We’ve recently covered a range of appliances that every home needs – all powered by electricity. To this list, we could have added radiators and heated towel rails. Electric heating is an increasingly popular option.
It tends to be more eco-friendly than gas heating, and is much easier to install since you don’t need to connect each radiator or towel rail to the central system.
If you’re interested in making the switch or installing a new radiator, in this post, we’ll cover some of the essentials you need to know, including choosing a radiator and installing it.
Choosing the Right Radiator
Nowadays, you can find electric radiators in a large variety of sizes, shapes, materials, styles and colours, so you don’t have to compromise.
Start by measuring the area you will place the radiator in so you can determine what size you need. You can also use heating calculators to figure out what heat output you will need for the room, which will also help you pick the right size for the room.
You can find many of them online. They usually only require the room dimensions and a few pieces of information about the room you can easily provide.
Online retailers tend to have a wider choice of different size combinations, so to find the one you need, don’t hesitate to shop at trusted retailers such as Trade Radiators.
Once you know the size you need, you can pick a style and colour that will suit your tastes. White is a classic, but lately, modern colours such as anthracite grey and black have become all the rage. Bolder colours are also now more easily available, such as silver, copper or custom colours (red radiator, anyone?).
Installing your Electric Radiator
Electric heating is a popular option for those who don’t have access to gas, as it can be costly to install the whole system. More often than not, they’re bought for those looking to add radiators in rooms that are not connected to the central heating system.
Most electric radiators on the market are basically ‘plug and go’, so you only need a plug socket to get going. If you’re looking for something more permanent or aesthetically pleasing, and want to wire the radiator to your house’s main circuit, we recommend you get the help of a professional electrician. Otherwise, installing the radiator yourself will be pretty easy.
The first step is to mark the wall where you’re going to install the radiator. You can mark where the edges will be, but the key part is to mark where the brackets will be placed. Make sure to double-check measurements and use a leveller to ensure that everything will be perfectly aligned.
Next, drill holes where you’ve placed your marks and make sure the brackets are well aligned before screwing them in. They should stay firmly in place when you lightly pull on them, so make sure they are properly set before you move on.
Finally, align the radiator with the brackets and hang it from them – it should be tilting or moving when placed correctly. If your model has some safety screws, now is the time to place them to secure the radiator to the brackets (not all models use them, though).
Now all you have to do is plug it in, and you’re good to go! Note that if the radiator will go in a bathroom or will be exposed to a lot of water, it may be worth getting a professional to install it for you.
Hopefully you’ve found this guide useful. You’ll find other DIY and helpful guides across the site, so be sure to check them out too. And don’t forget, if you are getting ready to make your bathroom look extra specials, the bathroom section has everything you’d ever need to know.
