In the middle of summer, your radiators might be the last thing on your mind. But if you spent last winter plagued by central heating problems, you might be wondering if action is needed before autumn arrives once more.
The average steel panel radiator has a lifespan of around 10-15 years, but some could last up to 20 years with good care and maintenance. If your radiators have reached the end of their life, you might be wondering if this could be the perfect time to update your home with cast iron radiators.
Cast iron radiators are a luxurious upgrade for your home that not only look the part, but also deliver phenomenal heating power. Our radiators are available in a range of sleek and ornate style, custom painted with your choice of beautiful heritage colours.
Upgrading your radiators is an investment in your home, so it’s important to take the time to consider all of the options before moving forward.
Inefficient radiators will not only leave you in the cold, they can also hike up your heating bills while causing a racket in your home. If you’ve ever been in an older property with an ageing heating system, you’ll be familiar with the loud knocks, creaks and hissing you come to expect from the heating system. This can happen all hours of the day and night, making it difficult to sleep or relax.
Another issue with ageing radiators is the failing heat distribution. Old radiators will be backed up with years of sludge and debris that limits the flow of water. And if the water can’t flow, your radiators can’t heat up evenly.
Finally, your central heating system will have to work harder to maintain a comfortable temperature. This puts pressure on the boiler while also making your central heating bills much higher than they need to be.
An investment in new radiators could therefore help to drive down your energy bills in years to come.
Not sure if your radiators have reached the end of their life? These are some of the telltale signs that your radiators need to be replaced.
Next up, you might be wondering if you can hang on to your radiators a little longer by repairing them before you replace them. You could start with a professional powerflush to see if this can help to improve efficiency and get a few more years out of your existing system.
A note on powerflushing: While this can be effective for cleaning sludge and build up out of your central heating system, there is also the risk that the caustic chemicals used could cause further damage by breaking down seals and gaskets.
Our radiators should never be powerflushed, as this will invalidate the warranty. If your system needs to be powerflushed, we recommend doing this before installing our radiators, and then the system water should be fully neutralised before they are fitted.
If you’re planning any structural renovation or redecoration project, it could be helpful to replace your radiators before any work commences.
You can also decide to replace and upgrade because you simply want to change the style of your radiators. Panel radiators can become a distraction in a period property where cast iron radiators would be more suited to the surroundings. So go on – treat yourself!
If you’ve decided to not just replace your radiators, but to upgrade them, then you’ll need to plan your renovation accordingly. Radiators might be the last thing on your mind during the summer months, but it’s actually the best time to upgrade.
Here are some of our favourite reasons for planning radiator replacements for the summer/early autumn.
You don’t have to replace all of the radiators in your home with cast iron radiators all at once. Most modern central heating systems will allow you to mix and match your radiators without any issues.
This can give you the flexibility to renovate room by room, or to replace radiators floor by floor. Upgrading your panel radiators requires more planning than replacing them like-for-like, but we’re confident you’ll be delighted with the outcome.
We recommend consulting with your chosen plumber before ordering to confirm the components you’ll need. You don’t have to replace your heating pipework if it is not a standard size, but you may need to adapt the connections to fit your new radiators.
Get started with our BTU calculator to determine the heating requirements for each room. You can then shop recommended radiators based on your BTU requirements.
Your pipework might need to be adjusted to suit the new radiators, but we recommend waiting until the radiators have been delivered before making any final decisions.
This is because cast iron radiator sections are individually cast and we hand assemble each radiator, therefore completely unique. There might be small differences in the length of assembled radiators.
If you’ve decided it’s time to upgrade but can’t decide which is right for you, try our helpful buying guides. You can also contact our customer care team for personalised advice and support.
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1 5% discount on orders over £2,000 before delivery & VAT
2 Ten year guarantee on all radiators excluding clearance
