Radiators are changing – from being a necessity in our homes to being used as centrepieces to enhance our personal aesthetic in different rooms around the house. Radiators are no longer plain and white, to be overlooked – they can be brightly coloured, chrome, or matt to add to chic and modern interiors, with towel radiators being some of the most popular. Although radiators are changing in design, they must still be able to heat our home effectively, which is why it is essential to optimise your towel radiator’s heat output. Below, we’ll look at how to ensure your radiator is heating your home effectively, and how you can boost heat output for a warm and cosy environment.
Calculate BTU
This is one of the best ways to optimise your towel rails output. Before you purchase a radiator, it is always best to calculate the BTU. This calculation considers the size of your room, and how much output your radiator needs to heat it. The British Thermal Unit is the amount of energy that is needed to heat a pound of water – the higher the BTU, the hotter your towel rail is likely to be. It’s not always as simple as choosing a radiator with a high BTU, other aspects of the room should be considered too, like the width and height of the room, if there are any windows, and how much heat is being lost. You can calculate the BTU you need with ease by following instructions you can find online – this way, you can ensure you’re getting the most from your new towel rail.
Finish
When buying a new towel rail, you need to be sure that it works efficiently to heat your home. You may not realise it, but the finish that you choose could make all the difference when it comes to how your rail heats a room. Generally, shiny finishes do not offer the best when it comes to heat conduction – however, if you do have your heart set on a dazzling new radiator, placed in a smaller room, the finish won’t make too much of a difference. If you choose a radiator with an anthracite finish, this could be one of the best when it comes to heat output – the grey, matt finish is said to be around 1% more efficient than a lighter colour, so you could heat up your room more easily with one of these sleek looking radiators.
Size
It is important that you choose the right size radiator for a room to get the best from the heat output. If your radiator is too big, you will be wasting energy when it’s on, and it may look out of place in the space that you have. If you choose a radiator that is too small, you won’t be able to feel the benefit and you may end up having the heating on constantly to try and feel warmth – racking up your energy bills! Calculating your BTU can help you with choosing the right size radiator, however, if you are in doubt, it is better to buy oversized than too small!
Insulate
Making sure the heating in your home is efficient means you can reap the benefits of a warm, cosy environment, and to do this, you should make sure that your home is insulated properly. Installing double-glazed windows, adding cavity wall insulation, and hanging thick curtains means that you can stop the heat from your radiator from being lost unnecessarily. It is worth doing this before installing your new towel rail, as it means you can optimise the heat output as soon as it is installed. It also means you can save money on your energy bills, as you’ll use less energy to heat your room.
