FAQ - Electric heaters and Bathroom heaters

- How do I choose the output of the heating appliances for my home?

We recommend that you allow for appliances with 100 W/m² (e.g. for a 15 m² bedroom, 1500 W will be sufficient). However, if the insulation of the building is ineffective, this value will not be enough. In France or Scandinavia, the value can drop to 55 W/m² for new housing (accounting for the insulation quality of the building and specific calculations carried out by a design office).

- Is it necessary to program my electric heating to make savings?

You are strongly advised to program the electric heating to adjust the temperature of the rooms to the lifestyle of its occupants: automatic, hour by hour, for each day of the week. This is one of the particular ways to save up to 25% energy.

- How can I choose the correct heating mode for a service sector application?

The choice of heating mode for service sector or industrial premises depends on the minimum outside temperatures, on the insulation quality, on the activity carried out, and on the calculation for the thermal design.

- How do I maintain my appliance?

To get the best from the appliance, you must remove dust twice a year (vacuum clean the inlets/outlets, vacuum dust from the heating elements). This maintenance also prevents the walls from blackening. (Important note: never use abrasive products or solvents, especially at the start of winter, to avoid burning any dust accumulated during the summer).

- How do I consume less electricity?

Program your heating appliances and ensure that your home has a good level of heat insulation. You should preferably use electronic appliances whose accuracy will enable you to obtain a lower temperature setting.

- At what height should my appliance be installed?

It should be installed at a minimum 120 mm from the floor to leave room for the air inlet and ensure that there is the least amount of disturbance due to the air movements. The securing bracket provided with the appliance enables this position to be obtained very easily.

- Where should the appliance be placed in the room to heat?

Avoid positioning heating appliances near features such as doors, windows, etc. For a better diffusion of heat and preventing one part of the room from being cold and the other hot, it is better to have two 1000 W heating appliances in the room rather than a single appliance of 2000 W.

- How are the appliances connected?

In France, the "terminal" type electric connection is mandatory together with dedicated electric lines for electric heating regarding connection to the electric meter.
In other countries, heating appliances are often supplied with plugs that can be connected to a wall socket (prohibited in France). The connection to  the ground is unnecessary and forbidden for Class II appliances. It is important to note that this operation requires electrical skills, demanding that all safety measures are taken and that a connection is never made unless the current is first cut off.

- What is the warranty period for my heating appliance?

The warranty period is decided on at a local level and depends on the country of purchase. Your dealer will be able to provide you with this information.

- What do the graduations 1 to 7 represent on the appliance's thermostat?

The graduations 1 to 7 represent levels of heating. They enable the temperature to be adjusted. The temperature can vary, depending on where the product is located (warm or cold wall), on the air reaching the sensor, and on the design of the product with respect to the room. To obtain the required level of comfort, it is advisable to set the knob to position 5 when first installing the appliance and then to change this position according to your requirements.

- How does the Pass Program system operate (electronic appliance)?

- How does the pilot wire work?

The pilot wire is used in new buildings.
It requires a wire connection to each appliance within the same programming zone. It enables a master heat-emitting appliance to control slave appliances. The temperature of each room remains variable according to the choice of appliance. For instance: within the same heating zone, all the heat emitting appliances will be in Economy mode but the Eco temperature will vary according to the comfort temperature setting and the range of products.

- Can I install my heating appliance in the bathroom?

An electric heating appliance can be installed in a bathroom under certain conditions regarding the position and protection of the appliance. The criteria generally vary from country to country.

- How do I mount my heating appliance on the wall?

Our heating appliances are delivered with a securing wall bracket that provides the best position of use (around 120 mm from the floor) without any measurements being required. Bathroom heaters must follow the manual's instructions.

- Can I dry wet clothes on my heating appliance?

No, drying clothes or similar items on our appliances is prohibited; you could damage the appliance.

Naturally, bathroom heaters are designed for this purpose: you can use them to dry towels, face cloths, etc.

- What do I do if my appliance is not heating?

Check whether the electric current is reaching the appliance (important note: this is an operation requiring that all possible safety measures relating to the use of an electric current are taken) and whether the on/off switch (mechanical) or the mode cursor (electronic) is not set to off.

Check that the room temperature is not too high for the appliance to work. Set the temperature knob setting to maximum to see whether the appliance starts heating after a few minutes; then return to the required setting. Important note: for an electronic appliance, the appliance operates intermittently over a period of 40 seconds according to requirements.

Check the operating mode position on the electronic appliances (Comfort/Economy, Frost-free, Stop, Program settings). Move the cursor to comfort mode to check whether the appliance heats up; the malfunction may come from the programming if you are in Program mode.

The sensor may be faulty on the electronic appliances:

Switch the heating off then on again. If the heating led flashes continuously, the sensor is damaged. Consult the after-sales service or your dealer to replace it if your appliance is under warranty.

- What do I do if my appliance heats all the time?

Check that
a)    the appliance is not in a draft
b)    the temperature setting has not been changed or set to maximum position
c)    the appliance is under-dimensioned with respect to the room to heat

On the electronic appliances, there may be an unexpected event in the electric network. In the event of a problem (blocked thermostat, etc.), cut off the power supply to the appliance (fuse, circuit breaker) for 10 minutes, then switch it back on. If this situation occurs frequently, get your electricity provider to check the power supply.

- What do I do if my appliance does not provide enough heat?

• Increase the temperature setting.

• On an electronic appliance, if the heating LED is flashing continuously (slow flashing every 2 seconds), the measurement sensor is damaged.

• Otherwise, carry out the following checks:

- What do I do if the heating LED is continuously flashing slowly (electronic appliance)?

Call in a professional to replace the damaged measurement sensor.

- Is it normal for a slight odour and smoke to appear the first time the appliance heats up?

Do not worry. This is normal. This situation will not persist more than 5 minutes. When heating for the first time, ensure that the room is well ventilated.

- What do I do if my appliance takes time to heat?

Electric appliances with sheathed heating elements heat very rapidly; a movement of air and heat is felt at the air outlet after one minute. However, for appliances containing a fluid (bathroom heaters, Galapagos radiator), the electric heating element heats up a fluid that gradually starts to circulate naturally within the appliance. The inertia properties of the fluid mean that the surface temperature of the appliance only reaches an optimum level after at least 15 minutes, according to the room temperature when the appliance starts to heat.

- What do I do if the appliance does not follow the programming commands?

Ensure that the pilot wire is correctly connected for this type of assembly.
For mains borne signalling, ensure that the appliance was correctly initialised when it was installed and is part of the programming zone. Otherwise, reset the programming zones (see installation manual).

With the Pass Program, ensure that the programmer is correctly inserted in its housing and that it operates normally (check the status of the battery, the fuse, etc.) and that the interface is fully screwed in.

- Is it normal for my appliance to show traces of dirt?

This may be caused by the poor quality of the ambient air (pollution, cigarette smoke, etc.). It is advisable to check that the room is well ventilated and that the air is clean. The lower grid and front panel of the appliance must be vacuumed regularly. The casing of the appliance can be cleaned with a damp cloth, but you must never use abrasive products.

This FAQ is not exhaustive. If you did not find an answer to your question, please feel free to contact our after-sales service. We will reply as soon as we can.

Contact: tech-service@groupe-atlantic.com