A comprehensive overview of radiators

Radiators – Energy efficient and environmentally friendly

It’s a common misconception that heating units are dull looking and lack that bit of sparkle to brighten up the room. But, the modern consumer market for such appliances is diverse and offers something for everyone. Nowadays they come in all shapes and sizes, and they have been reinvented to fit in with modern decors. It’s not just the design that has changed over the years to match consumer demand; it’s their functionality that has changed as well. With most heating units today, they are made to certain standards, and with peoples’ growing concerns towards the environment they are now more efficient than before and ultimately less burdensome on the environment. With contemporary radiators, therefore, it can be said that they not only do their bit for reducing carbon emissions by being more efficient, but also add to the interior décor of the room. So when choosing the right unit for your home, it’s important to ask if it matches up to not only European standards on energy efficiency and manufacturing standards. But also the designs of the radiators you are looking at will fit in with the room you have in mind. If in doubt, there are a variety of resources to look at, to gain inspiration from. An idea might be to peruse through some of the many interior design magazines, or get some ideas from home improvement shows as to the kinds of radiators and designs they choose. Of course the internet is always a wealth of information; it’s just a matter of finding the right website.

Designer electric radiators

Temperature rising

The main function of a radiator of course is to keep your room nice and warm, so it’s important that when removing any old heating units that it should be done carefully so the replacement units will not encounter any problems. If you are not comfortable in doing this, then always get someone who is aptly qualified to perform the task. Although it might be an added expense, it’s definitely worth doing to avoid much heftier costs further down the line. There are certain types of units that make the removal of an old radiator for a new one a little easier, electric radiators definitely fall into this category. It’s usually just a case of plug it in, and within minutes your room is warm. These kinds of units also can offer a short-term fix, as well as a long term heating solution. When your boiler has given up these radiators will offer a much better alternative to getting the candles out. However, if you planning on buying a fitted radiator appliance that needs to be connected to your main heating system then it’s probably best to be looking at the well named brands such as Bias or MHS. By selecting these kinds of well known and unique radiators you can be sure of guaranteed quality, and if anything goes wrong within the first year, you’re usually covered by the manufacturer’s guarantee. It’s worth always asking the sales assistant if there’s an option for an extended warranty as well just in case.

Traditional style electric column radiators

Contours, lines, and shapes

The range of designs one has to choose from is astonishing nowadays. In days gone by every home had a very plain looking European standard radiator fitting in snugly beside one of the room walls. But in today’s market for thermal solutions one has a variety of styles and designs to choose from, from minimalist designs to complex cutting edge designs that simply defy and dazzle the traditionalists. This exemplifies that buying the right radiators can add immense value to not only your room in terms of atmosphere and mood when one enters the room, but also add value to the property itself. If a potential buyer enters a more traditional room, and sees appropriately fitting cast iron radiators that tie in well with the theme of the room then it’s going to score you some brownie points. After all potential buyers will take into account lots of accumulative positives subconsciously. And although they may not say: ‘wow those radiators sure were fantastic!’ It will certainly make an impression and factor into their final decision. So when browsing through either the shops or looking through websites, make sure you have in mind the room the heating unit will go in and if it will integrate well into the room. Again, interior design magazines will help here, or if your budget allows it might be worth enlisting the help of a professional interior designer. Second opinions never hurt after all, if only to add assurance that you are on the right track.

Tubold horizontal radiators

A question of personal taste

Becoming more popular are the older styles of heating units that one would expect to see in the Victorian era. These kinds of units would not be out of place on the setting of Pride and Prejudice. Many will have welded feet ensuring permanence and a stable structure. Although, modern manufacturing with today’s radiators and the techniques used means these kinds of heating units will have greater longevity and less associated problems of leaking than their outdated counterparts. On the opposite side of the spectrum there are bespoke units readily available, which usually come at a slightly higher price but are still very affordable. These kinds of designs can look very post-modern, and would fit in well to a unique architectural abode. One needs to have a good eye for design if something of this style and calibre of radiators are going to be selected. As although the unit can look stunning on a website, or in a shop display, once you get it home it may be a different story altogether. It’s recommended that perhaps you bring pictures along to the store or send to the online retailer and see what they advise. When it comes to pricing options, most heating units are very affordable but if you are planning on doing a massive refit of all your old units then be sure to ask for a discounted rate. Finally, it’s advisable to ensure your radiators have optimum efficiency by making sure you bleed them regularly. For this you don’t have to be a professional plumber and there is a wealth of information online on how to do this, if you are stuck.

Wood radiators