Have you got your eye on new designer radiators for your home?
I’m sure they’re just the ticket for looking the part in your home – so, what’s stopping you? Oh, you’re wondering if they’re going to give out the same kind of heat as you’re getting from more traditional radiators like you have right now.
Well, that’s a good point. And, it might not be the easiest to say without seeing ’em first. That’s because when we talk about designer radiators, we’re talking about a very broad spectrum covering a plethora of different shapes and sizes – essentially, anything that isn’t standard panel radiators.
Chances are, like about 85% of my customers, you’re choosing designer radiators for the look, first. Or, you may be choosing them to work in with space issues and the layout of the furniture in your home.
But, are they going to do the job? Well, as an engineer who’s served the Edinburgh area for over 20 years now, I’ve had my fair share of experiences with designer radiators – and I’m going to tell you all you need to know, below.
Will designer radiators give the same heat as traditional ones?
Okay, so let me make this clear; if, like I said above, you’re probably choosing your designer radiators for the look, then this is fine. However, it’s up to your chosen heating engineer to ensure you’re going to get the desired heat output for the room. That might mean getting more radiators than you initially planned, because…
As a rule of thumb, no – a designer radiator typically won’t give out the same heat as a traditional or standard-style radiator. This is down to a number of factors. Firstly, most designer radiators don’t have convection fins.
If your radiators are vertical, they won’t give out the same heat output as horizontal radiators as they don’t have the same length to draw cold air up for convection. You can read more about why radiators might not be the best choice in my recent blog on the subject.
And finally, there’s the issue of colour. When it comes to radiators, unfortunately colour does matter; and although chrome or black radiators may look visually appealing, they don’t tend to emit the same heat as white ones.
TIP: Is it time to change your radiators? Take a look at this blog to get a better idea of the best time for a change.
Advice from an experienced heating engineer
Brand-wise, when choosing the best designer radiators for you, I’d advise that it’s not like choosing Mercedes or Nike. It really comes down to what you like, so try having a look at sites such as:
Although these sites are great for browsing, definitely get your engineer’s advice about the heat output you require. Alternatively, try using an online heating calculator to get a better idea of the heat output you need – and remember to put the window sizes and number of outside walls into the calculations, as this affects how cold the room is.
Whatever you do, DON’T underheat your home! It’s better to be too warm than too cold. I’ve written a few blogs about this now, and I’m asked a lot about just one or two new radiators for certain rooms – or an extension. I’ve also recently got a lot of requests through about coloured radiators, so this is something that’s becoming more popular.
One last thing; don’t be too put off by the cost of designer radiators (at around £250 – £500 each). They can really add to a room – much like a piece of furniture.
Conclusion
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading, and I’m sorry if I haven’t delivered the best news. It’s true that typically, designer radiators won’t give off the same level of heat as standard radiators, but this will vary depending on a lot of different factors.
At the end of the day, it’s important to check with your engineer about whether your chosen radiators are going to be up to the job. And if not, it could just be a matter of fitting more radiators!
Do you have any questions about designer radiators I can help with? If so, just leave me a comment below. I’m here to help! Alternatively, get in touch with me directly.
