The SpeedComfort does something that is physically impossible. Right?
We regularly receive questions about whether the SpeedComfort does something that is physically impossible. For more warmth in the room, doesn't the boiler have to work harder? How do you save energy then? Wouter Heuterman is the creator of the SpeedComfort. “I couldn't believe it myself at first, but we have proven it.” He tries to explain it.
Two types of heat in your room
A heater provides heat in two ways. First, through radiation. That seems obvious; you feel it when you are standing close to the radiator. Second, and this is what makes it interesting for the SpeedComfort, through convection. Convection means that warm air rises and cold air flows back toward the bottom of the radiator. This creates a natural air circulation. And the room slowly becomes pleasantly warm. With the emphasis on slowly, because you need patience for a bit of warmth via convection. Much of the heat lingers near the heater for a long time, because the water in the radiator cannot optimally transfer its heat to the air. As a result, a lot of heat also remains in the water. What a waste!
Giving convection a helping hand
With the SpeedComfort, we have accelerated this convection process somewhat. The fans in the SpeedComfort ensure that air circulation happens faster. The heat that the radiator transfers to the air is brought into the room more quickly and evenly. The room reaches the desired temperature sooner. And as soon as the thermostat indicates that it is warm enough, the boiler stops firing. As a result, the central heating boiler does not have to run as long. Result: energy savings.
Of course, we had it tested
We had this investigated by the research agency TNO. TNO observed that a radiator equipped with a SpeedComfort can release 8% to 31% more heat into the air than one without. Under equal conditions, of course. Another independent research agency, JOA, showed that rooms with SpeedComfort warm up 41% to 49% faster and require 21% to 31% less energy to do so. The temperature differences in the room, i.e., between the ceiling and floor, also decreased by 1.2 °C. We were naturally happy with those percentages and results, because they confirm what we already thought!
Additional benefit
There is another additional benefit. TNO and JOA also discovered this. The water in the radiator flows back towards the boiler significantly cooler. And that is advantageous for a high-efficiency boiler. The colder the water that flows back, the more efficiently the boiler works. That is exactly what a high-efficiency boiler is designed for. The SpeedComfort therefore also helps with that.
Things to keep in mind
Something to keep in mind: every house is different. One home is better insulated than another. And one room is larger than another. The SpeedComfort cannot change that. That is why we never provide a single fixed savings figure for every home. Furthermore, we do not claim that SpeedComfort reduces heat loss in the home. The actual savings always depend on factors such as insulation, home size, the number of radiators, and the use of the heating system.
