Replacing old radiators and choosing quality towel rails

Replacing the odd radiator on a system because of corrosion, leaks or blockages is seen as the norm, but in many cases that's simply tinkering with the oldest or worst radiator on the system. Wholesale radiator replacement is a viable option, but is often overlooked. In this article we explain more.

In these days of huge desire for energy efficiency in the home, radiators have a key role to play. But debris-free circulating water alone will not make the heating system more energy efficient, although it can help. Powerflushing is a great technique and will do a job of removing black magnetite sludge and limescale build-up, but if the radiators are pre-2000 they will be less energy efficient by design than modern radiators, even if they're clean.

Replacing elderly radiators, especially if you're installing a new boiler, will allow a range of improvements. Perhaps most importantly, it will bring energy efficiency into the home from having clean new radiators that are designed to be better at sharing heat than pre-2000 models.

The new radiators will also be smaller, partly because modern ones are able to provide greater heat from a smaller radiator footprint than the elderly ones being replaced and secondly because heat loss calculations can be far more accurate these days.

In addition, radiators these days can be smaller because of the reduced water content required and because of the far superior water channel design which ensures the water travels through radiators better, coming into contact with more of the metal so that radiators can do their jobs properly.

Old radiators accumulate debris

Two or three panel radiators with fins attached can provide far more heat for your home. The ability to run a squeaky clean heating system, more often than not these days, with a quality system filter to ensure the system is free of accumulated debris, is a plus for new radiators, especially if you've inherited your home from a series of owners over the years that have not treated the heating system with the care it deserved.

Debris, more often than not, inhabits an old heating system - with a build-up of black magnetite sludge from years of internal rusting and a build-up in hard water areas of limescale encrustation which has decimated the energy efficiency claims of the poor boiler. Correct water treatment is essential today.

Of course, there's the aesthetic angle too. Even the standard panel radiators of today look smart - slimmer units, with rounded edges, and a good quality paint. There is a whole range of designer radiators that elevate the radiator from a simple steel panel heat provider to a centrepiece of the decor - with tubular radiators offering a delicate and modern version of the standard classic column design, flat radiators adding a feeling of space to a room, vertical radiators growing in popularity, and the choice of towel rails growing by the day. These include the standard inexpensive ladder towel warmers to quite exquisite designer bathroom radiators that provide a stunning feature in any bathroom or wetroom environment.

Consider the type of towel rail

The archetypal chrome towel rail is still extremely popular, but the range of sizes and shapes has grown exponentially. Along with the realisation that however attractive chrome might be, it actually doesn't help much on the heat front, the plating process actually reducing the amount of heat you get from the rail, to say nothing of the damaging effects on the environment of the plating process. Painted towel rails of the same size will provide significantly more heat than plated ones.

Far too many people have bought what appeared to be an inexpensive radiator for the bathroom only to discover that the clue was in the name - a towel warmer tends to warm towels, not the room it's in. Nothing worse on a cold frosty morning, leaping out of the shower and into a 'refrigerator'. So, selecting the towel rail radiator needs to have a bit more thought if you want it to heat the room and make those early mornings a bit more comfortable.

The UK towel rail sector is just one of the diverse and highly competitive segments within the UK radiator market, with towel rails of all shapes and sizes available for every possible type of installation. It's quite normal these days to find towel warmers in most homes, in most new-build properties and in virtually all self-build homes.

The market is split between the basic products sold in huge numbers through DIY outlets and the more upmarket offerings, which is a segment that's growing as people look to replace inadequate towel rails they inherit when they move in, or as they recognise the value of having a towel rail that genuinely heats the rooms as well as the inch or two of space around it.

Choose your bathroom heating wisely

Intense competition has driven down the price of basic products as both domestic and overseas manufacturers fight tooth and nail for the high potential volumes at the lower end of the marketplace. These models tend to be basic and similar in design as befits product ranges that are highly price sensitive. There are good value products available at this end of the market so as long as you appreciate what you are buying and don't have unrealistic expectations of their performance levels.

Upmarket products offer much more innovative designs and on the whole, far higher quality finishes. Sadly the towel rail marketplace is a bit like real life in that you get what you pay for. But remember, do the calculations when selecting a bathroom radiator - as with any room it is vital to estimate what heat output is needed to heat a room effectively and to choose a towel rail or radiator capable of delivering this.

Taller vertical models can help deliver satisfactory levels of heat and ensure that you're not hurling yourself at the warm towels as you exit the shower to keep the goosebumps at bay. Really think about your needs and think about what is best for your bathroom. 

Possibly the one room in the house where a radiator is most noticeable, your bathroom needs a radiator that can keep the room cosy and your towels dry and warm. With bathroom radiators from Trade Radiators, never again will you be rushing from bed to avoid a cold snap before hopping in the shower.

Whether you’re having a complete rehaul of your bathroom and want a new fresh radiator that fits in with the new look or you’re finally getting a much-needed heated towel rail, we have a supreme collection of bathroom radiators available on our online catalogue.

Knowing what type of radiator will suit you best starts with understanding what type of bathroom you have to work with.