Tips for Buying Radiators Online

Buying the right radiators is important. You need to ensure that they suit the central heating system and the design of the room. Making mistakes can lead to problems.

 For instance, if you choose a cheap radiator, it can leak and cause water damage. It’s important to make the right choices, but it’s not always clear how to do this, particularly with distance buying, i.e. buying radiators online. Below, we have produced a guide to help you to stay safe when shopping online.

Work Out Which Type of Radiator You Need
The first thing you need to do is establish the type of radiator you need. Answer the following questions:

1. How much heat do you want the radiator to be able to produce? Heat output is measured in British Thermal Units per hour (Btu/h). There are online calculators to help you work out the Btu/h you need; all you need to know is the dimensions of the room.
2. How much space do you have? You need to have enough space to hang a radiator on the wall/floor. Generally, the more Btu/h you require, the larger the radiator will need to be. As you can imagine, this can cause issues with space: you need a larger radiator than the space permits. In this case, you might consider different types of radiator, such as cast iron radiators or radiators with convectors and fins (these both have a greater surface area than traditional radiator and so can provide a greater Btu/h within a smaller space).
3. Will it suit the room? When buying radiators online, it can be difficult working out if the unit will look right in the room. You have to try hard to visualise the radiator in the room. You can use 3D modelling software to help you work this out, too.
4. Does it have TRVs? Most modern radiators have a thermostatic radiator valve. These make the radiator more efficient by turning the unit on or off depending on the temperature of the room. It means that you don’t waste money heating a room that is already hot enough. You don’t have to buy radiators with TRVs, but they are the most economical option.

Choosing the Retailer
Therefore, once you know which type and style of radiator you want, you now have to select a retailer from which to purchase the unit. Often, people choose this based on price. That’s fine, but before you purchase the product, you do need to research the retailer to make sure that you're covered for a number of eventualities:

1. Make sure the retailer is in the UK. We’re assuming that, if you’re reading this, you're from the UK. By sticking to a UK retailer, you ensure that your consumer rights are protected.
2. Make sure they have a cancelation policy. In the UK, if you buy radiator online, you have seven days after the arrival of the radiator to change your mind about the purchase. It’s a cooling off period designed to help online buyers from buying misrepresented products. Good retailers will extend this to between 14 and 21 days too.
3. Make sure they have a return policy. UK retailers are required by law to accept return of faulty goods. If they sell you a product that doesn’t work, you have a right to a refund or replacement item.

Now you know how to stay safe when buying radiators online, come along and browse the fantastic collection of radiators available at Designer Radiators Direct official webiste.