Do electric radiators require much maintenance?

Electric radiators are growing in popularity thanks to their many energy saving benefits and their ease of installation, but many people want to know what their maintenance requirements are. We are used to annual boiler servicing and radiator bleeding with a traditional gas central heating system, so are electric radiators the same?

In this article, Rio Heating take a look at what is required to look after your electric radiators and keep them running safely and efficiently at all times.

Electric radiator maintenance

Most people will be aware that servicing gas central heating can be a costly business which is essential in order to make sure that they remain safe. When taking on a new system like electric radiators, it is important to understand what maintenance commitments you are taking on to work out whether they are as cost efficient as they appear.

The good news is that electric radiators are maintenance free. As they do not work through the combustion of fuel and they are not connected to a network of pipes, and so regular servicing is not necessary. This means that they can not only save you money through installation and running costs, but in maintenance too.

Electric radiator checklist

Even though electric radiators do not need any specific maintenance, it is still important to keep an eye on them, just like any other appliance in your home. If there are any radiators that have not been used for a while, it can be worthwhile switching them on briefly to make sure that they are still functioning properly.

When your radiators are on, you should make sure that they are working efficiently by emitting the levels of heat that you are expecting.

It also good to regularly review the timings that you have set up for your radiators. As the weather warms up, you may want to reduce the amount of time that they are on or the temperatures that they are set to. You might also find that you do not need them on in as many rooms as you first thought. By checking this on a regular basis, you can continue to save money on your heating bills.

Cleaning electric radiators

As with anything else in your house, you will need to clean your electric radiators from time to time, but this is a relatively easy task. Start by making sure that your radiator is switched off and has had chance to cool down in order to ensure that it is safe to touch. Then grab a duster and gently wipe away any dust that may have accumulated. This tends to be greater during the summer months when the radiators are not being used as frequently. If you prefer, you can use a vacuum to do this, and get rid of any dust or cobwebs that might have formed around or behind the radiator as well.

Finally, give your radiator a gentle wipe with a soft, damp cloth which has been dipped into some warm, soapy water to get rid of any dirt, marks or remaining dust, followed by a quick dry with another cloth and your electric radiator maintenance is complete. It really is as easy as that!

If dust and dirt is left to build up between the radiator find and blades then it can begin to hinder convection, forcing your radiator to work harder and therefore be less efficient.

Electric radiators provide a fantastic maintenance-free option for heating any property. They are a great way to help keep costs down, and they require minimal effort and there are no shocking unexpected bills when servicing time comes around.