RECENTLY, there has been a countrywide government-led drive to ensure that as many of our homes are as environmentally friendly and efficient as possible.
This has come in the form of many people having free loft and cavity wall insulation installed. While these are sensible moves to reduce the amount of heat lost in your home, it is also a very sensible approach to take a look at your hot water system and in particular, your radiators to ensure that not only are they producing the desired amount of heat you need, but also that each radiator is equally cost effective.
One of the first things to check with any radiator is that they are heating up enough. Over time, air gets into your hot air system and will block hot water reaching all parts of the radiator and make it less efficient. Fortunately, there are simple keys or even specialist tools you can buy from online stockists or DIY stores to bleed your radiators cheaply and easily, making them far more effective.
While bleeding your radiators should be completed at least once a year to maintain their effectiveness, there comes a time when your radiators may need an overhaul. Some will start to show their age, others may spring a leak whereas some people may just prefer the stylish look of the sleek new design in column and atlas radiators available.
If you are considering upgrading your radiators then there are many things to consider. Are you going to buy the traditional style convector radiator? If so, is the room or passageway it is to be installed in going to require a single or double radiator? Are you going to change the bathroom radiator for one of the stylish new towel radiators?
Using a main living area as an example, the type of radiator you buy is not just dictated by one thing. Certainly, to avoid having to do a lot of extra DIY work in the area, you need a radiator that has the same attachments and is roughly the same size as the one you are removing, but you also need to consider whether that radiator was suited to your room. Was the room always too hot or too cold compared to others in the house? Do you want a certain look for your living space and so would consider one of the designer radiators available?
It is also worth noting that just because a room or passageway is cooler than others in the home, does not necessarily mean that you need a radiator with a bigger capacity. Some rooms in the home, those with large windows for example, especially if they are not double glazed and those with several outside walls, may be letting too much heat out of the room and buying a bigger radiator may not be the right solution. Radiator insulation or insulating the room in other ways may prove more cost effective before you consider changing your primary source of heat.
Another cost-effective measure is to install thermostatic valves on individual radiators, which allows you to control the temperature of each radiator individually, or to turn a radiator off if heat is not required in a certain room.
Once you have made your decision as to what you need to upgrade your system, then you can cheaply buy radiators online. Not only does this solve the problem of having to transport several heavy radiators home from a local DIY retailer, but often allows the customer to save money on buying in the shops.
You can also buy thermostatic valves and towel radiators online, not to mention any extra piping or specialist equipment or other supplies you may need and have it all delivered quickly and conveniently.
The current drive to heat your home more efficiently means that there is growing emphasis not only on the effectiveness of your insulation, but also on the effectiveness of your hot water system. Replacing tired, worn and inefficient radiators as part of a heating system overhaul is a good way to ensure your home is reducing its carbon footprint and using less energy.
