FAQ's
Answering our most frequently asked questions
Commonly Asked Questions
It’s the many little, yet important details people want to know that helps them decide whether to invest in our electric heating systems. This page seeks to provide answers to those common questions but if you have any other questions please feel free to get in touch with one of our friendly team on 01453 368030.
About Cotswold Heating Solutions
Do you supply online?
We prefer to install ourselves to ensure the radiators are set up in the best way possible in order to maximise any potential savings in running costs. As technology moves along it becomes more complex and our technical installation team are trained to set everything up according to your own requirements and wishes.
Can I buy your products online?
We do not sell online as we want to ensure that our radiators are the perfect fit for you. With over 64 different styles and sizes, along with over 200 available colours there is much to choose from and our survey will help you with all the options. Buying online may seem an easy option but we find our customers like the personal approach that we offer with over 20 years experience in the electric heating industry.
Do you have a showroom?
You are welcome to arrange an appointment to visit our offices in Stroud where we have a small selection of working radiators. However, our surveyor carries a sample radiator which can be seen during survey if required.
Electric Radiator FAQ'S
Can you do the installation?
Absolutely! Our technical teams operate with no mess and no fuss to provide you with the best possible installation experience.
Do you hardwire the radiators?
There are many different ways of installing our radiators and our surveyor can discuss all available options with you.
How do you control the heaters?
Our innovative Ecomfort App allows you to control your heating from anywhere in the world. Alternatively you can have on-board digital controls.
How much energy will it use?
This depends on many factors although ELKATHERM® radiators are 100% efficient and boast an A++ energy performance rating. Once at full operating temperature our radiators typically use only around 15-17 minutes of power per hour.
What colours are available?
With over 200 colours available you will be spoilt for choice! Our surveyor will bring a RAL colour swatch with them for you to see during the survey.
How long does installation take?
Most installations are completed in just one day – including removal of your existing heating system.
What is your lead time?
ELKATHERM® radiators are made in Germany to order, not sat gathering rust and dust in UK warehouses! Lead times are usually around 6-8 weeks.
Do your radiators have a fan?
No, our radiators do not have a fan as the overall design does away with the need for one. ELKATHERM® radiators are silent operating as a result and the design enables the circulation of warm air to fill the entire room.
Are your radiators LOT20 compliant?
Most certainly. They are also independently tested by BSRIA.
Will I need electrical work carrying out?
Usually this is not necessary as ELKATHERM® radiators come with a plug top so can be plugged into any available socket. Our surveyor will carry out a brief visual inspection of your consumer unit and discuss options and requirements.
Additional Electric Radiator FAQ'S
How do electric radiators work?
ELKATHERM® radiators work by radiant and convected heat and the fluted design aids movement of the air to ensure no cold spots and importantly, no cold feet!
What size of electric radiator do I need?
Correct sizing of electric radiators is crucial to achieve the right levels of heat combined with the lowest potential for running costs. If your radiator is under-sized then it will fight to reach temperature and ultimately never achieve it, therefore costing far more to operate than it should. Likewise, if your radiator size/output is too large then you will be paying more in electricity right from the start. ELKATHERM® radiators are sized according to the specific requirements of the room to be heated, taking into account many factors such as single/double glazing, external walls, cavity wall insulation and more. Once at full operating temperature (20 – 30 minutes) an ELKATHERM® radiator will start to modulate and will consume only around 15-17 minutes of electricity per hour.
Are your electrical radiators expensive to run?
There are many variables involved which make this an almost impossible question to answer. Direct running costs are affected by heat loss of each room, how a user uses a particular radiator/s and their lifestyle. BSRIA have carried out an independent report on ELKATHERM® radiators which looked into many things including running costs and the report is available to download on our website. When making the transition from old fashioned night storage heaters to ELKATHERM® radiators it is not uncommon for our customers to report significant savings – sometimes up to two-thirds.
How much do electric radiators cost to run?
There are many factors which affect running costs and ELKATHERM® radiators are the only brand of smart core heating to achieve an A++ energy performance rating. ELKATHERM® radiators are 100% efficient at point of use and there are potential savings. Please see our blog on running costs for more information.
What are the best electric radiators?
With so many offerings on the market it is important to make sure that you install the very best you can. Cheap convector heaters from DIY shops can prove very costly to run. ELKATHERM® boast an A++ rating and are 100% efficient at point of use.
ELKAtherm® Range FAQ'S
Why ELKATHERM®?
ELKATHERM® has been manufacturing since 1954 and is the only brand of smart core heating in the world to boast an A++ energy performance rating. This, combined with a 25-year warranty makes them the perfect choice.
Where are your radiators made?
ELKATHERM® radiators are made in Germany and utilise the very best in German engineering.
Where are you based?
Cotswold Heating Solutions is based in Stroud, Gloucestershire and is one of seven ELKATHERM® dealerships in the UK.
Are these night storage heaters?
ELKATHERM® radiators are direct acting radiators and not night storage heating. However, their design and smart clay core does allow for partial storage which in turn helps to lower overall running costs.
What is the warranty?
ELKATHERM® radiators come with a 25-year manufacturer’s warranty covering the smart clay core and 4-years on electronic components (double the industry standard).
Do they require any servicing?
There is no servicing required on ELKATHERM® heaters.
Do they work on Economy 7?
They can work with an Economy 7 tariff with some minor electrical amendments to ensure each radiator has a permanent power supply 24 hours a day. Our surveyor will be able to discuss this with you in more detail as sometimes an E7 tariff is not the most cost effective tariff to be on as you can end up paying a much higher daytime rate for your electricity.
Sunamp FAQ'S
What size is a Sunamp Thermino heat battery?
There are four different sizes, 70L, 150L, 210L and 300L.
What size do I need?
This depends on a number of factors such as number of occupants in the property and how many baths, showers and sinks there are. A free survey will identify which is best suited for your needs.
Does it work with any energy source?
It sure does – grid electricity, solar photo voltaics (Solar PV), heat pumps and boilers.
Is a Sunamp Thermino truly compact?
Absolutley – A Sunamp Thermino heat battery is up to 4 times smaller than the equivalent water tank, freeing up valuable storage space.
Does it require any servicing?
No, there is no mandatory annual servicing.
Who buys a Sunamp Thermino heat battery?
Homeowners, Landlords and property developers to name but a few. In fact, anyone conscious about lowering energy bills, reducing carbon footprint or eliminating gas.
Is it safe?
Definitely. It is reliable, safe, non-toxic and non-flammable.
What is inside?
The secret to the success of Sunamp heat batteries is their world leading Plentigrade technology. The Thermino range uses high-performance Plentigrade P58 phase change material to deliver hot water on demand. It absorbs and releases thermal energy during a melting and freezing process in a similar way to the gel in a pocket handwarmer. Freezing releases a huge amount of energy in the form of heat at a constant temperature.
What warranty does it have?
A market leading 10-year manufacturer warranty applies to the heating element and storage core.
Will it work with my shower?
A Thermino is compatible with most showers and its high powered heat exchanger allows for high quality, mains pressure showers. An altogether enhanced showering experience. No more poor water pressure at shower time.
How efficient is a Sunamp Thermino?
It is 4 x more efficient at storing heat than hot water.
So it stores water like my cylinder?
No, it stores heat energy only, so no risk of catastrophic water failure!
Will it work with Economy 7?
Yes, it will work with any electricity tariff. With the introduction of ‘agile’ tariffs there is also the opportunity to take advantage from cheaper ‘charging’ and therefore even lower running costs.
Does it heat the water instantly?
Yes, a Thermino instantly heats the water for freshness and hygiene.
Can you recycle a Sunamp?
Yes, a Thermino instantly heats the water for freshness and hygiene.
Is Sunamp installation disruptive?
Sunamp installation is not disruptive at all. If you have an existing water cylinder we remove and dispose of it, making any necessary alterations to the local pipework to facilitate connection to the Sunamp Thermino. The whole process just takes a few hours and you will only have mains pressure hot water back on in the same day.
Heat Batteries for Hot Water
How efficient are heat batteries?
Heat batteries using the Plentigrade formula cost less and are more efficient than other battery technologies and store up to four times more energy than water.
How does a heat battery work?
It absorbs and releases thermal energy during a melting and freezing process in a similar way to the gel in a pocket handwarmer. Freezing releases a huge amount of energy in the form of heat at a constant temperature.
What is a Sunamp heat battery?
It is an energy-saving thermal store that stores heat for on-demand hot water.
Tepeo Zero Emission Boiler FAQ'S
What is the storage medium made of?
Proprietary mix of high density, inert, non-toxic and low impact materials
How much energy does it store?
40kWh of usable thermal energy
How much power can it output?
15kW maximum
What temperature water can it supply?
Just like a fossil fuel boiler the ZEB can supply any water temperature up to 80°C in a suitably sized home. Your current boiler won’t be higher than this so you won't notice a difference.
How efficient is it?
When the ZEB is charged, it does become a little bit warm itself - the surface temperature is cooler than a radiator but there will be some heat losses present which will heat the area where the ZEB is located. A ZEB installed inside a home is 100% efficient however as those heat losses are still contained within the heating envelope.
The ZEB converts 100% of its electricity consumption into heat, this is why for EPC purposes it is classified as 100% efficient.
In terms of conversion of electricity into heat in the heating system only, the trial houses which hosted (and continue to host) ZEBs since 2020 have averaged 87%.
It is worth noting that this is more efficient than you are ever likely to see even from a brand new gas boiler in terms of actual, real world performance.
We are working on improving this performance, such as advising our customers to use immersion heaters with a timer for hot water heating, rather than using the ZEB for water heating, particularly in the summer months.
How long does it take to charge?
4-5 hours from empty. It can deliver heating after half an hour (from cold)
What are the dimensions of the ZEB?
98cm (height) x 60cm (width) x 66cm (depth) - but it needs clearance of 7cm above and 5cm on all sides.
How heavy is it?
375kg
How does it work?
Electricity powers electric heating elements which heat the storage medium (the ‘core’) which then stores the heat until needed to heat your home/hot water.
How long will it last?
The core of the ZEB is designed so it doesn't degrade over time, in fact there’s a good chance it will outlast the home it’s installed in! However, the ZEB still needs to be maintained, like all boilers,
Can ZEB draw electricity at the same time as a my EV charger?
Yes, a typical charger will draw 30A, the ZEB 40A, so together 70A - less than the typical 100A household limit.
What happens in a power cut?
Just as with a conventional boiler, the circulation pump will not work if there is no power supply, so heat will not be able to be provided. The stored heat will remain in the core for several days but will slowly be lost.
I have solar PV, can I use the excess to charge the ZEB?
Yes, ZEBs have the controls onboard to switch on when your system is exporting. This feature is in BETA testing now and we hope to release it in 2023.
How does Smart Charging Work?
Our Smart Charging algorithm charges the ZEB at the cheapest and greenest times of the day, ready for when you need it.
This factors in local weather, how much heat your home uses, the carbon intensity of electricity and the pricing of your energy tariff. The ZEB works best with “time of use” or “flexible” tariffs where the price you pay for electricity changes throughout the day.
Can I control when the ZEB charges?
Yes! With the tepeo App you can adjust Smart Charging to your preferences, or set a Custom Charging Schedule - instructing the ZEB when & how much to charge directly. We do not recommend this as weather changes will mean your heating demand varies - having a fixed schedule is not the ideal way to run the ZEB.
Can the ZEB go in my loft?
Sadly not, the weight of the ZEB makes lifting it up into a loft impractical.
Does it need an internet connection?
It needs an internet connection. This can either be provided over WiFi or Ethernet.
Do I need a smart meter?
No - the ZEB will still be able to optimise charging so it minimises your carbon footprint. However, to access lower cost electricity tariffs too, you will need a smart meter and a smart tariff from your energy supplier.
Will I notice any difference in my heating/hot water?
No - the ZEB behaves exactly as your conventional boiler does.
Warmer Home,
Lower Heating Bills
ELKATHERM® electric radiators save you money in three ways: using less energy, helping you waste less, and, potentially, cutting your other electricity costs and as they need no servicing you will save there too!
