If you\u2019ve followed this blog for a long time, you\u2019ll know we don\u2019t have gas central heating, but instead, use electric radiators (and of course, not forgetting our amazing log burner too!). The decision for this was mostly due to the fact we couldn\u2019t afford to install a boiler when we first moved in, but as time has gone on, it\u2019s become a decision we\u2019ve chosen to stay with and I\u2019ll explain some of our reasons for this later in this post.<\/p>\n
Back at the start of the year in our \u2018renovation plans for 2021<\/a>\u2018 post, you might remember how I mentioned how we needed a new electric radiator for our smallest bedroom (soon to be Dylan\u2019s room) after buying an electric radiator years back that simply didn\u2019t cut the mustard. So when Electric Radiators Direct<\/a> asked if I wanted to review Ecostrad\u2019s new iQ Ceramic WiFi radiator, of course, I said YES!<\/p>\n As far as experience with electric radiators goes, over the last several years we\u2019ve tried a fair few different brands, models and designs. Did I mention our old house was electrically heated too? Some have been good, some not go so good. But after nearly a decade of electric heating, I can definitely say I now know what makes a good electric radiator!<\/p>\n I\u2019ve been trying out the new Ecostrad iQ Ceramic WiFi Radiator<\/a> for the last few weeks and I\u2019ve got to say, I\u2019ve been pretty impressed! Sometimes I feel like \u2018WiFi-ready devices\u2019 can be a little unnecessary \u2013 I mean, I\u2019m not totally convinced smart fridges are all that useful just yet, but when it comes to being able to control individual electric radiators through WiFi, it\u2019s brilliant<\/em>. <\/p>\n But, this radiator isn\u2019t just brilliant because of its super-swish WiFi feature, it\u2019s also really efficient at quickly heating a room, has a surprisingly clever sensor mode and its heat-retentive technology even saves you money!<\/p>\n So let\u2019s start with the first thing I look for in a radiator \u2013 STYLE. Yes, I\u2019m one of those people who will definitely disregard a product if it\u2019s going to ruin the decor. The design of electric radiators has come along in the last few years and this one definitely doesn\u2019t disappoint!<\/p>\n The Ecostrad iQ Ceramic Electric Radiator is slimline, sleek and simplistic in design which I think, makes it quite modern looking. The touch-screen control gives the radiator an additional high-end designer feel to it and I also really liked the fact that it\u2019s located on the top of the radiator, discreetly out of view when looking at the radiator front-on.<\/p>\n Size-wise this radiator is much smaller in both width and depth compared to others we\u2019ve used. But at the same time, it actually has a higher KW output (1.5KW would you believe?!). It\u2019s space-saving and perfect for smaller rooms or where you\u2019re short on wall space. For both style and practicality, it\u2019s an all-around win from me.<\/p>\n The second thing I look for with electric radiators is the ease of installation. Electric radiators aren\u2019t the cheapest to buy and when you have to hire an electrician to fit them at the same time, the costs can really quickly mount up! This radiator plugs straight in. No extra costs, no extra hassle.<\/p>\n Unlike oil-filled radiators which weigh an absolute ton (if you have very old electric storage heaters \u2013 you know what I\u2019m talking about!!), this radiator is lightweight and can easily be lifted by one person alone, making installation MUCH easier. The radiator even comes with a template that shows you EXACTLY where to drill for fixing the brackets to a wall. It literally takes the guesswork out of measuring up and fitting to the wall and means you really don\u2019t have to be a DIY expert for this job!<\/p>\n You can see how the template works in the photo below \u2013 our radiator is a 1500W and I\u2019ve positioned the brackets in the locations marked for drilling.<\/p>\n One thing I will say though is that the brackets aren\u2019t located centrally on the radiator. If you\u2019re anything like me, you\u2019re probably going to want your radiator centrally located on a wall, or central underneath a window. If you position the template slap bang in the centre of a wall, unfortunately, your radiator won\u2019t be.<\/p>\n It is, however, really easy to figure out how to position your template so your radiator is central and so I thought I\u2019d share a few quick tips for doing this, in case it helps anyone reading this!<\/p>\n In total, it probably only took around 10 minutes or less to complete this job. It was SO much quicker and simpler than needing to measure out the location for each bracket individually. <\/p>\n If fixing to the wall isn\u2019t for you, you can also buy separate feet for the radiator to have it freestanding. This can be useful for moving the radiator between different rooms, which is ideal if you don\u2019t want to buy multiple radiators, which can be particularly cost-effective for rooms that perhaps get very little use!<\/p>\n The Ecostrad iQ Ceramic Radiator<\/a> has a ceramic core that is not only fast to heat up but also heat-retentive, meaning it stays warmer for longer and even continues to release radiant heat for some time after it\u2019s been powered off. This energy-saving technology helps to cut down on the overall running costs, saving electricity, saving you money.<\/p>\n I genuinely found this electric radiator heated up the room much faster than what we\u2019ve been used to which is amazing, because let\u2019s face it, if you\u2019re like me, when it\u2019s cold you want the space to warm up as fast as possible!!<\/p>\n One of the best things about this radiator is that it can be controlled straight from your phone! However, unlike some other electric radiators, it doesn\u2019t require any additional \u2018hubs\u2019 which normally plug into your router and are additional extras to buy. The Ecostrad iQ Ceramic Radiator<\/a> is smart-ready without the extra faff, no hub, no additional costs. You download the Smart Life App<\/a>, input your router password and away you go.<\/p>\n There was virtually no set-up needed as the app even recognises a radiator close by, so all you need to do is name your new radiator, so if you have multiple radiators, you know which is which.<\/p>\n The app is SO easy to use, even if you\u2019re not very technological, you really can\u2019t go much wrong. You have the option to turn it on and off, change the temperature, switch between the 5 different modes (more on that in a bit!) and set up a 24\/7 schedule.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a couple of clever extra settings you can turn on, like open window detection which basically allows the radiator to detect a sudden drop in temperature and turn it off to save wasted energy. And there\u2019s also a child lock setting that allows you to essentially \u2018lock\u2019 the radiator so it can\u2019t be adjusted manually on the touch-screen control. I think we\u2019re going to need that one in a few years!<\/p>\n The interface is super simple and there\u2019s not too many<\/em> buttons, controls or options which I liked as sometimes I think it can all become a bit confusing if there are too many controls. At the same time though, the app still has everything you need from it! The Smart Life App also works with other smart devices, for example, certain smart light bulbs or smart sockets \u2013 so you can essentially have all your WiFi devices controlled from the same app, which is super handy.<\/p>\n There\u2019s also the option to use the app with Alexa or Google Home and activate each radiator through voice control. We don\u2019t have either of these though, so I haven\u2019t tested how this works personally \u2013 but the option is there if that\u2019s your kinda jam.<\/p>\n For us, having a WiFi radiator in a baby\u2019s room has been SO useful. Although Dylan isn\u2019t sleeping in here just yet (he\u2019s only 12 weeks old!), being able to turn the heat up or down without entering the room, I think, is going to be game-changing! <\/p>\n Of course, the app also allows you to control the radiator when away from home too, although unfortunately, I haven\u2019t been able to give that much of a test \u2013 you can thank lockdown mark 3 for that! I imagine it\u2019ll come in handy for all the times I forget to turn the radiator off when leaving the house though and I think it\u2019s going to be great for pre-warming the room before returning home. <\/p>\n On the app, you have 5 different modes to choose from; Comfort, Eco, Anti-Freeze, Program and Sensor Mode. Comfort simply allows you to set the temperature for maximum comfort, all the way up to 30degrees. Eco mode is very similar but should be set to a lower temperature, for example, you might select this mode when the room isn\u2019t in use during the day, but you still want to maintain a bit of heat.<\/p>\n Anti-Freeze is the mode you would choose through winter when the radiator isn\u2019t in use. The temperature is set at 7degrees to prevent the radiator from freezing. This feature would be particularly useful for an outbuilding or if you\u2019re away from the home for a prolonged period during the winter months.<\/p>\n Then there\u2019s the program mode, which allows you to set up a 24\/7 programme \u2013 I reckon this one would be particularly useful if you have a regular working\/homelife routine.<\/p>\n And finally, there\u2019s a sensor mode, which essentially uses a motion sensor to detect when the room is occupied. When unoccupied, it slowly steps the temperature down to save money and energy. And if no motion is detected for 24 hours, it then switches to the anti-freeze mode (set at 7degrees), effectively turning the radiator off.<\/p>\n I\u2019m not going to lie, I was slightly dubious about how well the sensor would work, but it actually did work! It recognised when I was in here playing with Dylan and slowly stepped down in temperature when I wasn\u2019t. This mode basically saves you money without you even having to think about it!<\/p>\n One thing I will say is that Dylan\u2019s room isn\u2019t massive and it\u2019s a nice rectangular shape. If the radiator was poorly placed for motion detection, or used in an awkward \u2018L shaped\u2019 room, I don\u2019t know whether it would always detect that motion. I also can\u2019t say whether this mode works for overnight use (when sleeping!) as currently, this room isn\u2019t occupied at night to test. But, from how we\u2019ve used it so far \u2013 it definitely works! When you think about it, it\u2019s such a simple but clever addition. <\/p>\n This is probably the mode I would be most inclined to use, as you pretty much don\u2019t need to do anything in terms of controlling the radiator. If you forget to turn the radiator off when leaving the house, it doesn\u2019t matter because the radiator already knows to turn itself down! You don\u2019t need to worry about having a good mobile signal to access the app, and it doesn\u2019t matter if it takes you 12 hours or more to realise you\u2019ve left that radiator on. The radiator detects the room is unoccupied and has already done the job for you. It\u2019s completely effortless heating, saving you money without you even noticing. I\u2019ve got to say, I think it\u2019s pretty genius and one of the stand-out features about this electric radiator for me.<\/p>\n Electric radiators are 100% efficient. That means every bit of electricity is turned into heat, with no energy lost (unlike gas boilers which are often only 75-95% efficient). Electric is also renewable energy and if you choose a renewable energy supplier, there are effectively zero carbon emissions. For me, that makes electric radiators all the more appealing!<\/p>\n I also really like the fact you can control the temperature of each room individually with electric radiators, unlike gas central heating which often has a single thermostat to control the whole house.<\/p>\n If you live in a house with rooms that aren\u2019t used daily, only heating the rooms there are in use can save energy and help to cut down your overall bill. This is why I think the sensor mode on the Ecostrad iQ Ceramic is so great.<\/p>\n For us, electric heating also means we can achieve that recommended 18degrees sleep temperature in a babies room, whilst at the same time, have a radiator set to a much lower temperature in our own bedroom, which is how I like to sleep \u2013 COLD.<\/p>\n This is always a tricky one to review because what it costs for me, won\u2019t necessarily cost the same for you. You need to bear in mind running costs vary depending on the output (kW) of an electric radiator, the size of the room, how well insulated the room is (for heat loss etc), how hot\/cool the temperature is that day, as well as how much your energy costs per unit. All in all, please don\u2019t take these figures as exact measurements, just as a very<\/strong><\/em> rough example.<\/p>\n On our energy tariff (current to April 2021) this radiator cost 24p per hour to run. However, the radiator doesn\u2019t run for a full hour as it turns off once it reaches your chosen temperature. Starting at 16degrees, it took somewhere around 30 minutes for the radiator to reach the temperature I\u2019d set at 19 degrees and turn off. It only turns on again when the radiator starts to drop in temperature, meaning on average for us, the first hour cost around 14p and subsequent hours cost anywhere between 2-6p depending on the time of day \/ external temperature. <\/p>\n As I say, you may find this radiator costs more \/ less than these figures in your own home, this is just what it\u2019s costing for us currently. Of course, it\u2019s worth mentioning that we are now in spring (despite those frosty evenings!), so I would expect those figures to potentially be slightly higher during winter.<\/p>\n I calculated these figures using a smart meter, turning off all other electrical devices for the day (except the fridge, obvz!)<\/p>\n I genuinely have very little to say! If I\u2019m being completely picky, my only complaint is that unless you\u2019re able to use the radiator next to a socket, you are most likely going to need to run an extension lead as the cable is only 1.5m long.<\/p>\n I would also say it\u2019s worth remembering electric radiators shouldn\u2019t be covered, so you might want to think twice about installing underneath a window if you have any long curtains. This isn\u2019t a problem for us but does mean you might have to be more selective about positioning.<\/p>\n Overall, if you can\u2019t tell \u2013 I think this radiator is fantastic! For me, I\u2019m all about style, saving money and having something that actually works<\/em>. The Ecostrad iQ Ceramic Electric Radiator<\/a> does all three! You can buy this radiator from Electric Radiators Direct<\/a>, where it\u2019s available in 5 different sizes depending on square footage of your room. There\u2019s a handy calculator on their website to help you identify the right size for your room!<\/p>\n For 10% off, use the code KEZZA10 at checkout \u2013 valid until the end of the month!<\/strong><\/p>\n So I think that\u2019s everything! I hope this Ecostrad iQ Ceramic Wifi radiator review was helpful and if you have any questions, do let me know below. As you can see, we still have a fair bit of work to do in Dylan\u2019s new bedroom, so you\u2019ll see more progress in here coming soon!<\/p>\n *This post was sponsored by Electric Radiators Direct. All words, views and opinions are my own and cannot be bought. Thank you for supporting this blog.<\/em><\/p>\nEcostrad iQ Ceramic WiFi Radiator: An In-Depth Review<\/h2>\n
Stylish, Simplistic Design<\/h3>\n
![\"Smart](\"https:\/\/twitsguides.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ecostrad-iq-ceramic-wifi-electric-radiator-review.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n![\"Ecostrad](\"https:\/\/twitsguides.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ecostrad-iq-ceramic-wifi-electric-radiator-review-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nLightweight and Easy To Install<\/h3>\n
![\"Template](\"https:\/\/twitsguides.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ecostrad-iq-ceramic-wifi-electric-radiator-review-2.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nTips for Positioning Your Template<\/h4>\n
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Ceramic Technology<\/h3>\n
![\"ecostrad](\"https:\/\/twitsguides.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ecostrad-iq-ceramic-wifi-electric-radiator-review-3.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nWiFi Controlled Via The Smart Life App<\/h3>\n
![\"smart](\"https:\/\/twitsguides.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ecostrad-iq-ceramic-wifi-electric-radiator-review-4.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n5 Different Modes Including a Clever \u2018Sensor\u2019 Mode<\/h3>\n
![\"space](\"https:\/\/twitsguides.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ecostrad-iq-ceramic-wifi-electric-radiator-review-5.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n100% Efficient and Energy Saving<\/h3>\n
![\"energy](\"https:\/\/twitsguides.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ecostrad-iq-ceramic-wifi-electric-radiator-review-6.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nRunning Costs<\/h3>\n
Any Negatives?!<\/h3>\n
Overall Thoughts<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/twitsguides.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ecostrad-iq-ceramic-wifi-electric-radiator-review-7.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"