Radiators

How to check if your radiators are heating properly:

Check the lower centre section of the radiator; it should be almost the same temperature as the top. All radiators should heat at equal temperature throughout the building.

The radiator was invented in 1855 by Franz Sangalli and people all over the world are still having to use vent keys to get the air out of radiators. Frequent bleeding of radiators is a chore in most households. The air causes corrosion within the radiator resulting in a build up of silt in the centre lower section of the radiator, requiring the system to be flushed out. This involves the need to remove the radiator and clean it out which can be very hideous for both the householder and heating contractor.

The air is formed in the boiler when water temperatures exceed 60°C. Due to the unique patented design of the Oxyvent tank it captures the air when it leaves the boiler and releases it automatically when the system shuts down distributing air free balanced temperature water throughout the heating system with a 70% increase in flow rate, resulting in all radiators heating evenly throughout the building and increased temperature in all rooms.

The type of heat produced by a radiator is known as convection heat transfer. The hot air forms air currents, rising up towards the ceiling and as it cools it drops towards the floor to be re-heated, leaving the hot air accumulate below the ceiling. The lower section of the room is cooler as the chilling air currents return to the bottom of the radiator to be reheated, keeping your body, especially your feet cooler and you find yourself leaving the heating on for longer periods.

With the Oxyvent Tank installed a dramatic change takes place. The entire radiator heats at a uniform temperature, which gives out more radiant heat. The heat travels in electromagnetic waves travelling outwards and downwards from the radiator, heating the air close to the floor. Your body easily absorbs radiant heat, and you feel more comfortable at lower temperatures.

This results in a more uniform heat between ceiling and floor level (not unlike underfloor heating systems).

Radiant heat creates an environment where the human body feels vastly more comfortable in a shorter space of time than before

Room thermostats and thermostatic valves can be set lower, yet your comfort level is higher. This results in huge fuel savings for the householder

After installing an Oxyvent Tank in London Tim Motley of Pimlico Plumbers discusses how Oxyvent makes your radiators more efficient and allows you to
turn your boiler down

Balancing the radiators

When setting up your radiators your installer will close down radiator valves at the start of a heating system to maximise heat gain from radiators further down the system.

This is done with almost every heating system, it is known as balancing the system to allow the heated water to be distributed evenly among all the radiators in an attempt to get even heating throughout. This can be achieved using temperature measurement equipment or, more commonly, by the experienced hand of your plumber.

• The heat differential between the top and bottom of the radiator is 11°C this is classed as an excellent system and every heating engineer strides to achieve this by balancing the system.

• With the Oxyvent Tank installed the heat differential between the top and the bottom of a radiator is only 1°C to 2°C and no balancing is required.

Balancing of systems restricts the flow rate and reduces the water temperature returning to the boiler. The boiler then operates for longer periods, wasting fuel.

The principle behind any heating system is to move water fast, not slow it down. The Oxyvent Tank balances all heating systems automatically, allows all radiator valves to be fully opened, distributing equal heat to all radiators at a higher temperature and with greater efficiency.

Thermostatic radiator valves

Thermostatic radiator valves are designed to give temperature control over each room individually.

The general view about thermostatic radiator valves is that they do not function as they should and in most cases this is true. Thermostatic valves have built in sensors to pick up the surrounding room temperature and switch off the radiator when the required room temperature is reached.

Due to the inefficiencies of the conventional heating systems it is normally only the first couple of radiators nearest to the boiler, that allow the thermostatic valves to function correctly. The rooms down the line do not heat to the required temperature due to the convection air currents, and the air surrounding the thermostatic valves does not reach a sufficient temperature to close down the valves.

With the Oxyvent Tank in place all the radiators are at a balanced temperature creating a more intense radiant heat from floor to ceiling, therefore the air surrounding the thermostatic valve is hotter switching off the valve at the desired temperature rapidly in all rooms.

It is vital to install the Oxyvent Tank in order for Thermostatic Radiators valves to function efficiently

Thermal shock

In conventional systems when the boiler starts up the high temperature water makes contact with the cold surface of the pipe work and radiator panels causing a cracking noise. When the cold water returns to the boiler mixing with the newly heated hot water, rapid and uneven contractions occur within the boiler.
The Oxyvent Tank balances the water temperatures across the entire system from start up and is the only available solution to Thermal Shock.