A guide to buying radiators: radiator types explained

What could be more important than a radiator? It provides you with the comfort you need, so you can step out of the cold and into the warmth. Yet, choosing the right radiator for you and your home can be a difficult task. With a range of radiator types, radiator valves, and designs - there’s a lot to get your head around. All will be made clear...

Before we begin, it’s worth talking about your boiler. If you know your boiler is particularly old, or you’ve been having a lot of trouble with it, then out with the old and in with the new might be the best option. 

We at BOXT have made this handy guide with everything you need to know about radiators. Read on to find out more!

Radiator types.

Central, electric, or dual?

There are two main types of radiator. In your home you should have one of the following:

• Central heating - The central heating radiator is the most common. It fills with water that is heated up by the boiler releasing heat into your living space. Depending on its size and design, rates of heat will vary.
• Electric – This radiator type is a container filled with a thermo fluid. This fluid is heated up using electrical energy from your main electricity supply using a plug socket. 

There is also the dual fuel. Not as common today but a type that is worth knowing about. The dual fuel is a mixture of the above types. It is your standard central heating radiator but also has the option of heating through electricity. This is useful if you don’t want to fire up your entire central heating system. 

Radiator or convector radiator?

Normal radiators and convector radiators will heat up your home differently, so it’s important to know the difference first.

• In your standard radiator, your hot water runs through all the different components. When these are heated, the heat travels through the air - heating your home. These do take longer to heat up than a convector radiator but they are also cheaper and have a longer life.
• With a convector radiator, your hot water circulates through a tube surrounded by either a single or double layer of convector fins. Convector radiators also heat up rooms more quickly and boast a 10% reduction in energy consumption.

It’s important to remember that both radiator types will keep a house warm. The main difference is how they do it.

Single or double panel?

Radiators have panels for storing the hot water which travels around your home. Some have a single panel which will fit closer to a wall and others will have two panels, which will stick out a bit further. The different types of radiator may also have a single or double layer of convector fins to help increase the surface area.

The single panel radiator, also known as the ‘flat’ or Type 11 radiator, ensures you have much more space to move around. This is perfect for smaller rooms and hallways where you could do with the space. They’re also ideal for heating up smaller spaces quickly. Single panel radiators will also have a single layer of convector fins.

Double panel radiators (or the Type 22 radiator) consists of two panels fixed next to each other, with a double layer of convector fins. This type of radiator is more suitable for bigger rooms - where you may need double the heating power. 

Due to the double panel’s larger size, they do take up more space. But if you have the room just for yourself, then this may be the best option for you. Some radiators aren’t convector radiators, such as those which run on electric alone or some vertical radiators you find in bathrooms.

Horizontal or vertical?

Horizontal radiators are what you’ll most likely see in a home. As a way of removing cold draughts, they’re commonly placed underneath windows or next to doorways - but can also be placed anywhere in a room. As this shape is the most common, they are less expensive to purchase and there is more choice when shopping around.

Column or vertical radiators are taller and thinner than your usual horizontal shape. They are made from vertical tubes connected at the top and bottom rather than at each side. Because of their size, they can free up a lot of space in a room and fit into smaller spaces.  

As well as a standard vertical and horizontal radiator to choose from, there’s also the option of heated towel rails for bathrooms. These have the added ability to heat your towels as well as the whole bathroom they are in.

How many radiators do I need?

Of course, the amount of radiators you’ll need in your home will depend on the number of rooms you have. The size of the room can dictate how many radiators you’ll need and how much heat will be needed to fill it. Knowing the ideal radiator size and temperature for each room is a good place to start.

Radiator sizing guide.

There are many factors you need to consider when thinking about heating up your rooms. This helpful radiator size guide should give you a better idea of the heat output and what is most suitable for your living space.

First of all, you need to work out what your ideal temperature will be for each room in your home. Here’s an example:

Room In Your House	Temperature
Living Room	20°C
Kitchen	18°C
Dining Room	18°C
Bedroom	20°C
Bathroom	18°C
Hallway	15°C

Once you know your ideal temperatures, you can then work out the size of radiator that will produce the desired heat. For example, smaller rooms that won’t take much time to heat up would benefit from a smaller standard radiator, whereas bigger rooms with a demand for more heat would benefit from a double panel radiator.

How to calculate the ideal radiator size

For a more in-depth guide on radiator sizing, you can use the following table. You’ll need to measure each room in cubic feet and enter your measurements into a British Thermal Units (BTU) calculator, which can be easily found online. You can also use this table as a guide:

Room	Calculation
Living and Dining Room	Cubic feet x5
Kitchen	Cubic feet x3
Bedroom	Cubic feet x4
Bathroom	Cubic feet x3
Double Glazed Windows	-10%

For more information about the right radiator sizes for your home and which size is best for each room - contact your chosen radiator manufacturer.

Choose from a range of different radiator types.

Radiators come in all shapes and sizes to ensure you always find something to fit your exact requirements. Your boiler works incredibly hard to send heat to your radiators, so knowing your radiator types will most definitely be useful. Follow our radiator buying guide!

If you’re after a new boiler and are also interested in a brand new replacement Stelrad Softline radiator, use our web chat to speak with an expert.