical resistance that exchanges heat with a thermal fluid of low viscosity and neutral composition. This, in turn, transmits heat to the entire surface of the equipment and is used to heat the desired space.
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2. Dry thermal emitters: use an electrical resistance as the previous one as heat production, the body of the thermal emitter, which is made of aluminum, absorbs this heat and is transmitted through the entire surface of the thermal emitter to heat the room in question
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3. Ceramic thermal emitters are made up of a ceramic element that accumulates heat. Ceramic Heat Emitter Bulb are the ones that take the longest to reach the maximum temperature. Still, due to their high thermal inertia, they are the ones that maintain heat for the longest time.
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2. The efficiency of thermal emitters
Thermal emitters are quite efficient equipment. However, their efficiency depends a lot on the model we buy. On the other hand, it also depends on the user’s needs at home. Among them, we can distinguish the efficiency as follows:
- Fluid thermal emitters: the heating time of these types of equipment is greater, but they maintain the temperature for a longer time. Their ideal use is from 5 to 8 hours.
- Dry thermal emitters are the most economical equipment within the range of thermal emitters, and their ideal use is 1-5 hours.
- Ceramic heat emitters: These devices take the longest to heat up but remain hot the longest. They are recommended for installation and continuous use of more than 8 hours.
3. Consumption of thermal emitters
Can you save with a thermal emitter?
The truth is that with thermal emitters, you do not save money to a great extent. As its operation is based on the Joule effect, an electric radiator or thermal emitter consumes 1 KWh for each thermal KWh it produces (approx.). Therefore, if I install a 2 kW heating emitter, it will consume 2 kW of electricity.
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Especially when we speak in economic terms, they spend the same as any other electric oil radiator. They heat the same at the same power and consume the same. Of course, many people say that the heat they provide is much more pleasant than an air conditioner.
4. The average price of thermal emitters
Thermal emitters are usually quite cheap equipment since you can find a wide variety on the market, making the demand for a price much better. However, the price will be based on the power, brand, or type of emitter (either dry, fluid, or ceramic) that the equipment has. Below we present the average price according to the type of issuer, based on the brands or equipment most in demand today:
- Fluid thermal emitters: The price of these devices ranges between 180 and 400, depending on the brand or power.
- Dry thermal emitters: Among the ten best-sellers of 2017, prices range between 105 and 220.
- Ceramic thermal emitters: The difference is not much concerning the others. You can find good models that range between 150 and 350.
We must clarify that the prices mentioned above are approximate since they can vary according to the demands that each person has or the number of square meters that are intended to be heated.
5. Cost of a heat emitter
It has to do directly with its consumption, and in the same way, it is based on the power of the equipment that we have installed at home and the use that we give it. For the same reason, proper use is recommended without the need to have the heat emitter operating all day to minimize the costs generated. Thermal emitters, however, are usually heating equipment with which savings can be achieved compared to other traditional heating systems. Below we give you a fairly detailed example of the expense you have with a thermal emitter:
| Variables | dry heat emitter | Fluid thermal emitter |
| Power | 5,0 KW | 5,0 KW |
| KW Gas cost | 0,117 | 0,117 |
| Consumption | 5 hours/day | 4 hours/day |
| Total KWh/dia | 25 kWh | 20 kWh |
| amount/day | 2,92 | 2,34 |
| 12 Hours of Operation | 5 hours of consumption | 4 hours of consumption |
| Consumption Month | 87,6 | 70,20 |
6. Installation of heat emitters
It is one of the most demanded heating systems since its installation only requires a small assembly. The assembly is simpler than it seems, and they also usually include an installation kit. You will only have to help yourself with a drill, a pencil, and a screwdriver.
We give you some recommendations to place it:
- In addition to the kit, the heat emitters usually come with a template, so you know where you have to drill the holes.
- They must be installed near a plug since they are connected to the electrical current.
- The distance from the emitter to the ground is measured, and when the measurements are clear, it will be time to place the template on the wall.
- We make marks where the holes are made with the drill.
- In each of the holes, we will put some plugs and place the pegs with the supports. The issuer will go over them.
This is an installation that anyone can do with a bit of experience. If this is not the case, we recommend that you go to a professional.
7. Maintenance and repair of heat emitters
One of the great advantages of this heating equipment is that they do not require any maintenance, except for some cleaning to prevent dust from accumulating in it. When working with an electrical source, the thermal emitters can present faults that we will have to repair. However, the repair of the thermal emitters is quite simple. In most cases, it is only a question of some resistance or plate within the same system. But apart from the repairs that may occur, we do not have to call or hire specialized companies to carry out maintenance as is often the case with other heating equipment, such as a gas or pellet boiler, etc
8. Spare parts of thermal emitters
Thermal emitters are characterized by being efficient equipment and having a long useful life, and not requiring frequent replacement of parts or demanding repairs. The spare parts in this type of equipment are not entirely recommended in the cheapest ones. It is more profitable to replace them with a new one in many cases since they are quite cheap.
Even so, there is also the possibility of asking for the budget of the technician and the parts if we should carry out a replacement and later evaluate whether it is profitable or not. If a replacement has to be made, however simple it may be, it must be carried out by a specialist and, in this way, avoid any subsequent problem or a total failure of the equipment.
9. Aspects that we must take into account when choosing the best thermal emitter:
| Aspects | Characteristics |
| Power | 80-100 w/m², and in rooms larger than 15 m², more than 2 emitters are necessary to better distribute the heat. |
| Operating time | For the operation of 1 hour a day with rapid heating, we will use a dry emitter. For use between 5-8 hours, it is better to opt for a fluid emitter. For uses of more than 8 hours, we opted for a ceramic emitter. |
| Isolation | Have insulation in walls, ceilings, and windows to better keep the heat. |
| programming | Control temperature variations and daily consumption. |
| climatic zone | The temperature of the geographical area influences the power. Colder areas have more power. |
Thermal emitters in the USA
Many people in the USA decide to install thermal emitters in the home, either as main or support heating systems. In most cases, this type of installation is because the equipment is quite cheap about other heating systems. After all, it does not require a large installation and is almost completely maintenance-free. According to a study carried out by FEGECA on thermal emitters and underfloor air conditioning systems, it reflects an increase of 5.38% in sales of radiators in Spain, with more than 891,000 units sold in 2017. Whether it is a new work or a replacement, especially the segments of aluminum, bathroom, and steel sheet panels have grown the most
