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Why Choose Trench Convectors? Advantages

May 20, 2025

Why Choose Trench Convectors? What are their Advantages?

Floor-to-ceiling windows, popular in modern architecture, offer a wide view and abundant natural light in addition to their aesthetic appeal. While these windows provide a visual connection between indoor and outdoor spaces, they also act as a boundary. However, large glass surfaces typically have low insulation values. This can lead to the indoor space becoming undesirably cool, especially in cold weather.

Benefits of Heating with Trench Convectors

Trench convectors create a warm air curtain in front of windows, preventing cold air currents and the effect of cold radiation. This minimizes cold downdraft from glass surfaces and eliminates the risk of condensation on windows.

In other heating systems, a temperature difference of 2-3°C can occur between the window fronts and the interior of the room. This difference negatively affects comfort. Trench convectors reduce this difference by creating a warm air curtain in front of the windows, ensuring homogeneous heat distribution.

Compatibility with VRF Systems

VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow) systems provide cooling and heating functions, but in winter, when the outdoor temperature drops below +5°C, they enter defrost mode, which can hinder the efficient operation of the indoor unit. In such cases, trench convectors can be used as a supplementary heating system to provide comfortable heating in indoor spaces.

Temperature difference between window front and indoor environment

Combined use of VRF and trench convectors

Operating Principle of Trench Convectors

Trench convectors are used in front of windows or under the floor. The copper-tubed aluminum fin heat exchangers inside them are heated by hot water from central systems or combi boilers. This heating process conventionally creates a warm air curtain in front of the window, preventing cold air downdraft. This cycle also maintains the room temperature at the desired level, creating comfortable living spaces.

Advantages of Trench Convectors

Saves space: Located in the floor, eliminating the need for wall radiators.
Fast heating: Instantly creates a warm air curtain in front of the window.
Prevents condensation: Prevents fogging on glass surfaces.
Dual-function use: Can offer both heating and cooling functions in the same unit.
Aesthetic harmony: Contributes aesthetically to the space with various color options.
Ideal for low temperatures: Especially compatible with heat pump systems.
Reduces air turbulence: Provides healthier heating for those with allergies.

What is a trench convector?

Trench convectors are essentially radiators placed in the floor beneath a walkable grille. Like radiators, they emit heat but do not occupy space in the room. In homes with large glass surfaces, they are used in front of windows or at terrace exits to quickly block the cold entering these areas and provide efficient heating.

In modern architecture, bringing natural light indoors and enjoying the view are priorities. Therefore, many newly built homes feature large glass facades, open-plan kitchen-dining areas, winter gardens, and terrace transitions, which are spacious and bright. However, while inviting the outdoors in, you also invite cold air currents.

This is where trench convectors come into play, offering an ideal solution. These systems are installed directly in front of glass surfaces and act like an air curtain. Cold air currents from outside are balanced by the warm air emitted from the trench convector. This reduces the risk of condensation and ensures a homogeneous temperature in the environment.

So, can't this task be achieved solely with underfloor heating?

Answer: Not always. Especially with large glass facades, even if the building is well insulated, extra heating support is needed to balance the cold coming from outside. Classic radiators can fill this gap, but they take up space and disrupt architectural integrity. Moreover, since they cannot be placed in front of windows, they cannot provide efficient heating.

Trench convectors, on the other hand:

Are almost invisible,
Are installed recessed into the floor,
Provide aesthetic and technical advantages for glass facades,
Provide fast heating and prevent condensation,
Increase indoor comfort.

Especially in projects where aesthetic design is paramount, trench convectors stand out as a superior choice in terms of both performance and appearance.

Can I cool with Trench Convectors?

Trench convectors can be used not only for heating but also for both heating and cooling. The heat exchanger coils of cooling convectors are much larger and have stainless steel condensation pans. Additionally, the tangential fan diameters used in these devices are larger to suit cooling. For this reason, cooling convectors are slightly larger in width and height compared to heating convectors.

Similarly, these convectors, placed in front of windows, direct the cooled air towards the glass and cool the environment through displacement ventilation. They can be used as a 4-pipe or 2-pipe system. They can be integrated with a heat pump system, providing heating in winter and cooling in summer from the same unit.

This eliminates the need for additional cooling air conditioners on the wall or in the suspended ceiling. It offers a much more compact architectural solution.

STEKON Trench Convector Architectural Options

STEKON trench convectors offer different color and surface options in terms of aesthetics and functionality. Models available in aluminum or bronze anodized finishes ensure perfect harmony with the environment. The visible parts of the convectors on the surface can be painted with RAL codes to match the room's decoration.

Products can be manufactured curvilinear according to the specific characteristics – diameter of your structure.

Additionally, perfect integrity can be achieved with 90° corner piece manufacturing as shown below.

In conclusion, trench convectors offer solutions that are compatible with modern architecture, energy-efficient, and aesthetic, enhancing comfort in living spaces. By creating a thermal curtain in front of windows, they prevent cold air currents, prevent condensation, and ensure homogeneous heat distribution. STEKON's fan-assisted and fanless models meet different needs, while also standing out with features such as quiet operation and low energy consumption. If you are looking for both an aesthetic and efficient heating solution for your living spaces, choosing trench convectors would be a smart decision.