[roisinfahy (OP)]

This is a question I've always wondered. I have autism and suffer quite a number of sensory issues. I live in Ireland where it can get quite cold in the winter.

Growing up, I always disliked the heat that came out of radiators and felt that it was "uncomfortably warm". I recently purchased a Hot & Cool fan which I find is very comfortable. It might seem like a preference but the heats  is very different. Radiators often feel like being in a furnace while the air conditioner simply feels like a breeze on a summer day.

I know that radiators use warm water to spread heat via radiation while the air con blows warm air.

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[alancalverd]

I know that radiators use warm water to spread heat via radiation while the air con blows warm air.

Despite the name, "radiators" disperse heat principally by convection. They are attractive because they are very low-maintenance once installed, generally do not occupy "living space" in the middle of a room, and are silent and do not create a draft. Also very useful for drying clothes and towels, and the primary heat source can be anything combustible.

True "reversible aircon" systems transfer more heat per unit input power but are noisy and drafty. Definitely the best option in a well-insulated house with electricity but no mains gas supply. Air- or ground-source heat pumps do the same thing but also provide hot water: very efficient but depressingly complex and I have yet to find a contractor who can actually maintain one!

"Assisted convection" fan heaters can cost anything from £10 to £600 for a domestic gadget,depending on whether you want it to humidify and filter the air or just circulate a bit of heat.  Since you can't get much more than 2.5 kW out of a domestic socket, and direct conversion of electrical energy to heat is pretty well 100% efficient, they all do exactly the same job of heating or circulating the air, with more or less noise depending on the model. 

The British Isles are blessed with a comfortable outdoor temperature range and one live sheep for every 3 people. My solution is an open window and a woolly sweater - Irish traditional designs are particularly attractive and the close-knit Guernsey is ideal for outdoor work - it's the basis of the military "woolly pully". No noise or fuel bills. 

[vdblnkr34]

Radiators are the best in terms of getting a good real heat. But you need a big solid one, small radiators are not good, they lose heat quickly. Most of companies sell small radiators, I never seen anyone sell big one. So, on today market radiators has poor quality and do not hold the heat for a long period of time.

[marwaroy]

Differences between heating from air conditioners and radiators. One is that air conditioners tend to be more efficient, meaning they use less energy to produce the same amount of heat. Additionally, air conditioners repair circulate for air condenser.

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[Colin2B]

Differences between heating from air conditioners and radiators. One is that air conditioners tend to be more efficient, meaning they use less energy to produce the same amount of heat. Additionally, air conditioners repair circulate for air condenser.

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Sorry mate, you are beginning to feel the heat from spamming.
Better cool off for a while, bye

[Richyard Costello]

yes

[wolfekeeper]

There are some major differences between blown things like fan heaters and air conditioners versus radiators.

Radiators are usually set to 60C or so which is really quite hot, whereas with fan heaters and air conditioners the hot air coming out of them can be closer to body/room temperature.

[alancalverd]

With the increasing cost disparity between electricity and primary fuels, I'm beginning to wonder whether blown aircon is worthwhile in these islands. Makes sense where you might need cooling too, so I use it in rooms full of computers and stuff, but the overall utility of a hot water system, whether heat pump or boiler, now seems advantageous. You can maximise floor space and eliminate hotspots with underfloor or skirting board radiators running at lower temperatures than the old iron steam rads.

[kumar77]

Hey, you are talking about It might seem like a preference but the heats  is very different. Radiators often feel like being in a furnace while the air conditioner simply feels like a breeze on a summer day. for this you have to search on Google.

.................

[wolfekeeper]

With the increasing cost disparity between electricity and primary fuels, I'm beginning to wonder whether blown aircon is worthwhile in these islands.

The trick is to insulate well and use night rate electricity to preheat (or cool) the space. With achievable COPs it's much cheaper to do that than natural gas.

[Bored chemist]

How does the air know it is meant to feel different?

[vhfpmr]

fan heaters can cost anything from £10

I caught a cheap fan heater blowing sheets of flame.

direct conversion of electrical energy to heat is pretty well 100% efficient, they all do exactly the same job of heating or circulating the air

The HSE will have it that radiant heat is more efficient that convection because it heats the body directly without the need to heat air and building. Personally, I'm a bit puzzled why the air and building won't heat up eventually anyway, but I suppose there's some benefit in the interim.

How does the air know it is meant to feel different?

Wind speed.

Two fan heaters at the same power can feel very different: the lower the air volume the higher its temperature will be for any given power, and the smaller the aperture the higher the velocity for any given volume. My experience is that small aperture fan heaters feel warm, and large aperture ones feel like a chilly draught. I think that low velocity air flows have time to cool down before they've travelled from heater to body.

[Bored chemist]

Personally, I'm a bit puzzled why the air and building won't heat up eventually anyway,

Did anyone say they wouldn't ?

[Bored chemist]

Radiators often feel like being in a furnace

How would you know?
How much time have you spent in a furnace?

[Petrochemicals]

With the increasing cost disparity between electricity and primary fuels, I'm beginning to wonder whether blown aircon is worthwhile in these islands. Makes sense where you might need cooling too, so I use it in rooms full of computers and stuff, but the overall utility of a hot water system, whether heat pump or boiler, now seems advantageous. You can maximise floor space and eliminate hotspots with underfloor or skirting board radiators running at lower temperatures than the old iron steam rads.

Beginning? Unless you have hydroelectric electricity gas is always far cheaper.  Blown air electric is known to be inefficient along with radiant heat, blown air from gas has also been long since dropped. Unsure as to why blown air from gas is rubbish, but it is.

[Bored chemist]

definitely radiators are dangerous compare to air conditioners

Nonsense
Lots of people survived radiators with no harm.
The idea that they are dangerous is just silly, isn't it?

[wolfekeeper]

Unless you have hydroelectric electricity gas is always far cheaper.

Actually, no.

Right now gas is about 8-10p/kWh, whereas night rate electricity is 8-19 p/kWh depending on the tariff.

When used in conjunction with heat pumps, the electricity delivers far more heat.

[Petrochemicals]

Unless you have hydroelectric electricity gas is always far cheaper.

Actually, no.

Right now gas is about 8-10p/kWh, whereas night rate electricity is 8-19 p/kWh depending on the tariff.

When used in conjunction with heat pumps, the electricity delivers far more heat.

Moron. You are going on the naughty list.

[Bored chemist]

Moron. You are going on the naughty list.

Before calling someone a moron, you should check that they aren't correct. (for example because the CoP of a good ground-source heat pump can be 400% and the efficiency of a bad gas boiler might be as little as 60% ).

And then, whether you are correct or not, you still shouldn't call someone a moron.

[wolfekeeper]

Yup, that... and he's not correct.

The reason I know this fact is because I was pricing up house batteries and solar panels, turns out that even the average cost of solar power over the life of the system is about 8p, and the lowest tariff I could find on grid electricity to charge a battery was BELOW that of the gas. If you're on that tariff, running space heaters or immersion heaters at night is actually cheaper than using gas right now. Maybe in the long run, natural gas will come down again, but so may grid electricity, and my point about heat pumps remains.

And I haven't even touched on the environmental credentials.

The model I have of the battery/solar panel system is giving double digit ROI, and seems to be a goer.