designerradiators

Radiators aren’t something the average person thinks about often. However, it is something that most of us should think about from time to time, particularly if we’re homeowners. It’s important that we understand our radiators and how they work, because this will help to minimise problems if they arise, such as very high bills, or burst pipes. There’s plenty of advice to help with those issues, so here, we have created a brief guide that covers some aspects of radiators that other places rarely mention.

1. Make Sure the Radiator is CE Approved: when you buy radiators, even if you’re buying from a reputable brand, such as Vogue radiators, it’s important that you check that they're CE approved. This means that they have been tested and conform to safety standards in place in the UK. If you’re radiators aren't CE approved, it doesn’t mean that you have done anything illegal, but it does mean that if something goes wrong you’re not likely to get compensation. Furthermore, it also makes it more likely that something will go wrong, because the radiator clearly hasn’t been tested to standard.

2. Radiator output readings are standardised at 70oC: when you buy radiators, you will see that the manufacturers, such as Vogue radiators, will provide you with a BTU/h reading. This tells you how hot the radiator will be. You match the BTU/h to the size of the room to ensure that the radiator is the correct choice. However, this Btu/h measurement rests on the assumption that you have your boiler set to 70oC, which is the average for most UK households. If you don’t have it set to that temperature, then you need to make adjustments as necessary.

3. TRVs sound like they’re leaking, but it’s just the wax: when we first bought radiators with TRVs, we thought that they were leaking. This was because, every now and again, we would hear a dripping noise. We’d then examine the radiator for the source of the leak, but never find one. That’s because it wasn’t leaking at all. Instead, there is wax inside the TVR that melts and this controls the valve. As it heats up the wax melts and closes the valve. The dripping we could here was just the wax melting.

4. Annual safety checks are cheap, and they could save your life: if you have gas central heating then you need to have your system checked and serviced every year. Some people put this off because they believe it to be exceptionally expensive, as is the case with a car service. However, they’re wrong. For as little as £8 per month, you can have your boiler serviced annually. It offers great peace of mind, but more than that, it’s safe.

5. Keep the space in front of the radiator free from obstruction: many people don’t realise it, but if you put something in front of a radiator, like a sofa or wardrobe, then the radiator will be less efficient. You should keep the radiator free from obstruction in order to ensure that it radiates to the entire room.

If you would like to browse a collection of radiators, including Britain’s favourite Vogue radiators, then please visit http://www.designerradiatorsdirect.co.uk