The Radiator Company radiators / towel rails are compatible with normal central heating systems and have British Standard fittings.
On an existing system, you can replace all the radiators or just the ones you want.
The Radiator Company radiators work with all types of boiler, and with all types of circuit including sealed systems, combination boiler systems and condensing, closed-circuit systems with an expansion tank. (If you have an expansion tank, the top of the highest radiator must be at least 60 cm – two feet – below it.)
Note that ALL The Radiator Company radiators must be placed on the central heating system and never on the hot water system that feeds the taps i.e. a Direct system (which is separate). The water flowing to taps is constantly refreshed and its high oxygen content will rapidly corrode any radiator. Only stainless steel products can be used with Direct systems – see the Iris, Sail and Mast
back to topThe Radiator Company have radiators in stock that come in a few popular colours and finishes, but a huge range is available by special order. Some radiators are only available in primer, so you can paint them any colour yourself. Special radiator paints are readily available from all the major DIY retailers and come in a wide choice of colours. Please check the colour symbol by each product to see what is available.
You can order a RAL chart to be sent to you to choose a colour.
back to topTo establish how much heat your room needs, consult your Corgi registered installer or heating engineer. If you want to work it out yourself click for our BTU Calculator page (link), which leads you through the simple calculation and works out the answers for you.
All our radiators are shown with their heat outputs, so you can choose a single radiator or a number of radiators whose outputs add up to the heat you need.
All outputs listed are calculated in line with the European BSEN442 Testing Standard at ∆t50° (the latest standards for modern boiler systems). Our previous brochures listed outputs at ∆t60° to allow for the older boiler systems. To convert Δt50° to Δt60° simply multiply x 1.264. (see BTU calculator)
back to topFor even heating and the right comfort levels, most radiators are best placed in the coldest part of the room: under the window. This is because the cold outside air helps create the right convection inside i.e. pushing the hot air from the radiator into the room.
Large spaces are more effectively heated with 2 or more smaller radiators rather than one large one. A rule of the thumb often used in the trade is to have one radiator every four metres (about 15 feet) or so in the room.
An alternative could be two tall thin radiators either side of the window or a long low radiator along the wall.
back to topStock radiators can be delivered without delay – generally within 7-10 working days from placing an order. Made-to-order-models generally take about 3-6 weeks. Please check the detailed delivery details within the product section to see what we have in stock or how long made-to-order deliveries are for that model.
The plumbing does not always need to wait for the radiators to arrive. Your plumber can usually pre-install the pipework with (pipe centres) given in the technical part of our brochure or website – please feel free to download the technical drawings in each product section.
back to topThe Radiator Company delivers free of charge for all orders over £50, direct to your merchant within mainland UK, using our own fleet of vehicles.
Non-mainland delivery charges are available on application at the time of order.
back to topWrap at least five turns of PTFE tape around the threaded tails of the valves and screw them into the radiator. Make sure the PTFE tape stays on the thread rather than just running along it as you tighten. If it does run, undo the valve and roughen the thread slightly with a hacksaw blade then re-tape the thread.
Some of our valves have parallel threads which means that they never tighten against a stop like traditional valves so more PTFE than usual is required – we recommend the use of gas type PTFE which is much thicker than the standard. The advantage of parallel threads is that they fit the same depth on all radiators so giving pipe centres is more accurate and also the threads are completely hidden inside the end of the radiator.
back to topYes, however, because there is a lot of mass with cast iron, the radiators have the advantage of staying warm long after the central heating has been turned off. This means that the changes in temperature in a room heated with radiators made of cast iron are more gentle than those in a room heated with regular radiators. Most people tend to run their central heating twice per day, once in the morning and then again at night, if a third short period is added into the middle of these two times then the warm up time is greatly reduced and the house will remain warm all day and night.
When mixing standard radiators with cast iron we find that if the central heating thermostat is sited near a standard radiator the heating may close down before the cast iron radiators sited elsewhere have reached full temperature. The solution is to slow down the standard radiator influencing the thermostat by part closing the lockshield valve on that radiator (the usually covered end valve opposite the temperature control valve on the radiator used to balance the central heating system).
Heating a home is partly about heating the fabric of the building. Cast iron radiators are again becoming popular amongst heating engineers and architects (particularly for older buildings) as they tend to retain the warmth in the fabric of the building which in turn counteracts damp and condensation.
back to topThe radiators supplied with painted finishes have a very durable baked-on powder coated finish that will not fade. They therefore do not need painting.
For our cast iron radiators supplied in a primer coating they will need to be finished with an acrylic water based enamel. This is the best solution, as it will stop any rust from appearing or the paint colour to fade. Alternatively a synthetic dissolvent enamel can be used; again this will stop rust from coming through but will not be as resistant to fading in the future. In all cases the primer coat should be in excellent condition with all traces of surface rust removed before the finishing coat is applied. Further priming coats may be required to achieve this.
We do not advise the use of nitro dissolvent enamel or paints not designed specifically for use on radiators i.e. emulsion, they can adversely affect the primer coat and allow rust generation.
back to topThis can be easily achieved on most traditional “open vented” systems, however it can be more complex for sealed systems. An open vented system has a feed and expansion tank, with a ball valve and overflow located at high level in the property. A sealed system should have a pressure gauge located in or near the boiler.
For open vented systems switch the heating system totally off and allow it to cool. Close the radiator valves at each side of the radiator, making a note of how many turns each valve is open. Place a receptacle under one radiator connection (not the valve to pipe connection) and loosen it until water slowly drains. Some radiator valves have an integral drain point that makes this task easier. Once the water has drained from the radiator, loosen the other radiator connection and remove it. To refit, replace the radiator, re-attach the radiator valves and open the valves to their previous settings. The air vent at the top of the radiator will need to be opened until the radiator is full of water.
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