Do you want a traditional cast iron radiator, a showstopping designer radiator, or an electric version? If you’re looking to upgrade your bathroom, will that involve a heated towel rail to make your step out of the shower as cosy as possible? And what kind of valves are right for your home? These are just some of the questions you might find yourself asking. In today’s blog post, we’ve collated lots of the questions our customers most frequently ask themselves (and us) when they start on their design journey.
How do you want your radiator to be heated?
Typically, you’ll be choosing between central heating radiators, electric radiators and dual fuel radiators. The first is the typical option. It is a metal vessel that fills up with hot water, so it relies on your boiler being strong. The second is, as you might expect, heated up by an electrical element that warms the thermo fluid inside the container. You can either have it plug into a socket, or have it wired directly to your main electricity supply. Dual fuels are essentially a combination of them both. During the summer months, when you’ve switched off the central heating, it switches to using electricity instead.
What kind of material do you want?
This affects how quickly it’ll heat up and cool down. As a superconductor, aluminium is efficient and a preference for many, although it comes with a bigger pricetag than some alternatives. You’ll make the money back in the long run, but we understand that it’s not an option for everyone at all times. Other options include cast iron, mild steel, and stainless steel. Cast iron was the historic choice, which is why you see it in Victorian-style homes. It does take a long time to heat up and cool down, so you’ll need to take that into consideration if you opt for a cast iron radiation system. Mild steel is preferred for its cost-efficiency. Because it’s one of the cheapest options and therefore more popular, you can find lots of fun and beautiful designs. Many people decide on a stainless steel radiation system, as it is resistant to rust and it can stay warm long after the heating is turned off. However, you get what you pay for, so don’t skimp on this. Every one of our radiators has been designed and chosen with quality in mind, so if you purchase from us, this won’t be a worry.
Does this radiator give off enough heat to warm up the space?
A delicate design can be a true beauty, but if you have a large, open-plan space, we often advise our customers to go for something larger and better suited to fill the room with heat. You’ll need to consider: The size of the room The layout The level of insulation Whether the windows have double glazing Whether there’s an open fire Whether there are large patio doors Remember: our friendly team are always happy to have a chat about what might or might not work for your home. Just give us a ring or drop us an email on our contact page. We also have a live chat function if you’d prefer to get an answer right away. Our West Yorkshire showroom is also a good place to get inspiration (although it’s currently closed its doors, and we’re looking forward to opening them again once the public health situation allows).