Living with the panels

So the panels have been installed and payed for! But what are they like? Well! That is mostly the good news. They're largely fab! 

They’re not my entire heating system. The gas boiler keeps the house at some background temperature that is colder than comfortable, but not anywhere as cold as the outside temperature. And I, of course, have my log burners.

What I do is just switch them on in a room where I think I'll be for a while. For instance; days are getting longer so I am having breakfast in my bedroom again, but when I use it as a bedroom I keep it quite cold. For breakfast I like it a bit warmer. So when I go downstairs to make my breakfast, I switch the panels on. And when I come back, the room is nice and warm. And when I'm done with my breakfast I just switch them off again. And I can also get my living room to a nice temperature without having to light the fire.

Do I ever forget to switch them off? Yes, that does happen. But I think I'll get more routined with experience. And I suppose the cat likes it if I forget. 

So in general, I am quite happy! But there is already one bump in the road. Well, maybe two; more about that later. The panels are managed through thermostats, but these can go rogue. The one in the bathroom did that. I had the installer replace it when he was here anyway. And I'm only a few weeks in, but the thermostat in the living room seems also also have gone rogue. But the installer left one spare thermostat, and I'm sure the internet knows how you swap them over. I've seen it done; it is not complicated! Just a bit of a bummer that I already have to think about this.

There is one I'm not happy with. It's at the top of the stairs. That is where all the heat of the house pools! I don't think I'll ever need that one. Furthermore; who is going to linger at the top of the stairs? I had challenged the judgement of the installer when he said that space needed one, but he insisted. I don't think I am forceful enough. I paid for a totally useless panel. Redeeming fact that this one isn't wired in; it just has a plug. I could put it elsewhere, or flog it. I'll think about it. 

I hope in the long run I will stay happy with them. Time will tell!