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How to Choose The Perfect Radiator – A Radiator Buyers Guide
Read on to find out the answers to these common questions about electric heating:
- Radiator Fuel Types
- Radiators Type
- Types of Panels in Radiators
- Standard Radiator Sizes
- Single vs Double Radiator
- Top Tips When Buying a Radiator
Radiator Fuel Types
How you want to fuel your radiator should be the first thing you think about when picking one out, even though the types of radiators already in your home will play a big role in your choice, it’s still important to think about the pros and cons of each option.
Central Heating Radiators
The most common radiator type is a central heating radiator which can be found in most homes in the UK, the water that heats up in your heater and goes into these radiators to make heat. Many people use radiators for central heating, so there are a lot of different types and finishes to pick from.
Dual Fuel Radiators
Radiators that use both gas and electricity can run, they work like radiators that are plumbed in, but they have an electric thermostatic heating element built in, which is an extra bonus. This saves energy because only one heater needs to be heated instead of the whole house’s central heating system being turned on.
Electric Radiators
Electric radiators are made of hollow metal panels that are filled with a thermo-fluid, these panels are warmed by a heating element that is either wired into the wall or just plugged in, in homes without a power source they are often used also they work great in new additions, loft conversions, and conservatories that don’t have water. They’re great for the summer when you might only need to heat one room instead of the whole house because each one can be customised.
Radiators Types
Horizontal Radiators
In the UK, horizontal radiators are the most popular type, as the name says, they will run across your wall horizontally and are often found under windows.
Designer Radiators
This type of radiator is also sometimes called a modern or contemporary radiator. These stylish heaters keep you warm and can be the centre of attention in any room. Styled radiators come in different radiator types such as horizontal, vertical, column, and towel radiators. They also have a lot of different styles.
Panel Radiators
They work like regular radiators but they are smaller and easier to fit into tight areas because they are made of flat panels, you can get them with one, two, or three different panels.
Vertical Radiators
If you don’t have much horizontal wall space, vertical radiators are great for you, as you go up from the floor to the roof, they get pretty narrow, this means they can put out a lot of heat while taking up less space horizontally. These heaters are also great for people who want to make a statement, an upright radiator isn’t as common as a horizontal radiator, but it can become an important part of your living room’s style instead of something you want to blend in.
Heated Towel Rails
Towel bars that are heated do exactly what their name says: they keep your towels warm and dry, if you don’t have one in your bathroom, you’ll soon forget how you lived without one. There are both centrally heated and electric fuel radiators types of heated towel rails, if you want the best of both worlds, choose a dual fuel type, in the winter, these will need to be hooked up to your central heating system, In the summer, they will have an electric heating element that will heat the towel rail without the central heating.
Types of Panels in Radiators
Single Panel Radiators Type 11
Single-panel radiators consist of a single metal panel with convection fins bolted on the back side, They are ideal for efficiently heating smaller rooms like bathrooms or narrow hallways while they are slim and space-saving, they emit less heat compared to double-panel models.
Double Panel Plus Radiators Type 21
Double panel plus radiators have a glossy metal heating panel on the front and back with one layer of convection fins. These radiators offer a higher heat output than single-panel models making them suitable for heating larger rooms more effectively.
Double Panel Radiators Type 22
Double panel radiators consist of two metal panels with two layers of convection fins in between, they provide a higher heat output than single-panel radiators making them a cost-effective option for medium-to-large rooms.
Standard Radiator Sizes
| Delta T(°C) |
|---|
| 10 |
| 15 |
| 20 |
| 25 |
| 30 |
| 35 |
| 40 |
| 45 |
| 50 |
| 55 |
| 60 |
| Type 11 (W/m2) |
|---|
| 380 |
| 456 |
| 547 |
| 657 |
| 788 |
| 846 |
| 1135 |
| 1362 |
| 1634 |
| 1961 |
| 2353 |
| Type 11 (W/m2) |
|---|
| 380 |
| 456 |
| 547 |
| 657 |
| 788 |
| 846 |
| 1135 |
| 1362 |
| 1634 |
| 1961 |
| 2353 |
| Delta T(°C) |
|---|
| 10 |
| 15 |
| 20 |
| 25 |
| 30 |
| 35 |
| 40 |
| 45 |
| 50 |
| 55 |
| 60 |
Single vs Double Radiator
Single Radiators
Single-panel radiators are slim space-saving options suitable for smaller rooms, while they are cost-effective and fit close to the wall, they emit less heat compared to double-panel radiators.
Double Radiators
Double panel radiators offer higher heat output and are more efficient at heating medium-to-large rooms, they consist of two panels with additional convection fins, providing better warmth distribution and quicker heating.
Top Tips When Buying a Radiator
How to measure a radiator
If you want to get a radiator that is the same as the old one you need to make sure you measure it properly. Here’s how:
- Take all the measurements in millimetres.
- Measure the radiator height.
- Measure the radiator width.
- Find out the distance between the middle of the left pipe and the middle of the right pipe.
- Measure the distance between the wall to the centre of the pipe.