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How does the 707-TT Radiator BOOster™ actually work and save energy?

1) Your central heating boiler will use around 15 kilowatts of energy every hour (some even more). The clever fan arrangement within the Radiator BOOster™ draws heat from your radiator, heating your room in up to half the time, allowing your boiler to shut down much sooner. If you could save just one hour a week of your boiler working, you would save 15 kilowatts of energy. You could easily find the savings more than this, between 7 and 14 hours/week (over 100 kilowatts) during the colder months is typical.

2) As your radiator heats up, the ‘rear’ surface normally radiates heat onto your wall, heating this up, which in turn is lost through the wall structure due to conduction. The Radiator BOOster™ sucks most of this wasted heat away from the wall and fires it into your room, significantly reducing the losses, saving you even more energy. It really is as simple as that!

How much energy does it really save?
This will depend on how you use the Radiator BOOster, and for how long. But UK energy providers state that reducing your thermostat setting by one degree Celsius could save the average home £49/year or 10% of your heating bills. Most tests carried out with Radiator BOOster™ have achieved at least 2 degrees reduction.

I plugged it in and nothing is happening. Is it faulty?
When you first use this device, place it on top of a hot radiator, diamond shaped holes facing down, and leave in place for at least 2 hours to ensure the thermostatic switch is operating correctly. If after this time it fails to operate, you can test the thermostatic switch by gently playing a hair dryer (set to 'medium-low' heat) onto the rear of the fan, through the diamond shaped holes. This should activate the switch and the fan should then operate.

I’m allergic to house dust. Will this make things worse?
Many people are allergic to house-dust that can make them sneeze, cough, nose & eyes stream, indeed a whole host of reactions, which can last for several hours/days. When Radiator BOOster™ is used for the first couple of days it may well stir up tiny particles of loose house-dust (areas behind radiators are notorious for holding dust), which could indeed lead to these allergic reactions. However, after a short time these loose house-dust particles will find somewhere else to settle and things should return to normal.

Provided Radiator BOOster™ is used as recommended, specifically a-top/behind 'water-filled' radiators (NOT oil-filled, electric, or other types) then there are NO Health & Safety issues as a result of the materials, substances and chemicals used within the product. Indeed, Radiator BOOster™ has been independently Certified to meet ALL European Health & Safety Standards (CE requirements).

If you are concerned about using Radiator BOOster™ in a room where the dust may get stirred up, then you could consider leaving it to operate for a couple of days before you use the room again, possibly by leaving the unit working whilst you are away. This way upon your return the 'loose-dust' will have settled elsewhere and you may not have an issue (this may be helpful in a lounge, hallway or bedroom that you use every day).

I’ve noticed a funny smell coming from the device. Is this normal ?
When used for the first few days, you may notice a slight smell. This can be caused by a tiny amount of excess lubricant on the fan bearing, evaporating off, or even the electric elements within the fan ‘running-in’. All smells should fade away within a few days of use and present NO Health & Safety issues.

Can it be used with Radiator Covers?
YES. Most definitely. Provided you can fit the device in place under your cover, you will save up to 3 times as much energy. Covers prevent a radiator from ‘radiating’ its heat, relying solely on ‘convection’. Radiator BOOster™ enhances that convection at least three fold, distributing huge amounts of trapped heat.

Can I leave it switched on 24/7 during the winter months?
YES. The 707-TT model is thermostatically controlled, meaning it will only operate when your radiator begins to heat up, and it will shut down as the radiator cools. However, we would recommend that you turn the device off at the wall socket when not needed, as the power supply runs continuously and therefore continues to use electricity when switched on.

It switches on and off for short periods, sometimes just a few seconds. Is this normal?
Yes, this is often quite normal, and should cause no concern. Radiators are set to reach different ‘high’ temperatures. Those set lower will experience this frequent on/off cycle. The ‘lower-level’ heat gently warms the thermostatic switch in the device, but as soon as the fan starts up, this heat is dissipated quickly by the fan, cooler air is drawn up, and this activates the thermal switch to turn off the device. However, the device still remains very effective in operation, drawing as much heat from the radiator as it possibly can.

Could I plug it into a timer unit to avoid me remembering to turn it on/off?
Yes. A standard ‘event timer’ should be used, the power supply plugged straight into it.

Surely the materials used to manufacture the Radiator BOOster™ themselves impact on the world's resources?
Yes, this is true. But we have designed the product to use the absolute minimum of materials and substances, (99% of which can be recycled) and in return achieve huge energy savings over many years. The ‘trade-off’ is well worth doing.

The 707-TT is telescopic. How far should I extend it upon my radiator?
Extend the telescopic housing to the total length of your radiator, or until an ‘overlap’ of just 25mm remains between the sections.

How should I dispose of the product when I’m finished using it or at the end of its life?
You must NOT include this product with your normal household waste. Please dispose of it through your local authority recycling program for ‘recovery and recycling for electrical products’. Remember, 99% of Radiator BOOster™ can be recycled, that has to be good for the environment.

My radiator is very long. Do I need to use two of these?
You can do, but it should not be necessary. The simple movement of air created by Radiator BOOster™ will normally lead to good convection in your room.

My radiator is very short. Will the 707-TT fit okay?
The 707-TT can be used on the smallest radiators, down to 250mm wide. The housing will ‘overhang’ each end, but this is not a concern, and the device will still work perfectly well.

Where should I place it on my radiator?
As far to the back and centralised along the length of your radiator should optimise the performance. However, if you place it to one end, it should still work adequately. On some radiator designs you will find that the device will drop down slightly behind the top of the radiator. This further enhances the performance.

Can I use it on oil filled radiators, electric storage radiators, or electric convection radiators?
NO. These types of radiator reach far higher surface temperatures than water filled radiators. These higher temperatures will distort and damage the housing and fans of Radiator BOOster™.

Can I use it in my bathroom, shower room, sauna room, outbuilding, etc?
NO! Radiator BOOster™ must not be used in a damp or humid environment under any circumstances.

How much electricity does it use, and is it safety approved?
The Radiator BOOster™ has been tested and approved by an independent laboratory, and conforms to all aspects of CE Certification. The fan is rated at < 1.5 watt, 12v DC, and each unit is supplied complete with a full set of instructions. Should you operate a Radiator BOOster™ for 500 hours, is should use approximately 1.5kW of electricity (less than 30p for most homes).

Will I need to put one of these in every room?
We would recommend you place one in each room that you regularly use, but it shouldn’t be necessary for other rooms. After all, you could unplug and move one very easily if necessary.

My nearest power socket is a long way from my radiator.
Each unit comes fitted with a 1.8metre power lead, which should suit most situations. However, we also offer the EL-RB1 extension lead. This is 3 metres in length and is available from several of our stockists. It simply fits between the power supply and the lead from the Radiator BOOster™. For safety reasons, NEVER extend the lead yourself.

Do I need to clean the device?
Yes. As with any fan, dust will build up on various surfaces, which will seriously impair the performance and reliability of the device. You will need to clean it periodically using a lint free cloth. Take care with the fan blades as they are very delicate and can break easily. The housing on the 707-TT simply slides apart, making cleaning even easier. Never use any chemicals, they are unnecessary and may damage the product.

Can you hear it working?
YES. The small fans used in Radiator BOOster™, like any fans, make an audible humming noise."The fans used in Radiator BOOster™ are similar to those used in home computers and operate at around the same audible level." During the summer most of us use large noisy desktop/ pedestal fans to help keep us cool, and in the winter noisy electric fan heaters to help keep us warm. Radiator BOOster™ costs virtually nothing to run and is considerably quieter than either of these.

Sometimes it is quieter than other times. Why is this?
The fans can take some time to settle down and perform at their optimum, and they are also very sensitive to temperature. The sounds will vary from time to time, but this is normal and should cause no concern.

Are there any hazards to be aware of when using Radiator BOOster™ ?
Never allow children or animals near Radiator BOOster™, they could damage or jam the fan, resulting in product failure. Never place the product anywhere near water (electricity and water are best kept well apart), or indeed anywhere water may get (from leaking roofs, etc). TRIP hazards are one of the most common in the home. Ensure the power lead to the product, especially any extension lead (EL-RB1) used, are always tucked away or tied up.

The fan has become noisy and/or clicking. What can I do?
Should you notice a rubbing/clicking sound, you may need to apply a gentle squeeze around the housing area of the fan to re-align it. Should the fan start making a loud noise, it could be it has moved on its bearing. To correct this, unplug the power lead, place your finger through the diamond shaped holes onto the inside centre circle-area of the fan (opposite side to the fan label), & press carefully to ensure the bearing has not slipped during use or transit. It could also simply be that dust deposits on the fan blades have allowed them to become ‘unbalanced’. Simple cleaning as described above should help.

Trouble Shooting;

My Radiator BOOster™ will not work. What could be wrong?

• When you first place the product onto your radiator and it begins to heat, you will have to wait some time for the thermostatic switch to activate.
• Check there is power coming from your wall socket. Maybe plug in another device (e.g. table lamp) to be sure there is power.
• Check the product-lead plug on the Radiator BOOster™ is fully inserted into the socket on the lower face of the power supply. Remove it and then re-insert to ensure a good connection, pressing it home firmly.
• Maybe your radiator is not heating enough air to activate the thermostatic switch within Radiator BOOster™. Old and/or blocked radiators can struggle to dissipate heat. Try the product on another radiator (maybe in another home/office) to see if this could be the problem. The heated ‘convected air’ coming from a radiator must reach temperatures over 30 degrees Celsius, to switch on the device.
• The device has stopped working due to excessive dust build-up or some foreign body fouling the fan blades. Un-plug immediately, and clean the device as described above.     
• The device, its connection wire, or power supply could be faulty. Discuss this with your retailer, they may have another you could try.
• Maybe the product has simply worn out. It is designed for long life (up to 500 hours per year in maximum 5 hours stints), but should it be forced to run continuously (say your radiator is ‘always hot’), the fan will break down quickly. The fan must experience frequent ‘off’ periods where it cools down, otherwise its life will be limited.

 

Spares & Accessories

EL-RB1                           3-metre long extension lead for use with all RB1 devices.

PS-UK-RB1                      UK 3-pin replacement 12v power supply for all RB1 devices.

PS-EU-RB1                      Euro 2-round-pin replacement 12v power supply for all RB1 devices.

PS-USCAN-RB1                 USA/Canada 2-flat-pin replacement 12v power supply for all RB1 devices.

 

 

 

 

 

 




Savings will vary considerably from home to home due to differing heating requirements, outside temperatures, building insulation, room temperatures preferred, heating boiler age and efficiences, room sizes, and so on. Any figures and suggested savings quoted are for guidance purposes only, however we are confident that in most standard cases, all these savings are achievable when using Radiator BOOster throughout your home/building.