heating airing cupboard after move to combi

[rjm2k]

my airing cupboard is now empty, having switched to a combi boiler. i want to keep using it as an airing cupboard so had planned to add a small electric wall heater to help dry / keep stuff dry. something like this (on a timer or thermostat)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Electric-H...+Radiator&qid=1582040557&s=home-garden&sr=1-3

or perhaps a higher output version of something like this

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dimplex-SH...8?keywords=wall+heater&qid=1582040013&sr=8-18

what have other people done in the same situation?

thanks

 

[^woody^]

A radiator off the CH system would be more logical and cost effective

 

[rjm2k]

thanks, I did think about that, but not convenient when the heating is off. I guess moving the thermostat in there and turning down all the other trvs in summer might have been an option, but the pipework has pretty much gone and I don't want to alter it now the system is installed.

 

[JohnD]

Now that people think the worst of winter is over, you may find an oil-filled radiator at low cost. They generally have a thermostat on them but not a timer. I think I saw some 800W one in Aldi yesterday in the middle bins.

Keep the cupboard door closed to avoid heat loss and leave a thermometer in there to see what temp you get. adjust the thermostat to minimise running costs while still warm.

No point in a timer unless you either want to run it for short periods, or have solar panels.

Probably this one.
https://www.aldi.co.uk/easy-home-mini-oil-filled-radiator/p/099618315415300

other retailers will usually have something similar, until shipments from China dry up.
https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Oil-Filled-Radiator-500W/p/181917

When the weather gets warm prices will be cut to clear stock.

https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/daewoo-mini-oil-filled-radiator-700w/p/0458541

 

[EFLImpudence]

Surely an airing cupboard is just taking advantage of a situation that already exists because of other circumstances - DHW cylinder.

Is it necessary to replicate one?

Is actual heating necessary other than to cause air circulation?

 

[DetlefSchmitz]

You wouldn't be living in a warm country, would you?

 

[EFLImpudence]

Yeah but, no but -

The house will itself be relatively warm, so is it the heat of the cylinder or the air-flow caused by it, along with the slated shelves, which 'air' the items?

So, does the cupboard actually need heating or just a small heat source to cause air flow?

 

[JohnD]

if the air in the cupboard it heated, its RH will reduce, which will cause the contents of the cupboard to lose moisture.

Since the volume of water vapour is vastly greater than the volume of the water it came from, it will push its way out of the cupboard.

So the heater will cause the contents of the cupboard to become drier.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Yes, but does it need the equivalent of the cylinder or a 100W bulb?

Plus, things are not put in the cupboard wet to dry but when already dry to 'air' - whatever that is.

 

[JohnD]

a well-insulated cylinder does not lose much heat.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Ok. Why, then, would someone suggest 500W, 700W or 8OOW heaters?

 

[JohnD]

this.

Keep the cupboard door closed to avoid heat loss and leave a thermometer in there to see what temp you get. adjust the thermostat to minimise running costs while still warm.

"Most hot water cylinder manufacturers suggest that the water will lose between 1 kWh and 2.5 kWh of heat per day."
https://www.viessmann.co.uk/heating-advice/how-long-does-water-stay-hot-in-tank

mine has extra insulation and there is not enough waste heat to keep the airing cupboard warm. in winter there is extra heat from the pump and pipes.

 

[stem]

Methinks the wording is wrong. In the summer when the central heating pipes aren't hot, my airing cupboard only gets slightly warmer than the ambient, probably 5 degrees at most. If I were to put in an electric heater with a fixed 1kW output in there it would be unbearable and probably dangerous in a matter of minutes.

I suspect that they mean the water would loose between 1kW and 2.5kW of heat during the course of the entire day, that would be more akin to my experience.

1 to 2.5 kWh per day is meaningless anyway. It would either be 1kW per hour, or 1kW per day, it can't be both.

 

[bernardgreen]

It would either be 1kW per hour, or 1kW per day, it can't be both.

1 kWh is one kiloWatt for one hour, or 500 Watts for 2 hours or 41.67Watts for 24 hour

Odd that a plumber I know has a hot water tank in the airing cupboard yet he advocates combi boilers to as many customers as he can

Heating an airing cupboard with hot water is safe, maximum temperature ( fault conditions ) is well below the ignition temperature for fabric. Other forms of heating can be hot enough to ignite fabric.

 

[Man_Beach]

I had a 60w tubular heater in my airing cupboard for 20 years, after having a combi boiler system installed. It provided a constant background heat which was more than adequate. I've just moved to another house (also with a combi boiler). This place has a slightly larger airing cupboard (about 18 inches deep and 4 ft wide) and I've fitted a 80W tubular heater from Screwfix. Works a treat.