A MECHANICAL engineer has invented a product that can warm a room up faster than normal.

Keith Rimmer, who is based at Centrix House on Crow Lane East in Newton-le-Willows, has developed Thermocill - a device that fits in a room under the window board and above the radiator.

It directs natural convection from the radiator to help create a wall of warm air immediately in front of the internal side of the glazed window, stopping heat loss and cold air entering the room.

Keith devised the idea when he called at a friend’s home for a cup of tea.

He said: "I was sitting in the lounge.

"It was a cold night and I was looking towards the window and noticed the vertical blinds moving.

"My friend said ‘What’s up Keith?’ and I just said ‘I’ve got an idea.’

Keith, from Lowton, added: “I could see the convection of warm air from the radiator was trying to get to the window but it couldn’t get there.

"I went to my car and got my digital thermometer and took some readings around the window area and within 10 minutes I had the idea for Thermocill in my head.”

The device is made out of recycled plastic waste including bottle tops and does not use any form of energy when it is operating.

“It can help you warm up a room quicker than normal providing thermal comfort which means you use less energy," Keith said.

"The reason for this is that the re-directed heat targets the cold spot in the room being the double glazed unit, of either your present window or of any new window that may be installed."

St Helens Star:

Keith with his invention, Thermocill

He added: “There are three different models, one of which is a solution for a new build to counter the 2025 government signalling to remove gas appliances from new homes.

"When SAP 10 hits Thermocill will be ready to step in.”

The figures are based on Keith’s own product tests including thermal imaging reports.

But Thermocill is currently being examined by experts at Salford University and the Carbon Trust who he believes will confirm his findings.

Thermocill also alleviates condensation from the internal glazed unit, which is a problem of many newly efficient window systems.

The product is set to be launched it at the FIT show at the NEC in Birmingham in May.

Keith also won an Ernst and Young North West Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Green Tech and Energy a few years ago after he invented heating system EcoPod.

He said: “I came into the window industry by accident which was quite costly but eye opening, but also to solve a problem that it had faced for years – heat loss from glazed units.

“When designing a heating system, the major factor was always the size of the window. Specifiers, rightly so, wanted rooms with large windows to allow as much natural light as possible.

“But this comes at a cost.

More heat is required in the space so larger heating appliances and emitters are needed to accommodate this plus good insulation in wall cavities, floor slabs etc.

"But the cold spot in the room is still there.

"That’s where Thermocill addresses the issue by creating a wall of warm air.”

Keith is teaming up with Brian Lavery of independent manufacturer and supplier of uPVC windows and doors, Camden Group, to deliver Thermocill to the market.

Brian, whose products are made of 80 per cent recycled materials, will have the role rights to manufacture Thermocill in the UK and will offer licence agreement agreements to suppliers.

Its patent is pending and trademarked, and is aimed at the housing market. It can be fitted retrospectively in any existing home or to new builds.

The product is a sustainable environmental product with carbon savings.

Camden’s sales manager, Roy Harrison, said: “We are really excited at the potential of Thermocill which we are convinced could help revolutionise the home heating industry.

"And Keith believes Thermocill will be as ground-breaking as the EcoPod heating system he invented almost 10 years ago.

"The system achieved huge energy savings and cut carbon production."

Thermocill extends from 125mm to 250mm fitting the most common size window boards and comes in three width sizes 500mm, 300mm and 100mm.

They can all be used as a multiple to fit the majority of window sizes.

The rear ventilation outlet of Thermocill is also adjustable to allow different thicknesses of decorative window board finishes – timber, MDF, plastic or conglomerate and tiled finishes from 10mm to 26mm.

When the product is fitted, apart from the outlet grill at the back of the window board, no part will be on show.