Perfect finish, chose the right valve!

Many people who have new radiators installed often don’t think of the finishing touches, mainly the radiator valves. If you are looking to have a new set of rads put into your home then you should always remember the valves. No matter what finish you are after you are able to get it. The valves that are available come in many categories, there is the thermostat valve that allows for you to set a different temperature within each room, a manual valve, valves with a modern finish, and the traditional valve is available. So depending on the type of rad you choose and the design of the room as a whole will not matter as there is literally a valve for every radiator.

There is a valve that will finish off any job nicely, having a perfect finish with your new rads will leave the room feeling completed, the last thing anyone wants is to have a ‘nobbly’ parts left hanging out, cover them over with an attractive valve that will finish off perfectly. Radiator valves, unless you opt for the thermostat valve will often be forgotten, or it is something that will come next week, and as we know next week never comes! Make sure that you choose the valves you want when you choose your radiator, a half job will never leave you feeling happy.

DRD are professional and have everything available for you to be able to have a job completed efficiently, they are experts in the business and there is nothing they do not have when it comes to the finishing touches to any job. If you want the whole package and you want to be able to trust the materials being used then you should look no further, and with so many choices on the finishes you can have anything you like, or something different on ever rad in your home.

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A valve is not just a valve but a finish

If you are looking to have your radiators replaced then you will also be looking at the valves that are available to go with the style of radiator you have chosen.

There are many different types of vales for you to choose from, some are traditional, thermostat, modern or manual, not only do you have to decide on the type of value you want to install, but also the finished look and the overall impression what it will give once it is installed. You cannot get a radiator without getting a valve, especially when you see the quality and style of radiators that are available from DRD, they wouldn’t look complete or finished without the valve to set off the entire look. Also if you have an eye for detail you will not want to be without the valve!

The right radiator valve is like the right shoes for the outfit, it’s a must have and getting it wrong could ruin the whole look, and when you have spent so much time and attention to the finish you are going to want to be completely satisfied when it comes to the final picture. Weather you choose a valve for practical reasons or just for the finish, you need to get it right.

With so many choices for you to make and with so many valves to decide from, you will be spoilt for choice and probably not even realise that there were so many choices. If you are looking for the perfect finish then you can choose from; White, nickel, chrome, brass, copper and gold, if you are looking for a type of valve, then as mentioned there are many for you to choose from. DRD have everything you could need for that ultimate finish when it comes to your rads and your design at home. There is nothing you cannot get from here when it comes to your radiators and accessories.

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Radiator Valves: All You Need to Know

If you’re buying new radiators, then you will want to ensure that you look after your new investment. Part of this is buying the correct type of valves. With some radiators, the valves come as standard, but with others, you must purchase them as separate items. It is important that you first establish whether you need to buy valves, and then, that you make the correct choices. Many people forget to buy their radiator valves, and at best, this leads to delays in refitting the system, but at worse, it can cause damage to the radiators, necessitating an entire replacement. Here, we’re going to discuss the various things that you need to consider when buying modern radiator valves.

What to the Valves Do?

There are two types of valve: the bleed valve and the temperature valve.

Bleed Valves

The radiator valve has an important role. Over time, the radiator system will let in air. This creates pockets of air, and where the pockets of air occur, the radiators are less efficient. If you touch the radiator and the heat distribution is uneven, then this can often be due to the presence of air in the system. It is important that the air is let out of the system, and this is done through the valve. Different valves work in different ways, but they all follow the same principle: they are one-way valves that let the air out of the radiators.

The process of letting air out of the radiators is known as ‘bleeding the radiators’. You need to be careful when bleeding the radiators, because if you let the air out too fast, it can let water out too, which will splash everywhere. More important, though, is that you ensure that the radiators are cool before you bleed them, otherwise, when water splashes out it will burn, and so too will the air. Although air burns less than water, you still don’t want to be on the receiving end of a blast of boiling-hot air.

Temperature Regulating Valves

These valves control the volume of water in the radiators. The greater the volume of water, the hotter the radiator.

·         What are the Various Types of Temperature Radiator Valves

Modern radiator valves are more diverse than traditional valves. Today, there are three general types of valve, these are:

1.       Manual radiator valves: here, you operate the valve by hand. Either you use a bleed key, or you simply twist the valve with your hands (or maybe a wrench) if it’s too tight. Manual valves work like taps.

2.       Thermostatic radiator valves: these are relatively sophisticated and they control the radiator automatically – you don’t have to do anything unless they need replacing/fixing. They use a thermostat to determine how much water the radiator will allow in. The greater the volume of water, the hotter the radiator can become.

3.       Lock shield valves: these are slightly more complex than the other two types, in that they ‘balance’ the system and ensure that there is an even distribution of water in the radiators.

We understand that radiator valves can be fairly complex, so if you would like further help and advice about modern radiator valves, then please visit http://www.designerradiatorsdirect.co.uk.

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Buying Radiators: Things You Need to Know

You may have assumed, like many people, that there is very little involve in buying radiators. You simply find a style you like and you buy it; but there is much more to the process than this. Below, we’re going to consider the ‘need to know’ facts for buying new radiators.

How Big Should the Radiator Be?

Clearly, before you buy a radiator, you need to know whether it will fit in the space. There are many different sizes to choose from, and if you can’t find the size you need, then you can always have one made to your bespoke specifications; although this will be expensive.

When you’re choosing the size of the radiation, you should use modelling to establish whether it will look good in the space at the size chosen. You may think that you need a specific size, but once you install it may find that it looks too big or too small. To work out how it will look you need to create a model – you can do this using graph paper, and draw out a scale model, you could make a mini-model of the room (this can be a fun project) or you can use some sort of design software. When you design your model, make sure that you include the radiator valves in the dimensions that you use; you don’t want to measure the unit, then find that when the valves are taken into account it no longer fits.

There is another consideration with size. The larger the radiator the more heat it emits, so when choosing the size you also need to keep in mind how much heat you want in the room. You work this out by finding the British thermal unit (btu) needed for the size of the room. then you need to buy a radiator that can emit the required Btu output.

Are there Better Places to Hang the Radiator?

Many people will tell you that the best place to hang a radiator is under the window, and while it is true that the room will heat more evenly if you do this, and that it will reach a good heat level. It can also be more expensive as it has to heat colder air before it starts to warm the room. if money is a problem, and the window is relatively far away from where you sit, then you can hand the radiator on another wall, but in general, near the window or an outside wall is the best place to hang it. When hanging the radiator, remember to make room for the radiator valves, as well as the unit itself.

Does Colour Make a Difference

You will probably know that colours play a role in heat – white reflects heat out, while black absorbs the heat. When it comes to radiators colour is relatively important. White radiators are best, because they radiate the heat out into the room. however, the difference is marginal, so if a different colour suits your room better, then choose that one – but do a little research just to make sure that the colour is suitable.

Does Shape Make A Difference?

According to some sources, there is a difference in efficiency between different shaped radiators. Radiators that have fins tend to over the best heat output.

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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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