Despite the market for radiators in the UK and Ireland exceeding six million radiators a year there are millions of elderly radiators in homes and properties up and down the country that are past their sell-by date, waiting patiently to be replaced to provide additional energy efficiency and to improve the performance of the heating system.
It’s a strange thing that whilst a boiler replacement project is seen as an everyday occurrence, replacing the radiators – which is simple and relatively inexpensive, as well as an opportunity to improve energy efficiency – is much rarer. It’s certainly not because they are difficult to fit.
Standard sized radiators make it simple to slot new radiators onto existing pipework and fitting premium panel radiators in place of standard ones is equally simple as the fitting instructions are the same as those for Compacts.
Stelrad has a number of quick and easy-to-follow installation videos on its web site and its You Tube channel to show the installer just how easy it is to replace and upgrade the radiators in a home. Of course, Stelrad recommends that heating systems are given the best possible chance to remain energy efficient. This means the addition of quality water treatment products when they are installed to keep the inside of the radiators, pipework, pumps and valves clear of black magnetite sludge – internal rust – which can clog up the system and stop the water circulating properly.
Clean, debris-free circulating water is key to seeing the heating system working properly, so a cleaner when first installed and an inhibitor to ensure that the bare metals in the system are coated to stop deterioration and the addition of a filter to remove circulating debris – metallic and non-metallic – as a belt and braces way of keeping the system in tip top condition makes huge sense. The most common radiator replacement job is replacing an ordinary panel radiator in an existing bathroom with a towel rail radiator. Nearly every new build home has a towel rail radiator in the family bathroom and any en suites in the home, as standard these days. Whilst the standard Compact type radiator is still by far the most common radiator to feature in new homes, some developers have decided to go with the premium panel type radiators or even decorative or designer radiators in more up market new homes.
There is a growing trend to replace standard panel radiators with feature radiators – with vertical radiators growing in popularity and even coloured radiators becoming more mainstream as the options for colours increase. Stelrad, for example, can supply many of its radiators in up to 35 different colours which opens a whole new world for interior decorators and those looking to add a splash of colour to their homes.
