Radiators

Radiators for every room

The right radiator does two jobs: it heats the room properly and it suits the space it hangs in. Start with the wall you have, work out how much heat the room needs, then choose a style and colour.

Vertical or horizontal?

Vertical radiators use height instead of width, so they fit narrow walls beside doors and windows, alcoves, and kitchens where units take up most of the wall. Horizontal radiators are the traditional choice under a window, where the rising warm air counters the cold draught coming off the glass.

Column and designer styles

Column radiators use rows of vertical tubes for a classic look that suits period homes and modern spaces alike. Designer radiators turn the radiator into a feature, with flat panels, oval tubes and bolder shapes.

Choosing a colour

Anthracite and grey radiators are a popular modern choice, black radiators pair well with matt black taps and fittings, and white radiators blend quietly into painted walls. For a brighter finish, look at chrome or gold and brass.

How much heat output do I need?

Outputs are quoted in watts or BTU at ΔT50, the standard test condition used in the UK (1 watt is about 3.4 BTU/h). As a rough guide, allow around 100W per square metre of floor in an average room, and more for older properties, high ceilings, large windows or north-facing rooms. If you have a heat pump, size up: at the lower water temperatures heat pumps run at, a radiator gives out roughly half its ΔT50 figure.

Valves and fitting

Most radiators are supplied without valves, so check the product page and add a pair of radiator valves. Before you order, measure the distance between your pipes and compare it with the radiator's pipe centres, allowing for the valves.