WHEN SPOILT FOR CHOICE

Many of those old enough will remember the nineteen sixties and seventies when central heating systems first became available to the masses through easy credit.

We signed the agreement and the fitters turned up a few days later. At that point we were so excited about getting central heating that we never thought to ask about the radiator and neither did we particularly care.

They were invariably white steel panel radiators connected with bright copper pipes that ran along the skirting board.

Today when you browse these pages online and marvel over the extraordinary number of radiator styles and finish it is little wonder that anyone seriously refurbishing a property will also replace the bland boring white panelled ones with a selection of these.

Just one popular style is the column radiator that has an attractive tubular appeal it replicates some of the very early types of radiator and is perhaps not ideal for very small rooms.

The original version of this type of radiator can be found in old Victorian institutions and perhaps most notably in some of England’s finest old Norman Cathedrals. These vast areas are notoriously difficult to heat and on particularly cold days it is still common to find many people huddling around them trying to get some warmth. 

 Other types resemble modern art works and with any colour finish you want the opportunities for making the humble radiator not just a source of room heat but of a statement of taste is all yours.

Column radiators just like most of the others available these days can be mounted in such a way on the wall that all pipework is hidden and this is a far cry from those early fittings where bare copper and messy welding meandered their way along the wall.

The other major improvement is in the choices available in the finish of the radiator. Where once it was hard to find anything other than white these days there is the possibility to have a radiator finished in any colour or shade you can think of to match the décor.

For more on column radiators http://www.designerradiatorsdirect.co.uk/Column-Radiators

AEONS OF CHOICE

The Aeon radiators company are producing their heaters in either stainless steel or they use aluminium.

Stainless steel has the advantage of looking extremely contemporary and because this metal is soft it can be moulded into very unusual and artistic shapes.  This material will look best if it is kept spotlessly clean.  You may have noticed that kitchen appliances with stainless steel surfaces show finger prints.  The same happens with radiators that are made out of this metal.

The reason that aluminium radiators have gained popularity is because this material is very light in weight.  Because they are very efficient in the transfer of heat, they also contain less water as a result.

If you have these fitted your boiler will not have to work as hard with the happy result that your heating bills will be lower.  However, radiators of this kind are quite expensive to buy but the cost will be offset by said heating bills.

You will be able to buy heaters in both these metals for your home to run off the same system.  It is advisable to install the stainless steel styles in your living areas as there are more quirky designs to choose from. If you like a minimalist style, then these will look fantastic there.

Have you seen this company’s room divider radiator?  They are worth investigating as its intricate design allows you to look from your living area to the dining part through stainless steel patterned squares.  You will be able to purchase this divider in either highly polished metal or brushed, which has a matt finish.

On looking what this manufacturer produces, you can only marvel at their innovativeness. You will even be able to purchase nursery radiators to keep children fascinated.  If you have very small children it is sensible though to hang them quite high so that they do not accidentally burn their little fingers.

At the end of the day, you will want radiator designs that are attractive and at the same time give enough heat to keep your home cosy.

If you are keen to reduce heating costs you may choose aluminium heaters from Aeon radiators, which are available from  http://www.designerradiatorsdirect.co.uk/aeon-radiators

Radiators: How to Choose the Right One for Your Home

Winter is here, and if the predictions are anything to go by, it’s going to be the coldest winter that we’ve experienced in a long time, with snow, hail, and biting winds. It is important, then, that we keep our homes warm, and a key component of this is our radiator system. When choosing new radiators, there are a few things to consider, which we will explain below.

Gas/Electric/Storage/Standalone Radiators

If you have gas, then you will usually have a central heating system. Here, you will need to select radiators that suit that system, which are different to those that suit an electric central heating system. However, both types of system work using similar mechanisms: there is a boiler, which feeds water through a system of pipes and radiators. The only difference is the way the boiler is heated: either gas or electric.

Next, you have storage heaters. Economy 7 are the most common type of storage heater. These standalone units are attached to the wall and connected to your homes electrics.

Finally, you have standalone radiators that you manually plug into the wall.

If you have central heating, then you will need a radiator for central heating – although you can change to one of the following types of radiator. If you have storage heaters, then you will need to replace these with storage heaters*. And, if you have no radiators, then the plug in radiators are best*.

*unless you want to change the entire system, but this is incredibly expensive.

Heat Output

Your next consideration is your requirements of heat. Smaller rooms will need radiators that emit less heat, whereas larger rooms will require radiators that emit more heat. In general, the larger the radiator the more heat it emits.

In order to establish how much heat output you need, and which radiator size of radiator is most suitable, you can use a ‘Radiator Calculator’. You can find these calculators online.

Energy Efficiency

Next, you need to establish the energy efficiency of different types of radiator. The higher the efficiency, the less you will pay in energy costs (i.e. gas and electric). Clearly, with the ‘big 6’ energy companies putting up their prices year on year, energy saving appliances are extremely important to the majority of people in the UK. Before you buy a radiator make sure that you find out its ‘efficiency rating’. You may find that you have to pay more money for a more efficient radiator, but in the long run, it will cost you less money.

Decorative Effects

Today’s radiators can be highly decorative.Vogue radiators, for example, sell a fantastic range of multifunctional radiators. These radiators offer dual functions. For example, within the Vogue radiators range you can find shelved radiators that are meant for use in the bathroom. These are radiators where you can store your towels to keep them warm and cosy – even your clean towels can be stored in the bathroom without worrying about common problems such as mould.

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Why Buy Decorative Radiators?

Nowadays we’re firmly in an era that we can call post-modern. In its simplest form, this just means that everyday objects and services have had an overhaul, and are used for other purposes, beyond their functional use. Radiators are no different. Today’s models also offer functionality and act as a decorative feature. You can stick to the traditional styles, but we think decorative radiators are better, and below, we’re going to explain why we think this. By the end of the article, we’re sure that you'll be well on your way to replacing your existing radiators!

They Add to Your Interior Design

Most of us love our homes, and spend a lot of time decorating them in a way that we love. A key theme is contemporary modern art, and radiator manufacturers, such as Bisque radiators, have combined the functionality of the radiator with art, to produce radiators that look like art installations. Some of them are so good, that you can’t tell that their radiators at all. If you’re interested in buying radiators because they double as art features, then you should definitely consider Bisque radiators, because this is something in which they excel.

They’ll Impress Your Guests

People love things that look great and that are novelties too, and that’s exactly how you would describe a decorative radiator. They are truly impressive. Personally, we think that this is to do with the fact that they are often made of chrome, and chrome is attractive. This actually has something to do with our evolutionary history. Humans are attracted to shiny things because water twinkles in the sun, and reliable sources of water have been much coveted by our ancestors dating back to the time when animals first emerged from the oceans. There’s a little bit of science for you to mull over. There are plenty of articles online if you want to verify the point. Back to radiators, this is why we often prefer the shiny, chrome, radiators.

They’re Multifunctional

As well as doubling as an art installation and acting like a radiator (i.e. emitting heat), modern radiators are often multifunctional. There are many examples of this, but they are particularly prevalent in bathrooms in the form of heated towel rails. They enable you to store your towels while producing heat. In fact, you can even find radiator shelves, so you can keep your dry, freshly washed, towels in the bathroom too. Other functions include mirrors, coat stands, and clothes hangers. Modern radiator designers really are an incredibly creative lot.

They’ll Keep You Warm

Of course, first and foremost, a radiator is meant to keep you warm. They are part of your central heating system, or they act as standalone systems – which is the case with many electric radiators. Modern radiators are much more efficient than older types of radiator. They produce more heat, but use less energy – whether electricity or gas.

If you would like to browse a fantastic collection of decorative radiators, including a wonderful range of Bisque radiators, Visit us online.

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Central Heating Systems: How Do The Radiators Work?

This may seem like a pointless question to many of you. Why do you need to know how your radiators work? If you have a problem with the system, you simply call out a central heating service to fix the problem on your behalf. While you can do this, it is the expensive option. Often, you can fix the problem yourself. However, you can only do this if you know how the system works, and which part of the system is broken. Here, we’re going to provide you with a brief guideline to understanding you central heating system.

The technology behind the central heating system is actually very simple. There are two main features: the radiators and the boiler. All that happens is the boiler is heated and this hot water (or oil in some cases) is channelled around the system. As the heat moves around it warms the radiators, which then reflect this heat out into the room – or, in other words, they radiate heat, which is why they’re called radiators. You see, it’s easy to understand.

What Is a Radiator?

A radiator is not simply a large tank that holds warm water. Instead, they are made of a series of pipes, which are bent in a manner that creates a system of tubing (like a multileveled ‘ununun’, but in a much more compact way). The water moves around this system of pipes. The larger the radiator, the more pipes it contains, and the more heat it will emit.

To control the level of heat in the radiator you use valves. The radiator valves control the level of water in the radiator. Consequently, they control whether the radiator has any warm water at all. When the radiator valves are turned to open, they allow warm water into that radiator. When the valves are set to off, they do not allow water into the radiator, and effectively, are ‘off’. If you want the radiator to radiate some heat, but not as much as the other radiators in the system, then you simply turn the valve halfway, or however far you need to achieve the level of heat that you want.

What Are the Costs?

You may have noticed that the system will produce as much hot water if the radiators are switched off using the valves, as if they are switched on. This means that when you have your central heating system on – i.e. you have the boiler switched on, you will use an equal amount of energy regardless of whether you’re using the radiators, or not. So, to heat a single room is as expensive as heating all of your rooms. If you want to save money on your electricity and gas bills, then, you need to make sure that you switch off the boiler, and not the radiators. You should be able to set your system to switch on and off at given times, so that you can control the level of heating in the home.

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How Efficient Are Radiators that Run on Electric?

Many people prefer central heating, which uses a radiator, in favour of electric radiators, such as Economy 7. This is because, traditionally, the central heating systems have been much more efficient. However, technology has come a long way since the advent of the electric radiator, and today, many are equally, if not more, efficient. Below, we’re going to consider how far they’ve come in recent years. This way, if you need to buy a new heating system for your home, you can make a more informed decision.

What is Efficiency?

Before we being to look at the efficiency of electric radiators, we first need to define the term efficient. Here are a few things that we mean when we talk about efficiency with regards to heating:

·         How much heat does it radiate for its size

·         How quickly does the system take to heat up

·         Which radiator costs the least to run

Are they Efficient?

Electric heaters have always been considered efficient in terms of the time it takes to heat up, and the amount of heat radiated for the size. In terms of speed, electric heaters will begin to emit heat straight away, whereas central heating systems take a while to warm up (this is why people use a thermostat on a timer when using the central heating – so they can choose when their home heats up.).

In terms of cost, electric heaters have always been considered less efficient. However, today’s models are much more economical. There is a manner of different ways I that they save money in comparison to central heating systems.

1.       With certain models, such as the Economy 7 range, you have the option of heating the radiator at night, on a cheaper tariff. The majority of electricity suppliers offer an off-peak rate for night time electricity, which is as little as 25% of their on-peak prices. Now, you may think that you’ve spotted a problem here: if it heats up at night, you don’t get electricity in the day. This is wrong. There are special bricks in the Economy 7 heaters that retain their heat for the following day. This is why they are also known as storage heaters: they store their heat.

2.       They are cheaper than central heating systems that use electricity, as opposed to gas, and are widely seen as cheap radiators in comparison. There are several reasons for this:

a.       You cannot store heat with an electric central heating system. When you need heat, you have to switch the boiler on. The boiler cannot store heat.

b.      With both gas and electric central heating systems heat is lost as it travels around the system – through the pipes. This means that they emit less heat than they could if each radiator stood alone, as is the case with storage heaters.

3.       The technology is much better for electric heaters than in the past. Today, the heaters are much more efficient, regardless of whether you use it in the day or at night. Energy saving technologies has made it so that electric heaters are cheap radiators.

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