Are you wondering which type of radiator might be best for your home?
If you’ve been comparing the likes of white pressed steel radiators to cast iron or even aluminium, this blog might be of interest. Not everyone knows the pros and cons of these styles or which might be best for their home.
But I’ve found that now, more and more homeowners are now waking up to the fact they have options.
As an engineer with over 20 years’ experience in the Edinburgh area, I’ve fitted my fair share of all of these. And, what’s more? I’ve got opinions. But it’s about so much more than just the opinions of one person. There’s also some advice here to help you make a more informed choice.
Aluminium radiators
Let’s start off with the one that not everyone knows about; aluminium radiators! And because aluminium is a more conductive material, these radiators heat up a lot faster than standard white pressed steel radiators. They also hold a low water content, with less water going through them. This all helps to ensure your home gets warm faster.
This also means that once you turn your heating off, your home cools down faster, too. However, all in all, these are very efficient radiators and they look stylish, too! They’re actually quite an affordable way to add some extra style to your home. (Pssst! They come in a variety different colours and styles)
They’re also great value for money. For one thing, they don’t corrode due to their protective oxide layer – and because of this, they also come with guarantees of up to 20 years! Which is fantastic. Aluminium radiators are definitely a smart choice, and although they’re more expensive than standard steel radiators, they won’t cost the earth.
Oh, and one other thing – they’re also very light and therefore easier for engineers to fit!
Cast iron radiators
Cast iron radiators are the old-fashioned heavy radiators you might have seen in old schools or libraries. They come in sections and are so heavy you have to build them in place. You use to get them in a primer or grey finish. However, now you can get them factory sprayed in just about any colour you want!
These traditional-style radiators look wonderful in period properties. Especially since older properties have more space. These radiators are basically the polar opposite of aluminium radiators, as they take much longer to heat up, but also longer to cool down.
So, say if you want your home to be toasty warm for 6:30pm when you get home from work? You’ll have to ensure your heating is on for longer – say 5:45pm. But the good thing is that once you turn your heating off, your home will stay warmer for longer. So, you could say it’s swings and roundabouts.
One other thing I’d say about these is that they’re expensive. There’s a lot more involved in the fittings, too, so your engineer will charge more for labour – but they also cost a lot more to buy. Saying that, when they’re there? They’re there for a minimum of 30 years. Actually, I’d say they’re kind of indestructible!
TIP: Because of the style of cast iron radiators, you may want to also invest in some authentic-looking valves (like a brass or pewter finish) so that they fit right in with your new radiators.
White pressed steel panel radiators
White pressed steel radiators may look basic, but they’re the industry standard for a reason. That reason being? Well, they’re the most affordable choice, they’re available to buy from any heating and plumbing merchant, and they’re the most common thing to see in an average household.
Out of these, the most popular style comes with a grille and side panels. However, there are others on the market, like round-tops, which offer a different type of look. You can also get modern-looking column radiators made out of pressed steel, for something a bit different.
One big plus point (aside from the price) of pressed steel radiators is that you can often get ones that are curved to your wall. Just take a template of the wall, and get your radiator curved to those dimensions! This can even be applied to column radiators. Impressive, eh?
TIP: To learn more, read about the pros and cons of white pressed steel panel radiators in my recent blog.
Advice from an experienced engineer
Unsure of which style to get for your home? Do your research online. A lot of it may come down to budget and/or personal choice. If necessary, you could even visit a plumber’s merchant or radiator studio to get a better idea of what’s on offer. Sometimes seeing things up close can really help!
Going back even just 10 years, and 99.9% of radiators fitted in the UK were white pressed steel. Now, a lot more people are putting in different styles of radiators. Think aluminium, cast iron, or modern column radiators. Designer radiators in every colour.
You can even mix and match, and have aluminium through most of your home, with a couple of cast iron radiators. This is just what I find personally. However, what I’d advise is to choose carefully if you’re not buying white pressed steel. Because of the expense, they’ll be there a good many years, so you’ll want to ensure you’re happy with your choice!
Conclusion
Thanks for reading. There are great benefits to all of these radiators – and some cons as well, depending on your budget and type of home you own. But that’s not to say you can’t mix and match your radiators – you definitely can!
So, whether you’re interested in eco-friendly aluminium radiators, indestructible cast iron radiators or standard white pressed steel radiators – maybe a combination of all three – your chosen engineer should be happy to advise and fit these for you. But first, ensure they’ve measured your home’s heat loss!
What do you think? Do you have any questions about any of these radiators? Let me know in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you!
