The Four Most Important Things to Remember When Buying New Radiators

It’s important that you do your research before you buy your new radiators. If you buy the wrong radiators, then it can lead to problems. For example, if the radiator doesn’t produce enough heat for the space, then you will simply waste energy trying to heat a room that will never heat up. When buying new radiators, there are four important things to remember. We are going to explore these below.

1. Sizing

All things being equal (e.g. the radiator has the same number of panels, convector fins, and valve types), the size of the radiator determines how much heat it will produce. In general, the larger the room, the larger the radiator will need to be.

You can use on online BTU calculator to work out how much energy the radiator requires, and then choose a radiator that corresponds. You will find, as we said, that the more BTUs a radiator can put out per hour, the larger it will be.

2. Materials

There is some argument concerning the most efficient material from which to make radiators, but most people agree that cast iron and stainless steel work the best of timed central heating systems, while aluminium is best for central heating systems that require quick responsiveness.

3. Orientation

You might find that when you choose the radiator according to BTU/size, that you cannot find a suitably sized horizontal radiator for the room. It could be that you have a relatively large room, but barely any wall space. In this case, you should think about buying tall radiators, rather than horizontal ones.

Also, if you have French doors, it also makes more sense to have tall radiators on either side, rather than one radiator on an adjoining or opposite wall. This is because it’s more efficient to heat cold air as it comes into the room and the reason why experts recommend that you hang your radiators below the window where possible.

4. Style

Finally, once you have established your requirements in terms of the first three conditions, you can then go on to think about style. There are hundreds, even thousands, of different styles of radiator, so you are spoiled for choice!

Are you interested in buying new radiators? If so, please visit DRD

Are Branded Radiators Worth the Extra Money?

We’re guessing that if you're reading this article, it’s because you want to buy some new radiators buy you're quite unsure about which radiator/s to buy. You will have noticed that, as with most retail items, there are premium branded radiators and then there are generic radiators. Today, we are going to discuss whether the branded radiators are worth the extra cost.

OK, so firstly, it’s important that you understand that the generic radiators are very good value for money. Radiators are a pretty solid buy and it’s rare to find low quality radiators. This means that in terms of functionality (i.e. do they keep you warm), there’s not much difference between generic and designer/branded radiators. If they have the same features, then they will generally have a similar performance. For example, 3-panel generic radiators would be as good as a 3-panel Reina radiators.

That isn't the end of the story, because yes, they might perform pretty much to the same level, there are a few things that will set the designer/branded radiators apart. Here are a few things to consider:

1.       The length of the warrantee/guarantee will generally be longer with the branded radiators. This is because they want to keep their customers happy for longer, or risk it affecting their reputation. When you buy generic radiators and they become damaged after 3 or 4 years, the owner isn’t going to be able to easily badmouth them because they aren't well known so it won’t stick in other people’s minds. However, with a brand such as Reina radiators, it would affect their reputation, and consequently sales. They don’t want this, so they offer a higher level of service.

2.       The look of the radiator is generally better with designer radiators. Again, they need to set themselves apart, and they do this by creating beautiful and/or unique looking radiators. If you have a look though the big brand catalogue, you'll notice that they all have radiators that could easily double as modern art. It’s great.

3.       You know what you're getting when you buy a branded unit. With generic radiators, it won’t be very easy for you to research the company to see how well they perform. You'll find it difficult to find reviews and to find people with experience of that particular radiator. With the branded radiators, you can find a lot of information and so be well prepared with what to expect should you choose to buy one.

So, generic radiators are as good as branded radiators. If cash and functionality are your main concern, then choose a generic brand. However, if you want that little bit of edge, go for a designer/branded radiator.

If you would like to browse a fantastic collection of both types of radiator, please visit http://www.designerradiatorsdirect.co.uk

Helping Your Elderly Relative Stay Warm This Winter

With gas and electricity prices skyrocketing, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to heat our homes. For older people, this is compounded by the fact that they feel the cold more harshly than their younger counterparts do. Fortunately, there are things that you can do to help make them comfortable, and the solutions aren’t necessarily expensive.

Insulation

If they don’t have insulation, they might be able to benefit from government initiatives offering free insulation to homeowners and renters. Check with your local council to see if they know of any schemes happening in the area. Take advantage of this while it lasts.

Draft Exclusion

House can lose a lot of energy through drafts, and this is especially true for properties with single glazing. Draft excluders do not have to be expensive. First, you can buy special sealants to place around doors and windows. This will help to fill any gaps. You simply peel off the backing tape and stick it in place. It’s easy.

Next, make sure that curtains are thick and thermal. If they aren’t, and you can’t afford to buy thermal curtains, don’t worry. You can buy lined curtains and fill them with newspaper or stuffing. If you aren’t too fussed about the decoration, you can buy duvets for as little as £5 and fit those over the windows to act as curtains.

We have one for our front door that we attach using Velcro. During the day, we put it away. It works great. The reason we chose to do this is that I didn’t want a curtain pole over the window. I actually really like it and it doesn’t look weird to me at all – although some other people have commented that it’s a bit odd. Still, it saves us a lot of money because there are no blasts of cold air coming from the front door.

Change the Radiators

Radiators UK are relatively cheap, and you can pick up a super-efficient 3-panel, 3 convector finned, radiator for as little as £50. If your relative has older style radiators, then swapping them out for the latest models will make a lot of difference. You don’t have to replace radiators throughout the house – just in the room where they spend the most time. It can make a HUGE difference, particularly if they only had single panels beforehand.

I hope that you found these tips useful. If you are interested in buying a new radiator, then check out the collection on offer at designerradiatorsdirect.co.uk/.