All Modern Radiators are Efficient

We have all been there, at the first sign of a breeze and cold weather we switch on the heating system, but it won’t work.

It is for this reason that you should make sure that you always have a maintenance contract in place for such eventualities.  I know, it is not the best time of the year to buy radiator or, for that matter, a new boiler.  However you may have no choice in the matter in this case scenario.

Important Questions to Consider When Buying New Radiators

It’s important to take your time when buying new radiators. There are so many different shapes, styles, and performance-level, radiators that choosing the correct one for your needs is not always straightforward and instead, requires careful planning. Today, we are going to help you to make the right choice of radiator by introducing you to the questions you should be asking when buying new radiators.

Do I Need Central Heating or Electric Radiators?
This should be your first question. If you buy the wrong type of radiator, you won’t be able to use it. In general, if you have a boiler and central heating, you would buy a central heating radiator. If you don’t have this, you would buy an electric radiator.

There is an exception: if you need heating in a particular room at times when you do not want to switch on the central heating (e.g. if you need heat in your bathroom during summer), you should consider buying an electric radiator or a dual fuel radiator instead. This will allow you to have individual control over the radiator in that particular room, so you will not have to switch on the entire central heating just to get that one room warm.

What Size of Radiator Do I Need?
Rather than matching the size of the radiator to the size of the room from a visual point of view (i.e. what looks nice), you should be matching it in terms of the amount of heat output it can produce. Heat output generally correlates with size, in that that larger the radiator, the greater the amount of heat it can emit.

In order to find out the size of the radiator you need, you will need to take the dimensions of the room – width, height, and length. You will then need to note how many windows it has, whether these are double, triple, or single glazed and how many outer walls there are.

Once you have this information, you will need to use a BTU calculator to figure out how much heat the room requires. In the UK, heat output is measured in British Thermal Units per hour (BTU/ph).

You put all of the information about the room into the BTU calculator and it will return a measurement for you. For example, your room might require 1500 BTU/ph. Then, you can choose an appropriately sized radiator, which is one that can match that output. You can also choose to divide the load across several radiators. For example, you might choose to buy three 500 BTU/h radiators.

What Material Should I Choose?
There’s a lot of discussion about the best type of material to use for your radiator, but the truth is that they all have different qualities and provide different performances. A radiator that might work for one person, might not be suitable or you. Here, then, we recommend that you do some research and choose a unit that you think suits the way you use the system. For instance, we prefer cast iron radiators in our house, because we prefer our central heating to work on a timer.

 

7 Things to Think About When Buying a New Bathroom Radiator

Are you thinking of buying bathroom radiator? If so, you should read this article. Here, we’re going to look at the 7 most important things you should consider when buying a new radiator for your bathroom. Understanding these will allow you to make the best choice when it comes to buying your new radiator.

Reina: Why You Should Consider Buying This Brand of Radiators

Reina is one of the most popular brands of radiator available on the market. There’s a reason for this: they’re fantastic. You don’t have to take our word for it, though. Below, we are going to look at the advantages in choosing this brand of radiator. Of course, the information outlined below is unlikely to be relevant for everyone, but overall, Reina is one of the best choices of radiator in the UK. Here’s why:

1.    They're cost effective
Given the fact that the pound is at decade low, it’s unsurprising that many of us are feeling the pinch. Add to this stagnant wages, and yep, some of us are in a little trouble financially. It’s squeezing hard, so it’s important to make some good decisions when it comes to your purchases.

Why are Reina radiators so cost-effective? There are several reasons:

a.    They have a high-energy efficiency rating, so they cost less to run than other types of radiator. This is because of their panel and fin technology, as well as the choice of material, and thermostatic radiator valves.

b.    They are easy to install. This means that you can do it yourself to save money or use a plumber. We would recommend using a plumber just to be on the safe side. However, because Reina is so easy to fit, this cost will be relatively inexpensive.

c.    They are of an exceptionally high quality. Reina radiators are outstanding in quality. This means that they will last a long time. Therefore, you will save money over the long term. As well as this, their high quality means that they require less maintenance, and this saves further costs.

2.    They are more environmentally friendly than other radiators.
Again, in several ways, the Reina collection is more environmentally friendly than some of the other radiators on the market are:

a.    The high-energy efficiency mentioned above means that they use less gas. This means there are fewer emissions and less of a need to drill the shale.

b.    They have a lower water content than some other radiators. This means that there is less water used to heat the system, which in turn means that the household uses less water, but also that they use less gas too, as less water means the radiator is quicker to heat up.

3.    They look great
Finally, and from most people’s perspective more importantly, Reina manufacture some truly awesome examples of radiators. You can find all manner of styles within their collection. First, they have all of the traditional styles you would expect, including bathroom towel radiators.

However, they also have some really awesome designs that wouldn’t look too out of place at an art gallery. Some highlights include the Reina Pozitive, which looks like a cross; the Reina Fiore, which is hard to describe, but it’s a flat panel in a complex ‘s’ type shape; and my personal favourite, the Luda Towel Radiator, which has a retro look and is great for storing towels or clothes.  

Reina is certainly a designer brand of radiator. You can check out their fantastic collection at https://www.designerradiatorsdirect.co.uk/

Home Transformation In UK

When you look at the row upon row of late nineteenth and early twentieth century terraced house in the UK it’s sometimes hard to believe the internal transformation that has occurred in our lifetime.

For many of these properties the WC was a shed at the bottom of the yard. The kitchen consisted of a simple gas stove and small larder. And the bathroom in many cases, did not exist.

A bath was a luxury taken in an iron or tin tub in front of an open coal fire. Families were larger and bedroom sharing was the norm.

This was throughout the Victorian era but it continued well into the nineteen twenties and thirties.

These same houses today have central heating, fitted carpets, smart bathrooms and luxurious kitchens.

 Arguably, the greatest transformations have taken place in the kitchen and the bathroom. Before our time, both those parts of the home were places to be avoided as far as possible.

In winter they were cold and forbidding but nowadays it’s so easy to transform them into places we are happy to be in.

So much so that the kitchen in many of these homes have been opened out into kitchen and dining areas combined.

In the modern bathroom there will be the latest Hudson Reed radiators and fixtures perhaps from the same company.

It’s only in recent years that we have put manufacturer’s names to radiators or any other new fittings.

Before, we would just say we have some new cabinets and radiators fitted. But many manufacturers have introduced highly recognised styles and can truly be called bespoke or designer.

Imagine if the 1910 occupant could come back from the grave and step into the terraced house you now own and see the differences.

It would be like an unreal blend of fantasy and luxury. An impossible dream of comfort bordering on impossible.

If your home is still stuck in the old days then take a look online or through glossy home magazines and get ideas on how much you could easily improve your property.

Four Things That You Should Look for When Buying Radiators Online (UK Edition)

So, you’re thinking about replacing one or two radiators. Maybe you're undergoing a refurbishment, and you want to buy radiators that are better suited to your new décor. Maybe one of your radiators is leaking, and you’re looking to replace it. Whatever the reason, if you're buying radiators in the UK, you need to ensure that you understand the following four issues. This will help to ensure that you buy the best radiators for your needs and taste.

1.    That the radiator conforms to British safety standards (BSI).
There are many thousands of radiators for sale online and in real-world shops and they are not all formed equally – particularly those that you might buy online.

In order to ensure that you’re safe in your radiator purchase, you must verify that it conforms to the relevant safety standards in the UK. If it doesn’t, there are no safe guards to protect you against potentially catastrophic outcomes, such as over pressuring the central heating system and blowing a pipe.

You should look for radiators with the BS EN 442 number. This is proof that the radiator has undergone stringent tests to ensure its safety.

2.    That the radiator is efficient, sporting the latest technologies.
In the past decade or two, radiators have come a long way and their efficiency has grown exponentially. It would be financially irresponsible to buy a radiator that doesn’t have at least some of the latest technologies. They might cost you a bit more money in the short term (i.e. the purchase), but over the life of the radiator, they will save you a lot of money in energy bills.
 

a.    TRVs: Here, it’s common for radiators UK to sport Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs). These automatically control the temperature of the radiator, either enabling or disabling hot water from getting into the radiator. They mean that you can have greater control over the temperature of each room. For instance, you set the TVR in the bedroom to 3 and the TVR in the living room to 5, and the bedroom will be cooler than the living room, without having to mess around with the central heating thermostat.

b.    Convector Fins: the greater the surface area the more heat a radiator will produce. In the past, this meant bigger radiators (by way of the amount of space they take up) produced more heat. Convector fins are a way of increasing surface area two or threefold, without the need to increase the size of the radiator. In other words, the radiator produces more heat for its size.

c.    Double or Triple Panels: this is another way of increasing surface area.

The most efficient radiators are triple panel, triple convector fins with TRVs.

3.    That the radiator is reasonably priced.
You have the internet nowadays, so you can shop around for the best price. Often, you will find the same radiator on sale for different prices across retailers. Do shop around to find the best deals, but remember to stick with a reputable retailer.

4.    That you purchase the radiator from a UK-based business.
Finally, you should buy radiators UK from UK-based businesses because they confer you with specific rights, such as consumer rights and safety standards. If you shop from anywhere outside the UK, you might not have the same rights. Sometimes it works out, but other times it can lead to expensive issues.

Are you interested in buying new radiators? If so, please visit www.designerradiatorsdirect.co.uk

What Should You Look for When Buying Radiators Online

The internet is great because it allows us to (the consumer) to find the best prices and to haggle those down even further. Unfortunately, it does have its downside too: namely, you never quite know what you're getting until it arrives.

Now, for many products, this doesn’t cause too much trouble, but when it comes to something like a radiator, where the effects of a faulty one can be disastrous, it’s very much important to try and understand exactly what you’re buying.

Below, we have created a mini-guide to help you to stay safe when buying radiators online.

1.    Always shop with a well-established, UK-based, company
The first rule of online radiator shopping is to choose a UK-based company. This is because it confers you with a number of consumer rights, such as warranties and guarantees, as well as conforming to British Safety Standards.

A well-established company is also important, because it’s shows that they are at least good enough that they have stayed in business a while. Before you buy from the company, look them up on Companies House and see how long they’ve been in business (as a functioning company and not as a dormant company). The longer they’ve been around, the better they are likely to be.

2.    Try to stick to known brands
In the UK, there are a number of famous radiator brands. These include Bisque, Aeon, and Chatsworth. By sticking to these brands, you are at least assured of their quality. These are well made and reputable brands and they do not put their name to sub quality units. When you buy radiators online, it is better to stick to a brand.

3.    Choose a website that is Norton rating of OK
If you have Norton installed on your computer, then it does a very good job of vetting websites for security safety. If there is a green ‘OK Norton’ next to (or underneath) the blue link at the top of the search result, then it means that Norton deems it safe. This means it’s a popular site that people use often and which receives barely any safety issues.

These sites are often very long established with a decent reputation. However, this doesn’t mean that all sites that lack the green OK Norton are bad, simply that they haven't been rated yet. For example, we have one at work that is not rated, but we know is safe. Still, we recommend shopping only with a site that has such a rating.

4.    Make sure that the company is helpful and provides you with advice
When you buy radiators online, you probably have a number of questions. A good retailer will pre-empt some of these questions and have a FAQ area. They will also be relatively easy to get reach. It’s unlikely that they will have live help because they’re too small, but they should answer your emails within a decent amount of time – 24 to 48 hours is the norm.