Smart electric heaters are slowly grabbing a lot of attention from UK homeowners. Which comes with its own technology-centric features: easy controls, smart schedule, and thermostats. In this guide, we will deep dive into how the installation and setup of the smart electric heaters work.
From selecting the right location for installation, WiFi and App integration to professional installation. We will look at it step-by-step in brief.
Smart electric heaters are, although regarded as heaters that work with very simple and easy mechanics, these heaters require a proper and safe installation. Even if the heater is plug-and-play, it also needs certain checks that are mandatory. Which includes correct wiring, mounting, heat clearance and also has to make sure it is under proper heat regulations. For the smart heaters that require hard wiring, you do need professionals to get the job done for you.
How to Plan Your Installation?
1. Right Location
- The sellers will advise you on your ideal room and wall type that will accommodate your heating system. They will advise you about insulated walls or partitions that could be required.
- For smart electric heater radiators, it’s best when the radiators are placed on the coolest wall of the room, near a window, for optimum heat distribution. By doing so, they can easily offset heat loss.
- Make sure there is enough distance clearance from the radiator and other objects in your room, like the furniture, curtains, and windowsills. Proper clearance should be ensured from all sides where the radiator is placed, so that there is proper air circulation.
- It is necessary to have a proper power socket or hard wiring to accommodate the power supply to your heater; it is not recommended nor is it safe to be connected to extender cables or socket adapters.
- If you decide to enable your smart electric heaters, make sure your network has a band width of 2.4 GHz; many heaters work in 2.4GHz rather than 5 GHz.
2. A DIY or Wanting Professional Help
- Doing it yourself (DIY), a lot of smart electric heaters are designed for ease and hassle-free installation and usage, especially the ones that come with plug leads. As smart electric heaters don’t come at a cheaper price, a lot of homeowners like to waive off the installation fees to cover at least a part of the money invested in these premium smart heaters.
- Professional installations are required, and it is very much recommended when there is hard wiring required to install your smart electric heater. Or if you need to install in areas like bathrooms or areas that require RCD protection, which often integrates into complex electrical circuits. Several installation manuals come with a disclaimer stating that “installation must be carried out only by an authorised and licensed technician”.
A Guide for DIY: If You Choose to Do So
1. Preparation
- If there is a wiring-related fixing in which there is a possibility that you would come in contact with the circuit, switch off the circuit and any power sockets before doing so. This is the foremost and important step.
- Unbox the heater, check the user manual, and carefully check if all the major and minor parts are present for you to be able to fix the heater all by yourself.
- Get the list of tools ready before you start absolutely anything. The list of tools you might need is usually like a drill, screw driver, tape, etc. Anything needed is usually mentioned in the manual.
- Identify the location that would best suit the heater to be mounted or fixed. (Refer to how to plan your installation given previously.)
2. Mounting the Heater
- First and foremost, after you’ve made it 100% as to where you want to fix your heater, mark the mounting holes with a pencil or a light marker so that even if you mark wrong, you can easily clean it off the wall. Usually, the manufacturers/sellers include brackets that you could fix to the wall first.
- After marking, go ahead and drill the holes and fix the wall plugs that are suitable for your wall material.
- Fix your brackets securely and check if they are on a linear and desired level with a spirit level.
- This is one of the most careful steps, with proper assistance, lift the heater and mount it on the fixed brackets, and check if the heater properly sits, is secure, and aligned with the bracket.
- Circle back and check if the heater is mounted firmly and securely. Do not proceed with the next step until and unless you are absolutely sure about the stability.
3. Electrical connection
For Plug-In Model
- Plug the heater into a suitable socket and ensure it is turned off. Do not use any extension boards for fixed heaters.
- Ensure the socket is functioning properly. Use a socket dedicated to the heater if recommended by the seller/manufacturer.
For Hard-Wired Model
- Less you are an authorised technician, you should always hand over the hard wiring work to a professional certified technician.
- Make sure to use an appropriate FCU (fused connection unit).
- Make sure you have the right supply voltage, which is usually mentioned in the rating label of the appliance.
- Make sure to properly zone out the area if the heater is being fitted in the bathroom; the switch of the heater shouldn’t be within reach of the bath or shower. This is very crucial for safety reasons.
4. Initial Check and Smart Setups
- Switch the power back on, and see if the display lights/interface lights up.
- Check if the heater is showing any error warnings or signs.
- Run the heater for a short while and check for any foul odor, unusual sounds, or excess heating.
- Smart setup is where the added value comes in; these features are highly crucial. You want to be very keen on using these regularly if you want to see a drop in your electricity bill.
- Make sure your phone or tablet is connected to WiFi with the required bandwidth. Install the manufacturer’s app to begin the setup.
- Press the WiFi button that is present on the heater. Often, it has to be a long press in order for the WiFi button lights on the heater to start blinking.
- Go into the heater app that is on your device. Select Add device → select the heater that you want to pair → Confirm the pairing to the right device and wait till it fully pairs with the heater.
- After you confirm that the device is aired successfully, test the settings in the app. Set a temperature and see if the room heats up accordingly.
- Create your zones and name them accordingly so that you can activate your zonal heating features. Activate your safety feature, like open-window detection.
- Make sure your energy consumption monitor is working properly and is accurate.
5. Final Tests and Checks
- It’s best to review all the setups and features after a few days of using the heater to make sure everything is up to the mark.
- Make sure to store away the manual and any other important parts that came with the heater, so that you can easily access them when the need arises.
- Keep the login and credentials to your app, physically written down somewhere safe and easy to remember.
Professional Installation Services in the UK
While many smart heaters are very DIY friendly, there are situations and requirements when you should strictly consider calling for professional help. Especially when it comes to hardwiring or when you are integrating a cluster of heaters for a smart home system. The criteria which you should call an authorised technician
- If your heater requires a hard wiring installation or if it needs a lot of wiring and mechanical work.
- If you are integrating a lot of heaters in your home heating systems, or radiator network.
- The heater installations in the bathroom are to be done very carefully as it needs a RCD and IP rating – these are special requirements and regulations required for that particular zone.
- If You would like a certificate in respect to insurance, and also for future proofing.
- Most importantly peace of mind, if you want to be 100% sure that the heater is installed and is under absolute safety.
Read our Complete Guide on the Benefits of Smart Electric Heaters
Maintenance and Efficiency
Regular checks and inspections are very necessary. These regular checks will ensure the smooth running of your heater for the long term. Regularly check whether the mounting brackets are tight and secure enough; any dust and soot accumulation on the heater grille and panels should be cleared and cleaned regularly. This ensures a proper airflow and ventilation, which is crucial for safety and efficiency. Also, keep an eye on your smart app controls, check for any error notifications, and make sure the app runs properly.
To optimize efficiency, good insulation is key. Even the most efficient heater can really struggle to give the desired output if you have poor insulation. Preheat the room before using it, so that the heat stays on for a long time rather than leaving the heating on for a long time. Take advantage of the zonal heating features, which are a vital feature in maintaining efficiency. Most of the systems come with a ‘vacation’ or an ‘away’ mode, which will be of big help when you are going away and you need to keep the heating down.
Discover Which Heater Is Right for You – Smart or Traditional?
Conclusion
In this guide, we have explored everything you need to know about installing or fixing a smart electric heater for your home. Keep in mind that although a smart electric heater claims that it is an easy install, in some cases, it is best to call for professional help, and you can easily identify when to do that by referring to this detailed guide. Whether it’s about a simple upgrade or if you are interested in a smart home integration, it is essential to have a proper understanding of the fixing and installation needs of your particular smart electric heater.
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