Stay Cosy this Winter: Expert Tips for Picking the Perfect Radiator

With the colder months upon us and energy costs still rising, selecting the right radiator for the home has never been more important. Nick Duggan, MD at The Radiator Centre, offers his expert insights into choosing the ideal heating solution for your needs.

Whether you're embarking on a new building project or looking to upgrade your existing radiators, there are several key factors to consider. From exploring alternatives to traditional central heating radiators to understanding heat output requirements, these elements play a crucial role in choosing the best solution for your heating needs.

What size of radiator do you need? 

The key priority is making sure that you have enough heat coming into the room.  To work out what size you need, start by calculating the heat output required for your room, which can be done by using an online heat calculator. The results will show an amount in either watts or BTUs (BTU stands for British Thermal Unit which is the standard heat measurement used in the UK).

All radiators will state an output in either watts, BTUs or both. By knowing how much heat each radiator will emit, you can now find the best one to efficiently heat each room based on your earlier heat calculation. The output of a radiator is usually the result of the amount of surface from which heat can dissipate from. Hence why you see the more conventional radiators generally have convectors in the middle. Many modern designs act on this principle by building in ‘fins’ and ‘grooves’, often hidden inside, from which the heat can escape from. Look for those radiators that are more than just bars and tubes as these tend to produce less heat. 

Installing a radiator that’s too small for a room means it won't produce enough heat, leaving the space constantly cold. On the other hand, a radiator that’s too large will generate excessive heat, leading to wasted energy as you constantly turn it down. For rooms on the colder side of the house, or those that are draughty and poorly insulated, a larger radiator may be needed compared to a similarly sized, well-insulated south-facing room with triple glazing. In larger spaces, you might even require more than one radiator to maintain a comfortable temperature.

Which radiator is best for which room?

Some radiators are better suited to one room over another. In the bathroom, for instance, heated towel rails are an obvious choice. Many have dual-fuel options, meaning that when the central heating’s off, you can continue to ensure your towels are warm and dry. In the lounge, you might want to have a radiator that’s attractive enough to be the centre of attention in its own right. If you have an awkwardly shaped hallway, you could consider a vertical radiator, which will make the most of the space whilst still providing a warm welcome to your home.

Efficiency Considerations

With rising energy costs, efficiency is often high on peoples priorities these days. Energy efficient radiators are more efficient because they tend to use lower volumes of water coupled with a high internal surface area. Less water means you don’t need to use so much energy to heat it. For example, aluminium radiators often have less water content and faster reaction times than their steel equivalents. There are a wide range of efficiency radiators to choose from on the market today, with some requiring only 10% of the water that you would find in a similar sized conventional radiator. 

That said, don’t necessarily rule out those radiators that just look great. Cast iron radiators are still a popular choice as people look to restore original features back into their period properties. Many of the old styles are being reproduced to modern standards so there is no need to scour reclamation yards anymore.

Electric or central heating?

If you are building an extension, a loft conversion or an office at the bottom of your garden, you may find it’s too expensive to extend your central heating system. However, you can continue to benefit from the look and heat of a designer radiator by getting an electric design. The key consideration when choosing an electric radiator should be its controllability, as this will ultimately be the thing that determines how efficient you can make it run. Having 24/7 timers allows you set precise on/off times so you have the heat just when you need it. Most electric radiators will also come with an override button if you should then need to turn them on outside the usual schedule. Many will also come with apps that allow you to see what is working in real time.

What about if I have a heat pump?

Heat pumps work at lower temperatures than conventional boilers and as a consequence, they will heat a room to a lower temperature as well. Traditional radiators are designed for higher-temperature systems and therefore may not work as effectively with a heat pump, leading to reduced heating efficiency. If you are choosing new radiators to pair with a heat pump, radiators with more surface area are best as they can transfer heat more effectively into the surrounding space, although this doesn't always have to mean larger radiators. The latest energy-efficient options use the lower flow temperatures of a heat pump better so there is less need to lose wall space for the sake of going greener. They are typically made from materials with high thermal conductivity, such as aluminium. 

Should I be considering Smart Radiators? 

The key functionality that people often look for when controlling their heating through these systems is the ability to set up 7 day programming initially, but also the ability to turn their heating on and off at an instant. Unexpected warm spring days or colder nights can be acted upon during the customers daily commute or from their office desk for example, without having to alter settings on their boiler or room thermostat back at their house. Likewise, a change in a regular work or lifestyle pattern, i.e. going away for the weekend or back late from work, still means you can control the heating without needing to be physically in your home.

Smart heating apps are incredibly user-friendly and offer an excellent way to make your home more connected. The improved functionality offered by connected home systems and smart heating apps should be considered part of a range of energy saving initiatives. No longer will central heating systems be running with no one in the house, wasting heat and money.