Buying New Radiators? You Need to Know These 5 Tips

In this article, we are going to help you understand more about how to buy the right radiator for your home. We will provide you with some tips that you might not have considered but will serve you well.

Tip 1: Always Use a BTU calculator

A BTU calculator will tell you how much heat a room requires. It is much better to use a calculator than take a guess. The calculators take all sorts of things into account, such as whether you have double glazing or north-facing windows, to give you an accurate figure of the amount of heat that you need.

These are not calculators in the traditional sense - you don't have to buy them. Most radiator retailers will have them on their website and they are free to use. You simply fill in the information and they will tell you how much heat you need. You then match this figure to the radiator you are buying.

Tip 2: Always Buy a Radiator with Guarantee of At Least 5-years

Whenever you buy a new radiator, especially if buying cheap radiators online, you must always check the length of the guarantee. The guarantee is a mark of workmanship, the longer it is, the better the quaintly.

When it comes to radiators, quality is important because a leaking radiator can cause widespread problems in your home. A guarantee of 5-years or more is a good sign of strong workmanship. Personally, I would never buy a radiator that provides less than that.

The best radiators offer as much as 20-years guarantee. They are well worth it if you have the money, and they aren't as expensive as you might imagine. You can pick up such a radiator for as little as £200.

Tip 3: Make Sure Your Bathroom Radiators Are Rust Resistant

Rust is the bane of most bathroom radiators. It happens within a very short space of time, and there's nothing more disappointing than buying a new radiator for your bathroom only to see it go rusty within the year (well, OK, that was an exaggeration. There are things in life that are more disappointing, but you get the point: it's annoying).

When you buy a bathroom radiator, you have to make sure that you're buying one that is highly resistant to rust. Make sure that it has been treated for rust resistance and where possible, always buy stainless steel.

Tip 4: Make Sure You Buy a Thermostatic Radiator Valve (TRV)

TRVs are a must-have accessory for today's radiators. They help to control the temperature of the radiator automatically and this makes the radiators more efficient as they only use the energy they need - there is much less waste.

You can buy TRVs as an after sale purchase if they do not come with the radiator. You are more likely to need to do this if you buy cheap radiators online simply because they are less likely to provide them. This isn't an issue though, after sales TRVs are identical to those that come with the radiators.

I hope that you have found this article useful. Follow these tips and you'll find the right radiator for your home.