Radiators

Hi all,

I am sure you are all enjoying the sunshine and warm weather. We are completing in La Isla and we want to start to fit out the apartment. You all should have had one winter in Spain and we also came over during the winter and stayed in La torre. We found that we needed (mainly the wife) heating in the apatments. Does anyone know where to buy these? I would be looking for ones that have a timer on them.

Can you help

Thanks

Neil

Hi Neil,

We didn't fit any radiators but have heat/cool A/C which we found to be more than enough.

Phil

Hi Neil,

We were over just before Xmas last year and agree with Phil, all that was needed was hot a/c. I would spend at least one winter in your apartment before spending your hard earned cash on something you may not require or use.

Ali

Hiya Neil

I agree with both Alison and Phil - a hot and cold a/c system does the trick in my place too.  I was more concerned about using up valuable wall/floor space if I fitted radiators.  Hope our input helps.  All the best.  Arlene

Hi Neil

We spent a week in our apartment in early March and it did get a bit chilly in the evenings

We just bought a couple of plug in oil heaters from Brico House at Camposol. They were about €30 each but were fine for taking the chill off the bedrooms. They are on wheels so you can move them into the lounge as required.

They are also small enough to store in the wardrobes during the summer so dont take up any space

Cheers

We've done exactly the same as Waddle - 2 oil filled radiators on wheels, we got ours from the Brico shop at Dos Mares. They really do belt out the heat. Nicely tucked away in the wardrobes at the moment.  We prefer this sort of heat to the type blown at us from air con, and they do retain heat for a while after switching them off.

Chris & Alison

This message was last edited by Jann on 31/07/2009.

We have air con which heats as well, I was over at christmas and the heating was very efficient, and totally controlable, especially if you fit the inverter type, because it regulates the temperature output so you don't get any temperature changes, also the new ones set on quiet mode you can't even hear them running. The biggest bonus is they are cheap to run, very low energy consumption. Hope this helps

Firstly can I say that Andyclark is correct. re aircon & its low consumption of electricity. We too have the inverta .type installed by Polarair

Remember radiators do not heat the area where you sit or lie first because the heat rises. you only benifit once the air above you is warm enough to allow the cooler air around yout o get warm. they are not enviromently friendly either because of your eletricity consumption

Air con points downwards so heats around your feet first & then rises to  warm the air above you..

The best mode of heating is under floor but its to late for that, pity really as though initially expensive . you soon reap the benifits due to lower electricity consumption.. We were over in January & I soon realised that I would need slippers if I wanted to get myself a drink during the night when there was no heating on.

Jan

Hi Jann,

I wear slippers in all weathers, pink flufffy ones too!! the only problem with them is  things tend to make there homes in them, so it can be quite  a shock in the middle of the night when you put your foot in and something wiggles or tickles your toes.  But just to reiterate inverted A/C units heat your apartment almost instantaneously and cheaply and it means you have more wall space for furnishing.

Good luck whatever you decide Neil cause this is a tricky one.

I was going to fit low energy consumption electric panel radiators until I spoke to Gary from www.polaraircostablanca.com  he recommended Hot/Cold Panasonic inverters Air Conditioning, he said it will be all we will need summer and winter and will be far cheaper to run than any other option, Used it during last winter and this summer both are excellent, Thanks Gary for good advice and excellent service.

Phil

This message was last edited by Jann on 30/07/2009.

Hi All

phil

your spot on mate, its eu regs, what define insulation properties,windows, doors, from 1st fix and beyond,  not what type of home they are.

jann

i dont think phil or i were critical of your comment jann, and i apologise if it looked that way,(bloody email) i was just trying to take out peoples concerns over the "lack of insulation".

traditional they are certainly not, and i would not have bought one, had they been, the point is eu building regs are now excellent, regarding all values of the property. thick walls are now a thing of the past and clever use of materials and  nature are now the norm. walls now act like a thermos flask, building lecture over, sorry

ant

Hi, When I was over in my apartment in Jardin 1 a couple of months ago I saw that some of my neighbours had got some panel radiators (electric) fitted. they were very elegant and took up little space. The neighbours said they were very effective when they used them in the colder weather. They are apparently cheaper than hot/cold aircon to run and can be fitted at 79 euro's each. I shall be having some when I come over in august. I think I can find the flyer if anyone interested.

Hi Jann

I also had no intention of criticising your original comment which was well made and valid, so if it looked like I was, I am very sorry, I was just trying to point out that as Ant has now said the insulation values in our properties are significantly better than those that have been used in recent years. You are completely correct in saying that in years gone by, good old traditional building in Spain was the use of very thick walls to control the internal climate and during the mass boom build of not so many years ago, it was typical to build properties with just thin walls. I was just trying to add to you post by saying, because of building regulations that are now in place in Spain we have benefited from modern ways of insulating properties. You are also correct in saying that we would need background heating in our properties to keep us warm during the winter months in Spain which is where this thread started and I should have left it, now move over Ant there is room on that naughty step for two, I know I’ve been on it before.

Phil

Cheers everyone.

I think I will ask about the better air con heat jobby.

Buy the misses a pair of slippers and pocket the diff for sangria and golf fees.

Cool  or is that warm?