During lockdown, whilst many people were on furlough, home improvements were happening all over the UK and with the recent changes to stamp duty, a few more tweaks were being added to homes so they will look at their best before being put up for sale. Belgian firm Vasco shares some tips on helping homeowners select a suitable designer radiator.
Designer radiators such as those created by Vasco offer added value to any interior. However, their key function is to ensure the home is kept snug and warm in the most cost effective way, so radiators should offer high heat output at minimum cost. When looking to put in new radiators it’s not just the capacity of the radiator that’s relevant there are other elements that you need to consider such as:
SUITABLE CAPACITY
Every room in the home has a specific ideal temperature for maximum efficiency. Before selecting your radiator you should calculate the heat you’ll need to maintain this from each radiator in the room. When making these calculations you need to consider the following:
- The volume of the room
- The desired temperature
- The function of the room: Does the homeowner sleep there or will you be actively working in it?
CONSIDER INSULATION
The extent to which your home is insulated also has a huge impact on the required radiator capacity. If the property is a new build or has been recently refurbished with full insulation then your heating capacity can be significantly lower – older properties need greater heating output. The recent announcement regarding insulation grants may be able of use if you have an older home.
INCREASING HEAT OUTPUT
For optimum heat output, not only do you need to select a radiator which offers the required capacity, but you need to ensure the heat can flow freely around the room. There are a few simple rules homeowners can apply to help maintain the flow of heat into the room:
- Do not hang towels over your radiators to dry. However, if you need to select a special bathroom radiator that you can also use as a drying rack. At Vasco, you will also find a wide range of towel rails, buttons and racks
- Make sure there are no heavy curtains hanging over the radiators, as this will stop the heat from being distributed
- Don’t use built-in radiators or radiator casing. The design is made to be seen
- Bleed the heating system regularly
REASONS TO BLEED THE RADIATORS
It’s making strange noises – bubbling or ticking noises are usually a sign of air in the pipes. Aside from the fact that it can be annoying, these air bubbles can also lead to the pipes oxidising.
Otherwise, if the home simply doesn’t get hot enough then it could be time to bleed the system. If the lower section usually gets warm but the top section stays cool or lukewarm, this problem could also be due to a separate heating element, while everything else is working perfectly well.
TIME FOR ACTION
Radiators can end up with air in the pipes in any season. However, it’s a good idea to bleed the system at the beginning of the heating season ready for the winter.