As the winter months close in, Grant Dixon, group project manager at radiator specialists The Radiator Company, offers his top tips and advice on choosing the right heating solution.
These key elements are often overlooked and are important considerations that have influenced their own flexible range to effectively meet a variety of needs.
1
Location, location
Always consult your plumber or merchant early on in a project to discuss the location of your radiators and placement of your pipe work. This will help position your radiators to best make use of the space available, whilst avoiding the issue of concealing them behind large objects such as your sofa, which will reduce the radiator’s ability to heat your room. Installing multiple radiators will help distribute heat evenly throughout your room.
Traditionally, radiators are placed in the coldest parts of the room, such as under windows or against outside walls to counteract the cold convection of air entering the room. Due to the increasing adoption of double-glazing and high-tech insulation, this is not always necessary. Give a thought to the design of your room and decide where radiators are best located to improve the use of space - under-utilised areas such as chimney breasts and tight corners are ideal for tall thin radiators.
2
Ensure the design will heat your room
Choosing the correct size of radiator has a direct impact upon its ability to heat your room. To calculate your room’s heat output requirement, refer to The Radiator Company's free online heat output calculator click here. The result of the calculation is represented in BTU’s or Watt’s, which are standard measurements of heat output used by all showrooms and merchants to help customers find the correct size of radiator.
If your desired radiator does not produce enough heat output, ask if it is available in greater depths - some radiators have double or triple options that produce higher outputs without increasing the height and width of the radiator. Alternatively, find a similar radiator that produces your desired heat output.
3
Make them a feature of your room
Your radiators will be a permanent fixture in your room – decide whether you want to make a feature of them, or minimise their impact by having them painted to work with your colour scheme. When positioning your radiator, create visual balance with its surroundings. For example, radiators located under windows should be of similar width to the window itself to deliver a more visually appealing result, while tall thin radiators can be used to create a column effect.
4
Colours and finishes
Think about the design and finish of your radiator. There is an abundance of styles available to suit all interior designs, most of which can be finished in a choice of colours and special finishes. Whether you want your radiators to blend into your interior design with neutral tones or make them a focal point with vibrant colours and mottled effects, you can opt to have your radiators powder coated in one of over 200 colours and special finishes prior to delivery.
5
Accessorise
Valves are a necessity with any radiator so pick a set that matches the style and finish of your new radiator. Look out for additional accessories such as towel bars, shelving and hanging pegs, which can enhance the look and functionality of your radiator. Valves come in a variety of designs to match all radiators.
For more information please visit www.theradiatorcompany.co.uk