Radiators are thermal energy heating devices that work by passing hot water around their pipes as a means of heating a room.

The heat that is transmitted from the radiator is radiated throughout a room evenly and this makes radiators efficient in the way that they heat households as the heat is distributed naturally.

In the past radiators tended to be made of iron and be very large, however advancements in technology and innovation has meant that newer radiators are smaller and prettier while providing the same amount of heat. These radiators are also more environmentally-friendly and can therefore help cut a households carbon emissions. As well as wall-mounted radiator units, radiator systems can be installed under floors so that there is not always the need for wall mounted radiators to be installed which is ideal for households that want to save space as there are no visible units.

It is important to look after your radiators and ensure they are working to their optimum level as they play a key role in ensuring the warmth of your home over the winter months. This will mean carrying out such maintenance activities as bleeding the radiators and keeping them painted. Bleeding the radiators will involve removing any trapped air inside it that stops it heating evenly. Painting the radiators means removing any rust on the radiator and painting it with radiator paint which contains pigments that can withstand heat without discolouring.

Households look to replace their radiators when they are either outdated or they want to install more energy efficient ones to benefit from reduced fuel bills and an improved heating system. And over time radiators become less energy efficient as during their life they can develop a build-up of silt and can start to corrode meaning that the radiators will develop cold spots.

If you want to replace your radiators you will need to decide on the type of radiator you want and whether they are suitable to replace your existing system. Most new radiators will be suitable as long as they have standard pipe work and valves. You will also need to decide whether you want to have radiators with thermostatic radiator valves which are valves that automatically switch off the radiator when it reaches the desired temperature. These valves make radiators more energy efficient and when combined with a timer system, energy is saved as they are only used when necessary.

You can install radiators yourself as there are ready to install radiators available at DIY stores and you won’t be restricted in the design as there are many designer radiators available which come in all shapes and sizes.

If your radiators are outdated it is worthwhile investing in new radiators as this could help save you money on your fuel bill as newer radiators use less energy.

Guest Article by Sarah Wain

Right, back boilers are usually known for trouble-free, long lives. Although they might now be frowned on by an energy-conscious government which virtually insists on highly efficient condensing boilers, a good back boiler will do the business.

But, there’s always the exception.

My back boiler is situated in our top-floor maisonette and provides water for the hot water taps and the central heating system. It runs off coal and is reasonably good at providing a fair degree of heat, as long as it’s stoked up. You keep the coal-fire banked up and the heat efficiently heats up the water in the back boiler. Okay, so a lot of the heat escapes up the chimney, but this type of boiler is simple to use.

A thermostat sits near the fire in the lounge and the system has for many years behaved itself.

Unfortunately, for some time the thermostat had been stuck and this was causing the water to overheat. I wasn’t aware of this, nor of the unfortunate side effect: black silt which was leaking out from the boiler pipes in the airing cupboard.

And it didn’t stop there. The black silt had proceeded to work its way from the cupboard, down the walls and into the property below. And bear in mind that this silt is much like black treacle. Once dry, it effectively ruins anything it touches.

Only when the neighbour came to discuss the source of the black sludge rivers running down his wallpaper did we trace the source back to my airing cupboard, and then my boiler.

Fixing the problem was quite simple. A heating engineer swapped the faulty thermostat, the boiler stopped over-heating and everything went back to normal, apart from the redecoration that was needed to my airing cupboard and the neighbour’s walls.

But it just goes to show that once in while, even if you have your annual boiler and heating system service, it’s worth giving your kit the once over.

And one other thing about back boilers I discovered. Technically, they are now viewed as inefficient and potentially lethal. Although they break down considerably less than a conventional boiler, they have been shown to be responsible for more carbon monoxide leaks. They are potentially more dangerous than other boilers, but if you service regularly and keep an eye on them, then the worse should not happen.

When I chatted to the heating engineer about when the day came for my back boiler to be replaced, he did say that new building regulations now insisted on the installation of a highly efficient condensing boiler, unless that was impractical. In other words, a condensing boiler requires an outside wall for the siting of the flue and drain system. My maisonette’s kitchen wouldn’t allow that, so I can once again install a coal-fired back boiler.

And just in case you’re wondering, a condensing boiler is over 90% efficient, saving fuel costs and carbon dioxide release, because it not only uses the heat from the initial burning of the fuel source, but also takes the heat from the exhaust gases. Hence it needs an outside situated flue and special drains to take away waste fluid which is generated by the use of the exhaust gases.

But, whichever boiler you have, just remember that one key lesson: don’t ignore it. Just because you think it’s working properly, doesn’t necessarily mean it is.

Guest Article by Neil Camp