Whether you are replacing a radiator or having a brand new one plumbed into your central heating system, there are plenty of options to choose from. From radiators to heat up your conservatory to chunky double panel radiators to heat up large rooms, you will need to decide on a size to determine the radiator power you need.
To help you decide on the size of the radiator you require, below are some factors that you should consider.
Heat Output
When searching for your next radiator, you should pay particular attention to the BTU rating. BTU stands for British Thermal Unit, which is a traditional unit of heat and the higher it is, the more heat the radiator will output.
Due to the fact that all radiators state this unit of heat, it allows you to calculate the amount of radiator power you require. B&Q have a great calculator that allows you to input the size of your room as well as other factors to determine the amount of BTU required to adequately heat a room. It’s important to note that there is no need to just have a single radiator in your room, adding multiple will add to the overall BTU required.
Single vs Double Panel Radiators
Whilst trying to find radiators with high BTU ratings, you may come across some that are single or double paneled. In short, double panel radiators feature additional fins inside of the radiator, which increases its surface area and emits far more heat than a single panel radiator. Although more expensive, they are a worthwhile investment if you only have space for one radiator in the room. Below is an example of a large (1800 x 600 mm) double panel radiator.
If you have limited space for a radiator, a single panel radiator will need to be much larger in size than a double panel radiator. This is worth noting because you can install a smaller size double panel radiator with the same BTU output.
Location of the Radiator
Depending upon the location of the radiator in your home will determine whether or not you need additional heat. For example, hallways or large open plan kitchens will need extra heat when compared to bedrooms. Although obvious, some people may overlook this factor and end up regretting it during the colder winter months.
Style of Radiator
Whether you install standard or designer radiators, the BTU rating varies between the different styles. Although designer radiators look great, the majority don’t output the same BTU of a similar size standard radiator. Therefore, if you are installing a designer style radiator, you may need to replace the radiator with a larger unit to meet the required BTU.
Aesthetics
If you have a keen eye for aesthetics, it’s a reason why you may choose a specific radiator size in certain rooms. For example, in my very own house, I wanted the radiator to meet the top of the door architrave and leave a small distance in the middle (as shown in the image below). Although this involved tailored pipework, it was worth the effort of finding the radiator size I needed before purchasing the radiator.
Conclusion
To conclude, the size of the radiator you require mostly depends upon the size of the room. There is nothing worse than a cold room and it’s important that you take your time to find the best suited radiator size for the room.
Bigger is always better if you have the space in the room and even if you don’t want it hot all the time, you can invest in some thermostatic radiator valves to keep the temperature at a comfortable heat.
