Food for thought - which radiators are most suitable for you?
As another summer begins to draw to a close, it is a good time to make sure that your central heating system is functioning correctly so that you do not get caught out in the cold months to come. We will have a fair bit of sunshine left yet, but it does not pay to leave it until the last possible minute. Assuming your system is running as it should, the other thing to think about is if it is finally time to replace those boring old white panel radiators that have been lurking behind your sofa and various other out of sight places in your house for the last dozen or so years. Not traditionally an area where cutting edge technology and innovation have ruled, in recent years a number of more exciting designs have come onto the market which are much more suitable for modern houses with a more fashionable décor. While there are still perennial favourites such as heated towel rails for bathrooms, in areas of your house where you like to entertain guests there are more choices available to you now than there were a few years ago. When you are enjoying a nice meal in the winter months with your friends, it is nice to be able to relax, knowing that everyone will be comfortable and warm. Remember that fine wines that are recommended to be served at room temperature are actually supposed to be kept at around sixty degrees, the average room temperature before radiators were in common use.
Creats an extra dimension in comfort
Is it really for me?
Once you have thought about the basic requirements for your home, such as the heat output rating for each unit and whether or not they will be able to utilise existing central heating plumbing without major alterations then the rest of it is pretty much down to your personal choice. For the more adventurous, feature radiators are those that are designed to be looked at rather than hidden away, such as the spring style model mentioned above. There are many different types in this category and they can get as wild as you wish. Some less fantastical designs that are still very attractive, include those that have a full length mirror incorporated into the design and are mounted vertically rather than horizontally on the wall. There are radiators made to look like flowers on your wall, models that double up as an oven for something a bit different and some nice tubular designs that have a modern look but are not too unconventional for those that do not want to go too far. All of them will have their own heat rating so you can easily work out if they are suitable for the job in hand. You should bear in mind that radiators are made to last a reasonable length of time and so you do not want to get too carried away and land yourself with something that you quickly grow tired of, just to provide dinner guests with a handy talking point.
Contemporary and stylish radiator
Making your guests comfortable
One thing that many people find a useful addition to any of the different types of radiators is a thermostatic regulator valve that can be easily fitted to most units. If you like to hold dinner parties and often have people to stay overnight, then you will find these a very nice feature to make your guests more comfortable. Instead of relying on a central thermostat to regulate the temperature of the whole house, these valves give you the capability of setting individual temperatures for each room in the house, and when the desired temperature is reached they will automatically turn off the radiators in that room. This means your friends can choose their own preferred temperature when staying at your house, as can all the members of your family of course. If you find your dinner parties have been losing a bit of their sparkle recently then a browse online should throw up plenty of new ideas to liven things up a bit. There are lots of sites with recipe suggestions and reviews of wines that will go well with your meal and different types of after dinner cheese to try, etcetera. They also have much information on local restaurants for you to try as an alternative to having guests round all the time. For an older style house, cast iron radiators are excellent at holding and conducting heat so it will be all back to yours for coffee on those cold winter nights after a good meal out.
Elegant period radiator
Keeping things looking good
When you buy new heating appliances you can choose between those that have a brushed or polished stainless steel finish and are designed to be used as they are, or those that come with a coat of primer paint and can be painted any colour you fancy once they have been delivered. If you opt for radiators that can be painted after delivery, then make sure you paint them regularly to keep them looking like new. A warm room is ideal for leaving the cheeseboard in while you are eating your meal, as making the cheeses sweat a bit can often help to bring out the full flavour, especially with the more mature varieties, although it is probably best not to leave them directly over your radiators or you may impair the flavour by inadvertently cooking them with the heat coming off the units. If you are planning on serving fruit with the cheese, this is of course best left in the fridge until you are ready to eat it. Soggy, browning pieces of fruit are not going to look great when you are handing out the after dinner brandy and chatting about your new heating appliances. To keep your radiators working efficiently as well as looking their best, apart from painting them regularly you should always keep them clean and free of dust as this affects their ability to radiate heat as well. To further improve efficiency for wall mounted units you can place some aluminium foil behind them.
Defining the corners of your space
