All electric heaters do pretty much the same thing with the main difference being how the heat is distributed. Electric heaters can either use natural convection, forced convention (fan assisted), radiant/radiation or a combination like the Ecostrad iQ Wifi ceramic radiator, which is natural convection radiator than produces a lot of radiant heat.
The Ecostrad iQ Wifi ceramic radiator is constructed similarly to a central heating radiator with a box-like metal enclosure that integrates six heating panels (front-facing and back-facing) and a fin-like tubing system, which runs from the bottom up. The heating panels have a large rectangular shape with a small gap separating each panel to allow air to pass-through.
The included three metal brackets and hardware (screws and plugs) allow you to mount the Ecostrad iQ Wifi ceramic radiator on a wall. The radiator can be placed on the ground free standing via feet support that you buy separately.
Wall mounted heaters are notorious for ghosting marks, which are black marks that develop on the wall above the heater. This is caused by dirt (i.e dust particles) in the air and a damp/cold wall when heated air from the heater travels up, alongside the wall. The built-up of these soot marks is slow and depends largely on the humidity inside the room and the construction of the wall. Because the Ecostrad iQ is a ceramic radiator and not a heater the risk of black marking is much reduced because the heat is better distributed around the unit rather than having one very hot spot and the empty shell that convector heaters have to direct air (and burnt dust) upwards through the grill.
Once you download and run the app on your phone and activate Wifi mode on the radiator, you are able to pair the Ecostrad iQ radiator to any phone as long as the phone's Wifi connection uses 2.4Ghz radio band. You can manually or automatically pair the radiator, using the "Auto Scan" function which automatically detects the radiator within a few seconds, allowing to connect and access the app's main screen.
Another useful feature you get with the Ecostrad iQ radiator is open window detection, which automatically cuts-off power to the Ecostrad iQ radiator when a constant temperature drop is detected. The open window feature comes handy specially when you are at work and have scheduled the radiator to turn on automatically and someone happens to open the window for a short while. The open window feature works well and can be adjusted from 60 minutes to 90 minutes to instruct the radiator to resume heating, which is handy so, you don't have to turn the radiator back on manually.
The Ecostrad iQ radiator has an IPX0 rating, which means it is not water resistant at all. That said, the radiator can be installed in a bathroom, as long as it is hardwired into a fused spur in “outside” or Zone 3 areas in the bathroom. It is generally not recommended to be fitted in bathrooms because of the likelihood people will hang towels on it. By the way, adding a fused spur is not the same as adding a new light fitting or socket. A fused spur actually requires a new cable and socket run from an existing socket on the ring main, which is not as straightforward.
There are a total of 10 functions built-in to the Ecostrad iQ Wifi radiator all of which are displayed on the touchscreen via their respective icon. These include 3 working modes (Comfort, Eco and Anti-freeze), Timer function, Sensor mode, Pilot wire mode (not supported by this model), Heating on, Wifi mode, Open Window mode and Keypad lock, which locks the touch display.
The touch control functionality works well and, while it doesn't feel as responsive as pressing a mechanical switch or turning a dial, you can swipe on the screen, which makes switching back and forth between modes easier. Also, the touch display does turn off after a few seconds, which saves energy and makes the radiator unlit. To wake the display, you simply hold down on the touchscreen for a few seconds.
Being a class 2 electrical appliance, the Ecostrad iQ Wifi radiator is double insulated with at least two layers of insulation protection, which does not require an earth connection like class 1 electrical appliances.

Regardless of the working mode (i.e. eco, comfort), the Ecostrad iQ radiator always draws the full wattage; hence you cannot manually decrease wattage. In economy (eco) mode, the temperature is set between 7 degrees and 18 degrees. Comfort mode temperature is between 19 degrees and 30 degrees.
The Ecostrad iQ ceramic core retains very well the heat generated. When running the Ecostrad iQ radiator at 30 degrees, the surface temperature of the radiator's front panels is 73 degrees. After the radiator is turned off for 30 minutes, the surface temperature drops to approx. 53 degrees, which is still enough radiant heat to keep you warm. The key to ceramic radiators is that they don't use a regular heating coil element. Instead, they use a heating wire embedded inside a ceramic dry stone element. If you have small children, it's worth knowing that the front panels of the Ecostrad iQ do get hot to the touch similarly to an oil-filled heater or gas central heating radiator. See user manual.
Like most heaters, the Ecostrad iQ does make the air drier, which may not be suitable for nursery/ baby rooms or anyone with sensitive eyes. The benefits of ceramic heaters is that it reduces issues with damp in the walls and ceilings in a room.The Ecostrad iQ produces a lot of radiant heat, which feels instantly warm if you sit near it.Total weight of the radiator is 10kg.
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