The heating element buying guide

So, you are thinking about buying a heating element? Excellent choice. 

Contact us to discuss your requirements of How Does a Heater Element Work. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

Whether you are looking to make your radiators more efficient, or upgrade them entirely, there are countless ways you could benefit from installing a heating element. 

In this heating element buying guide, we’ll give you all the information you need to select the best element from our collection.

Benefits of a heating element

Before we dive into the technical stuff, let’s think about why you could benefit from an electric heating element. 

• Lower energy consumption

Since heating elements are powered by the mains electricity and allow you to heat one radiator at a time, you have more control over your heating. More control means less energy wasted. 

• Lower running costs

You might be thinking that electricity is more expensive than gas. But, since heating elements allow you to control individual radiators, you only heat the required rooms. This means that your energy consumption and cost is lower than heating the entire house unnecessarily with central heating. 

• Easy to control

Our thermostatic heating elements feature Bluetooth technology. This means that you can easily adjust the temperature from a mobile or smart device. You can also program an unlimited amount of heat cycles to suit your routine. 

• Ideal for summer heating

If we are lucky enough to have a hot summer in the UK, most of us will have the heating turned off. But, the bathroom can still be quite cold and uncomfortable. That’s why heating elements are perfect for bathrooms! You can keep the bathroom at your preferred temperature and enjoy warm towels without wasting heat on the rest of the house. 

• Perfect for homes without central heating

Since central heating is so common in the country, it is easy to forget that some homes don’t have it at all! Therefore, heating elements are perfect for this situation since they are far more efficient than other types of electric heating such as fan heaters.

How do radiator heating elements work?

As we mentioned earlier, heating elements are hardwired into the mains. This must be carried out by a qualified electrician. 

Once installed, the electric current flows from the mains through the element. Then, through the process of Joule heating, the element converts electrical energy into heat. 

For more information about the types of elements and what they are made of, head to our guide ‘What are heating elements?’.

What is the difference between a radiator element and a towel rail element?

Radiator heating elements and towel rail heating elements are exactly the same. They are long metal rods that slide into the inlet of the radiator or rail. 

So, whether you are looking to turn your existing radiator or towel rail into an electric heater, you can do so with any element in our collection. 

The only decision you need to make is which type of element you want. You must also decide whether you want to create an electric radiator or a dual fuel radiator. More details on that coming up! 

How do I choose a heating element?

There are two types of electric heating element in our range. Simple and thermostatic. You can probably guess that the difference between the two is given in the name!

Simple heating elements

Simple heating elements simply generate a heat output by converting electrical energy into heat. They are self-regulating elements. 

This means that the temperature will rise to the max then regulate itself to maintain that temperature. 

Please note that our simple elements are not available to purchase separately.

Thermostatic heating elements

Thermostatic heating elements provide greater control over your heating. You can tell them apart from simple elements since they feature a round control dial. 

But you don’t have to control the element manually. These intelligent elements are equipped with Bluetooth technology. This makes it quick and easy to control the five temperature settings and other functions via the mobile or smart enabled device app. 

Plus, if you would prefer to hide the dial to complement your decor, we also stock plenty of cable masking covers to disguise the element.

How to create a dual fuel radiator

If you want the option to be able to use your radiator with the central heating system, and as an independent electric radiator, dual fuel heating is what you need. 

In order to turn your existing radiator into a dual fuel radiator you will need a heating element and an additional connection called a Dual Fuel T-Piece.

The Dual Fuel T-Piece connects a set of plumbed valves and an electric heating element to your radiator or heated towel rail and is suitable for 15mm (1/2″ BSP) inlets and valves.
For a quick and easy transition, the Milano Dual Fuel kit includes all you need to convert your radiator or towel warmer into a dual fuel setup.

Can I add an external thermostat?

For further control over your heating, you can also add an external thermostat. This will provide greater control over the room temperature. 

Our stylish Milano Connect Wi-Fi Thermostats allow you to create multiple zone heating to reduce energy usage and costs. 

They are also suitable for new electric heating systems or can be retrofitted to existing systems, including underfloor heating.

Plus, our excellent quality thermostats are even compatible with Google Home and Amazon Alexa!

Please note: our external thermostats are only suitable for use with simple heating elements, not thermostatic elements.

How to calculate heating element size

If you have purchased central heating radiators or towel radiators before, you will know that you need to calculate the heat requirements using a BTU Calculator. 

The good news is, working out the size of your heating element is just as easy. Simply use the BTU Calculator as normal and the results will provide the heat requirements in BTUs and Watts. 

The Wattage provided will be the total needed to heat the room to a comfortable temperature. This means that one element might be sufficient. 

Or, you could install multiple radiators with elements to add up to the total Wattage.

How hot does a heating element get?

As we mentioned earlier, the heat output of electric elements is measured in Watts. But if you are unfamiliar with electric heating, it can be difficult to imagine how much heat the element will provide. 

So, let’s use our popular Milano Windsor 600mm x 1010mm double column radiator as an example. At Delta T50, this central heating radiator provides 3367 BTUs. This is equivalent to 987 Watts.

Therefore, the electric version of the same radiator is supplied with a 1200W heating element. This ensures that the element is capable of providing enough heat for the required space.

Are heating elements universal?

All of the radiators at BestHeating are suitable for use with a heating element from our range. In fact, most other radiators are also compatible with our electric elements. 

This means that you should be able to transform your existing radiator or heated towel rail into an electric appliance. 

The important requirement is that the radiator inlet is big enough for the element to slide in. All our radiators feature a ½” inlet, which is the same size as the elements.

In rare situations, the radiator body could be too small to fit an element. For example, if the radiator was 400mm wide and needed a 600W (460mm length) element to heat it correctly. 

However, since the heating element is usually fed from the bottom inlet on heated towel rails and the side inlet on radiators, there should be enough space to fit the element.

Where can I install a heating element?

Another great benefit of electric heating elements is that you can install them virtually wherever you want. They are very popular in bathrooms because of the ability to heat the space in the summer when the heating is off. 

However, if you want to install an electric element in the bathroom, you must take the safety considerations into account. This brings us to bathroom zones. 

You may be aware of bathroom zones if you have purchased a new bathroom light for example. Any electrical device used in the bathroom must be installed in the correct zone. 

The company is the world’s best How Does a Ptc Work supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

Ranging from zone 0 to 2, these areas measure the distance from the water source to the electrical device. 

Since both types of heating elements we stock at BestHeating are rated IPX4 and above, they are safe and suitable for installing in bathroom zone 1 and 2.
For more information on bathroom safety zones, please visit our guide ‘Can I Put An Electric Radiator In A Bathroom?’.

Radiators with heating elements

Planning on upgrading your entire radiator? All of our electric and dual fuel radiators and electric towel rails are supplied with excellent quality heating elements. This means that you do not have to purchase one separately. 

Please note: Our electric radiators and towel rails are supplied with different elements. Some of them feature a simple Rotfil heating element. 

Others are supplied with a Terma MOA Blue thermostatic heating element. 

Please ensure that you check the product specification to find out which element is supplied with your preferred radiator. 

For example, our Windsor electric radiators feature a simple Rotfil heating element. 
However, our Alpha radiators are supplied with a Terma MOA Blue thermostatic heating element as you can see below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Shop Heating Elements

We hope this guide has provided all the information you need to transform your heating into an efficient electric system. For more advice, get in touch with our team via info@bestheating.com. 
Ready to find the perfect heating element for your radiator?

Jess has a passion for interior design and wants to inspire people to look at radiators as home decor. She enjoys keeping on top of the latest design and heating trends to ensure the Advice Centre has all the information and inspiration homeowners need to make the best choice for them.

Everyone has been there before — you turn on your shower after a long day and…only cold water comes out. If your water heater is malfunctioning, one of the most likely culprits is the water heater element. Of course, that raises the question of how to tell if your water heater element is burned out. Today, the Works Plumbing team is here with this guide on diagnosing and fixing a burned-out water heater element. 

Contact Pacifica’s reliable water heater repair experts today for the most reliable service in the Pacifica area!

How Does a Water Heater Element Work?

All electric heaters use a heating element to heat water. Heating elements turn electricity into heat energy by running it through an insulator material. As the electricity runs through the water-submerged element, resistance generates heat, raising the temperature of the surrounding water. 

Modern heating elements mostly consist of three materials:

•  Metal elements typically use a nickel and chrome alloy with higher resistance than other metals. 

•  PTC (positive temperature coefficient) elements utilize special ceramic discs that are resistant to starting fires, making them very safe. 

•  Composite heating elements consist of mixtures of both metals and ceramics. 

Heating elements must withstand high temperatures, sometimes cracking or burning out under strain. When a heating element breaks, it doesn’t conduct electricity as well and won’t be able to heat water. Water that won’t heat up is generally a sure sign of a heating element malfunction. 

Most modern electric water heaters use two components: one near the top of the tank and one near the bottom. Each plays a slightly different role, and you can usually tell which one is broken based on the symptoms. 

Signs Your Water Heater Element Is Burned Out

If you are wondering how to tell if your water heater element is burned out, be on the lookout for the following signs, not all of which have the same cause. 

Only Cold Water

If your water heater can’t produce hot water, the top heating element has most likely burned out. A complete lack of hot water indicates a malfunctioning element if you have a single-element heater. In this case, it will need to be replaced.

Lukewarm Water

If water only gets to lukewarm levels, it’s most likely due to a bad upper heating element. The top heating element ensures the water is at the desired temperature, so if the water can only get so hot, you can likely pinpoint the source accordingly. 

Hot Water Runs Out Quickly

The bottom water heater element is responsible for maintaining a specific water temperature in the tank while it is waiting to be used. If the hot water from the tap runs out much faster than normal, there could be a malfunction with the lower heating element in the tank. 

Circuit Breaker Trips

Water heater elements draw a significant amount of electricity to generate the necessary heat to heat water in the tank. If the element is malfunctioning, it might pull too much electricity. This could cause your breaker to short circuit, tripping and cutting power to the water heater. So, if your circuit breaker trips every time your water heater kicks on, check the heating element for problems. 

Testing Your Water Heater Element

If you are still not sure about the condition of your heating element, you can directly test it to see whether the resistance and current are at the appropriate levels. To test the element, you will need a multimeter, available at your local hardware store.

Before working on the water heater, turn off the power through the circuit breaker. If you are unsure which breaker goes to the water heater, just temporarily shut off all the power to your home. 

Next, remove the metal covers over the heating element chamber with a Phillips-head screwdriver. You will also have to remove the underlying insulation between the covering and the heating element. You may have to use a utility knife to cut the insulation to remove it completely. Make sure you do not damage the underlying heating element. 

After removing the insulation, locate the end of the heating element, which looks like a small square base with two screws with wires on them at the end. Place the nodes of the multimeter on the screws and change the settings to detect alternating currents to ensure the electricity is completely off. 

To test the element, you must measure its resistance. Switch the multimeter settings to measure resistance and place the nodes on the two screws. A functioning heating element should read between 10 and 30 ohms. The heating element is broken if the meter reads 1 or 0. 

If you have multiple heating elements, repeat the above testing process. If any elements yield improper results, you’ll have to replace them. 

Replacing a Burned-Out Water Heater Element

Thankfully, replacing a faulty heating element is feasible without any special training. All you will need are a socket wrench, screwdriver, multimeter, and the new heating element. 

As with testing, you want to ensure the heating element’s power is completely off before disconnecting and reconnecting wires. You will also want to shut off the water main. If you have a tank water heater, empty it by connecting a hose to the drain valve near the bottom. Next, expose the heating element the same way you did to test its resistance.

Using the screwdriver, slowly remove the two screws in the square base. Make sure you put these screws in a safe place because you will need them when attaching the new element. After removing the screws, disconnect the wires from the socket. 

You should be able to access most of the heating element now. Depending on the type of heating element, you can remove it with either the ratchet or the screwdriver. For a screw-in heating element head, you need to unscrew the element using the ratchet. For a flange-type element, remove the corner screws and slowly pull it out of the socket. 

Now it’s time to attach the new heating element. You must ensure the replacement element has the same voltage and resistance as the old one, or it might not be compatible with your water heater. If the element is a screw-in type, place it in the socket and turn it clockwise using the ratchet. If it is a flange-type element, tighten the mounting screws until the element is snug in the compartment. 

Once you have installed the new element, you can test it to ensure the proper connections. Turn on the water main and the power back to the water heater. Open your taps and let the hot water run for a few minutes. If the water heats up back to normal, then your new heating element is working correctly. If not, reopen the water heater and ensure you connected the wires appropriately and that the heating element is completely connected to the mount. 

Water Heater Element FAQ

Below are some common questions homeowners might have about heating elements and their water heaters and what you can do to resolve these situations. 

How Long Does the Average Water Heater Element Last?

Your water heater’s heating element should last at least as long as the water heater itself — about 10 to 15 years for an electric tank water heater and about 20 years for a tankless water heater. The only reason you would have to replace the heating element before the water heater is if there is a malfunction. 

Do All Water Heaters Have Heating Elements?

No, only electric water heaters have elements. Gas water heaters burn gas to heat water, similar to a burner on a stove. If you have a gas water heater but no hot water, the problem is likely a gas burner malfunction. 

Which Type of Heating Element Is the Best?

All other things being equal, you should go for a metal or ceramic heating element. These two materials are the most durable and have the highest performance compared to other materials. 

Ceramic, in particular, is a highly effective material and will not rust or corrode like metal elements. Regardless of what material you go with, ensure it has some kind of warranty or guarantee in case of material defects. 

Can I Clean My Heating Element?

Yes, you can clean your heating element and should do so regularly. You can use a mixture of baking soda and water to remove any sediment buildup or corrosion. If need be, remove the coil and soak it in the cleaning mixture for 20 minutes to remove scale and rust. 

Pacifica Plumbing Services

Read our blog to learn more about how hot water heaters work. If you have any more questions about how to tell if your water heater element is burned out, contact Works Plumbing online or reach out to us at (650) 414-5831. And don’t forget: We are available 24/7 for emergency services, so you can count on us for any kind of repair, no matter the hour!

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Tesla Model S Ptc Heater.