Radiators play a vital role in designing one’s home. Not only do the radiators have to complement the overall interior of the home design, but they have to work to their optimum capacity. Their efficiency and cost values must be kept in view.
There are a variety of radiators, including the mirror radiators, Aluminum radiators etc. All have certain specifications and limitations. We will discuss a few types of radiators and compare their performance to let you know the best you can choose for your home.
Beginning with the Master
In an Asian Language (Urdu), there is a saying which is translated into English “The work suits the one skilled to do it”. For heat conductors, one can say the same. The best conductor of heat will prove to be the best radiator. In this regard, the Aluminum radiator is the master radiator. Aluminium is an excellent heat conductor, which means that when used as a radiator material, it quickly heats up to the desired room temperature. When compared to other radiator metals, this means that less energy is required to bring the material up to temperature.
Limitations
Aluminium radiators cannot retain the heat for long periods. They might be convenient when one wants to get warm quickly, but the effect is not long-lasting. Moreover, one will need more than one radiator to retain the warmth of the rooms. Keeping in mind that radiators cost one wallet heavily, buying more of them to have multiple sources of heat is not wise.
Mirror Radiators
A mirror radiator is a radiator in the disguise of a mirror. It is a multifunctional setup. Furthermore, it is space-saving as well. When it comes to smaller spaces in your home, the lighter the room, the more spacious it will feel. Mirrored vertical radiators, when combined with either natural or artificial light, will reflect more light into the room. The more open and spacious a room appears to be, the more relaxed and comfortable it will be.
Limitations
Mirror radiators are vertical radiators. The installation of vertical radiators could be a bit problematic. One needs to have an extra wall in their homes to which they can be installed. That is why mirror radiators are considered suitable options for hallways and washrooms.
Horizontal Radiators V.s Vertical Radiators
When it comes t heat output, one needs to compare the performance of horizontal and vertical radiators too.
While vertical radiators are considered the more modern option, horizontal radiators are still very popular. Flattened panels or columns comprise the traditional horizontal radiator. It is simple to save space with a horizontal radiator because of this design. Furthermore, if you need to heat a large area, you can choose radiators with additional panels or columns, which act as an incredibly powerful heating source.
Vertical radiators, on the other hand, are also an excellent choice if you don’t have much wall space or need to make creative use of the space you do have. Vertical radiators can fit into actually the shortest gaps.
Then what to Decide?
A quick and easy of finding out what radiator would suit you based on your desired output is to make use of the BTU rating. BTU stands for British Thermal Unit. All radiators are given a BTU rating, which indicates how many BTUs they produce. The BTU rating shows the quantity of heat that will be produced by your radiator. If you can’t find a radiator with the exact BTU rating you need, you may choose one with a slightly higher output to ensure your room is warm enough.
Placement of the Radiator affects the overall Output
Walls are the support for radiators. If the walls of your house are built with strong masonry and block work, you can choose from a wide spectrum of radiators. Anything can be easily fixed to it, and weight would be the least of the concerns. However, plasterboard walls or hollow walls mean you have to choose lightweight rods. Moreover, insulating your house by covering holes and windowpanes is a great responsibility too. One has to do this to maximize the performance of the radiators. One must avoid the placement of furniture right in front of the radiators. It will damage the furniture as well as affect the functionality of the radiators.
Conclusion
With this little guide, we hope that you can make the right radiator choice for your home.
