Are you curious about aluminium radiators and whether they’d suit your home?
Aluminium radiators haven’t really caught on in the UK yet as much as in other parts of Europe – mostly because not many people know about them! However, you shouldn’t let that stop you.
In fact, they could be a great investment that brings a completely different style to your home whilst being super efficient and eco-friendly.
Still want to know more? As an experienced engineer, I’ve spent the past 20 years fitting these radiators, and my customers who choose them find them a real breath of fresh air! Which is why I wanted to highlight everything you need to know about aluminium radiators, below.
So, you can decide for yourself!
1. They heat up faster
Because aluminium’s a more conductive material, these radiators tend to heat up a lot faster than traditional white pressed steel radiators. Which means you’ll feel the heat benefit a lot faster! So, when you switch the heating on, you won’t have as long to wait for your home to get toasty warm.
2. They cool down faster
Some might call this a downside, others perhaps not! But once your heating turns off, your home won’t stay warm for as long as traditional white steel radiators. Just as aluminium radiators heat up faster, they’re also faster to cool down.
3. They don’t corrode
This is a huge plus point for aluminium radiators. Usually, traditional white pressed steel radiators can corrode if you don’t use corrosion inhibitor in your system. And if the system is drained down and re-filled without adding corrosion inhibitor, they can rust over time.
This is not the case with aluminium – they’re built to last the distance and come with a protective oxide layer! (However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still use inhibitor – it’s still essential for other parts of your central heating system which is made up of different types of metal. Inhibitor also stops hydrogen gassing)
4. They’re eco-friendly
Because aluminium radiators are so efficient to heat, it means your home heats up faster whilst burning less gas. There’s also less water travelling through these radiators compared to standard, traditional white pressed steel ones.
5. They’re not expensive
Surprisingly, despite their striking looks, aluminium radiators are actually quite affordable. You can pick them up for as little as £100, depending on the heat output you require. (If you’re not sure about this, ask your chosen engineer who can advise you)
Saying that, they’re still more expensive than standard white pressed steel radiators.
6. They often have great guarantees
These radiators come with fantastic guarantees of 10 – 20 years. This isn’t the norm when buying radiators for your home! So, I’d say this is a huge benefit that provides a lot of added value to your investment.
7. They come in different colours/styles
With aluminium radiators, you can get quite creative. There are different styles (such as slimline) and a variety of colours to suit just about any budget. You can even order your aluminium radiators in bespoke colours to suit your tastes/decor! So, why not let your imagination run wild?
8. They’re very light
These radiators are light and easy to transport. They can be installed and mounted on just about any wall, and because they’re light, it’s not a particularly labour-intensive job. Unlike, say, cast iron radiators which are much heavier and come in sections because of the sheer weight of them.
Advice from an experienced engineer
What I’d like to say here is that it all comes down to personal choice and budget. Definitely do your research and see what’s out there to get an idea of the styles you like and which might look good in your home. TradeRadiators.com is a great starting point.
However, the most important thing I want to say here is that not many people in this country know about aluminium radiators. But that doesn’t mean they’re not worth checking out! And, they have an entirely different look and feel; whilst being very popular in Italy and France.
So, if you want to break free of the ordinary, aluminium radiators might be the way to go!
The first time I fitted them (must have been about 15 or 20 years ago now), it was for an Italian lady. She was of the opinion that white radiators looked ugly and horrible, whereas these have more of a feature about them. And when I saw them, I could definitely see the appeal!
I soon realised aluminium radiators were a fantastic alternative to standard white-pressed steel radiators. I soon started talking about different radiators to customers, and found quite a niche market who appreciated them. I’ve sold quite a lot of these radiators since, but really I was educated by someone else looking for something different.
Conclusion
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading. If you’ve only just begun to look at aluminium radiators, I’d definitely recommend doing your research. Take a look at what’s out there on websites such as TradeRadiators.com, and get your chosen engineer to help advise on heat outputs.
What do you think of aluminium radiators? Could they be a good choice for your home? Let me know in the comments. I’m always happy to help!
