You can set each timer to provide 2 periods of heating each day. Timer: The Energysavers feature dual timers. The electronic controls and starting mechanism mean the heater needs a mains connection, and won’t work in a power cut.Ĭhanging the dust filter: The filter is readily accessible from the top of the heater and easy to remove, clean with a vacuum and replace. There’s no remote, so you have to wander over to the heater every time you need to make an adjustment. We found the controls easy to understand and use. There’s also an indicator light showing when you need to remove and clean the filter. Starting: Both gas heaters have an instant electronic start we found reliable.Ĭontrols: The Energysavers have a push-button digital control panel, allowing you to set the thermostat (16-26☌), select an “economy” mode, activate a child lock or operate the timer. How do gas heaters compare? (Note: the Rinnai Energysaver 559FT and 309FT have the same control panel). Bells and whistles such as timers and WiFi control further automate the heating process. Push a button on a remote and within minutes your home is cosy. How easy heat pumps are to use is a major drawcard. Noise: We measured the sound levels of the Rinnai heaters and found them slightly quieter than heat pumps, though there’s still a perceptible fan noise throughout the room. Consumers who are frustrated their heat pumps emit a type of heat that’s too “soft” are likely to prefer the instant, powerful heat of a gas convector. In contrast, the Energysavers instantly produce a jet of hot air. However, a heat pump can take a while to get going, especially as the outdoor temperature falls (in the same way your car’s heater blows chilly air for the first few minutes on cold mornings). The experience: Heat pumps and gas heaters warm through convection, using a fan to circulate warm air, rather than by radiating heat directly at you, like a woodburner or bar heater. The 309FT, which has a lower heat output (3.1kW), took nearly 10 minutes to achieve a 5☌ temperature rise and only increased the temperature to 16☌ after half an hour.Įvenness: Both gas heaters warmed the room as evenly as a heat pump would, with just over 1☌ variation between the warmest and coldest parts of the room. Its performance is comparable to a similar-sized heat pump. This excellent result wasn’t surprising as the 5.3kW unit is designed to heat rooms as large as 82m². Heat-up time: In just over 5 minutes, the 559FT raised the temperature by 5☌, and within half an hour had our lab at a balmy 23☌. After stabilising the lab’s temperature at 8☌, we cranked the heater’s thermostat to maximum and started timing. Both heaters are floor-mounted units and, like heat pumps, are costly to shift once installed. We assessed the Energysavers in an expanded version of the thermal comfort laboratory we use to test electric heaters - 5m wide by 6m deep and with a 2.4m-high insulated ceiling. Performance Energysaver 309FT (left), Energysaver 559FT (right)
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