Selecting the right sort of heating for the home

Press, 26 March 1986, Page 33

Selecting the right sort of heating for the home

Rooms of open-plan design with multi-level, high-beam ceilings are special features that require detailed consideration in determining the heating required. Aim for fully programmed comfort in the living rooms, with background temperature for hallways and bedroom areas, then treat special rooms — study rooms, bedrooms, and bathroom — on their merit for intermittent heat.

In the lounge: the familiar multi-heat radiant heater is still the family favourite in many homes. The larger models have the advantage of including a large, well-designed reflector to spread the heat produced by the element. The reflector dictates the success of these heaters. Comfort results from not sitting too close, and be sure to select a heat level that provides even heat for your room.

Because these heaters are only suitable for use where there is someone present in the room, it is confined to areas where it can be turned on and off over short periods of time.

It is also unsafe where small children are, the high element tempera-

tures, and the heat on the reflector and guards may burn them. attractive heaters inserted over the open fireplace can provide clean heat as an alternative.

In the dining room: a wall mounted, or free standing, panel heater is ideal to provide even heat throughout the room. A wall thermostat, carefully positioned, can be used conveniently to switch on, and select, your desired temperature.

A new combination convector panel, or fan heater, provides rapid heating with silent operation.

In the kitchen: a heater automaticly switched on by a timeswitch and the control by thermostat increases comfort and helps start a day smoothly. It is also economical. Choose a heater suited to your room with a 1500watt panel, or wall fan heater, with controls positioned for easy checking and supervision. A suggested programme for your time switch is: on 6 a.m., off 9 a.m., on 3 p.m., off 10 p.m., with the thermostat set at about 20 degrees Celsius. In the bedrooms: the oil-filled radiator is very useful. Free standing on

castors for easy moving, with an inbuilt thermostat and time controller, provides gentle warmth from the enclosed element. This makes it extremely safe for children and also useful for drying and warming clothes. nother good heater for bedrooms is the slim

panel with a wall thermostat to ensure economy.

Plug-in models are also useful' for portable use. Average rooms need only 1000 watts, with a 1500watt model necessary for large rooms or where there is severe cold. In children’s rooms:

the enclosed panel heater, or fan heater, is preferable to the low-cost radiant heaters available. This is especially important if they study a lot. In the bathroom: heating is essential for young and old. A wall or ceiling

mounted infra-red heater makes bathing and dressing a pleasure, rather than a race to get back into warm clothes.

For the working family, a fan heater provides comfort and the quick drying necessary to prevent mould and mildew

forming in a closed-up situation.

Heated towel rails give extra comfort of removing the damp from the bathroom and gives 'the further comfort of warm dry towels.

Light fittings with builtin heating units are also available.