Do Vertical Radiators Give Out Enough Heat?
2 December 2019
While many style-conscious homeowners and interior designers may choose a designer radiator based on its looks alone, it’s important to remember that the key purpose of a radiator is to heat your room.
While many style-conscious homeowners and interior designers may choose a designer radiator based on its looks alone, it’s important to remember that the key purpose of a radiator is to heat your room.
So, before you dive right in and buy a vertical designer radiator because you like the look of it, ask yourself the question, will my vertical radiator give out enough heat?
In many cases, you might be surprised to learn that the answer is… yes. That’s because even though, as a general rule of thumb, vertical designer radiators do not achieve the same heating performance of more traditional, horizontal radiators, if you do your homework and choose the right model, you can find a solution that not only looks great, but heats your room efficiently too.
Here’s our guide to ensuring you choose the right vertical designer radiator…
Are vertical radiators less efficient?
As we mentioned above, vertical radiators, in general, won’t give out the same heat output as horizontal radiators. That’s because they don’t have the same length to draw cold air up for convection that horizontal radiators do.
However, that doesn’t automatically make them less efficient. In fact, depending on the size and shape of the room you are trying to heat, a strategically-placed vertical radiator or two may be a better bet than a standard horizontal heater. Good design is a key consideration here, and so is working out exactly what heat (BTU) output your room requires to warm it up adequately. You can do this quickly and easily using our online BTU calculator.
If it’s a small space, a high-output vertical designer radiator can heat it up quickly and as most can be fitted with a thermostat and timer, you can limit how long it is switched on for to the times you need it the most. For larger spaces, vertical designer radiators can sometimes have the advantage over horizontal ones as they are harder to be blocked by furniture or curtains, which can affect heating performance.
If you’re in doubt, speak to one of our expert team who will be able to advise you on the best place to position your designer vertical radiators, to get them working as efficiently as possible.
What are the best heating vertical radiators?
Determining how hot you need your radiator to be is a key consideration when it comes to choosing the designer vertical radiator with the right output for your needs. The size of your room will have a big impact on the BTU level you need to get optimum heating performance. Although 7,000 BTUs will be sufficient to heat most spaces, the shape and layout of your room can determine the best radiators to choose.
For long, narrow spaces, a single, high-output vertical radiator may be the best option. For larger, wider spaces, splitting the load across two smaller 3,500 BTU radiators may be a better bet.
Horizontal vs vertical radiators
Although horizontal designer radiators might have the overall edge when it comes to efficiency, in the design stakes, vertical radiators really come into their own.
Their tall, slim structure and sleek, minimalist lines add a simple, contemporary finish to any modern living space. Vertical designer radiators enable you to save on space without sacrificing style making them the perfect choice for rooms where space is at a premium and a bulky traditional horizontal radiator might take up too much room on the wall.
And with stylish additional design features like integrated mirrors, custom art work or your favourite colours, you can use your radiator to make a real statement about your personality, instead of hiding it away behind the sofa.
Get in touch today
All our designer vertical radiators and more are available direct from the manufacturer at unbeatable prices and fast, free UK delivery. Many come with a 10-year, no-quibble product guarantee.
You can browse our full range of designer radiators online, visit our designer radiator showroom, in Ashby de la Zouch, give us a call on 01530 564 122 or email us, and we’ll be happy to help you choose the ideal designer radiator for your hallway.
