Best Radiators To Heat Your Home: Radiator Guide 2023

Are you looking for the best radiators to heat your home? Getting the best and most efficient heat source to keep your home cosy and warm is crucial, especially during the winter months when the temperatures are cold outside and energy bills are rising, so you want the best high heat output solution.

In this post we’re exploring the best radiators for your home and looking at the advantages and disadvantages associated with different types and radiators made from different materials. Whether you’re looking for the perfect radiator for smaller rooms, new kitchen radiators, bathroom radiators, a radiator for your sitting room or living room, or modern radiators for larger rooms, hopefully it will help you identify the most appropriate types of radiators for your home needs and style.

What is the best material for a radiator?

Gone are the days when the only radiators you can find are made of chunky cast iron – these days radiators are available in a wide variety of materials.

Four of the most common types of radiator materials are aluminium, mild steel, stainless steel and cast iron. Each type of material has its own pros and cons and which one you choose as the right radiators for you will depend on factors such as your budget, style requirements, type of property you have and which room you want to place it in.

Let’s dive deeper into the advantages and disadvantages of the most popular types of radiator materials.

Aluminium radiators

One of the latest and most popular radiator material choices is aluminium. Aluminium is well known as being a super conductor, so radiators made from it produce more heat and warmth than other materials. You can effectively heat a room with a smaller sized aluminium radiator or even cut down on the number of radiators you need.

A narrow vertical aluminum radiator used in a bathroom, for example, will provide ample heat and helps take up less space in what can often be a small room.

Advantages of aluminium radiators

• Aluminium radiators heat up and cool down quickly .
• Aluminium is a super conductor, so it produces lots of heat.
• They’re better at regulating heat and are high on energy efficiency.
• Aluminium is a light-weight material, so can be easier to install.

Disadvantages of aluminium radiators

• One of the biggest disadvantages is the price of aluminium radiators – they typically cost a lot more than other options.
• Aluminium radiators are thin so can be damaged more easily.

Mild steel radiators

One of the most common type of radiator material is mild steel. It’s used widely for making radiators as it’s an affordable material and makes radiators cheaper to produce. As such, the price for you as a consumer tends to be good too.

You’ll find a great range of mild steel radiators available, in all sorts of colours, like this anthracite horizontal radiator from Only Radiators – we love the contrast in colour against the white wall.

Advantages of mild steel radiators

• Radiators made from mild steel are affordable and budget-friendly.
• There’s a huge range of different styles and finishes available to suit all needs.
• Mild steel radiators are solidly built and perform well.

Disadvantages of mild steel radiators

• Mild steel radiators are prone to rusting from the inside, especially if you have a combi-boiler. This can be combatted by having a regular service.

Stainless steel radiators

Stainless steel radiators are similar to those made from mild steel. But whereas mild steel is prone to rusting, stainless steel isn’t.

Stainless steel radiators are available in a growing range of styles and designs, from horizontal radiators, to double panel radiators. There’s even this rather funky picture-style square stainless steel designer radiator that doubles up as a distinctive focal point in a room – who knew radiators could also serve as wall art?

Advantage of stainless steel radiators

• Stainless steel is a good conductor of heat, so is a great choice of material for a radiator or heated towel rails.
• It’s a high quality, durable material that doesn’t rust, so should provide years of service.
• Radiators made from stainless steel can look right at home in a modern home.
• Stainless steel radiators can be guaranteed for up to 25 years.

Disadvantages of stainless steel radiators

• Compared to other radiator types, stainless steel radiators tend to take long time to warm up and cool down.
• They tend to be more expensive to buy than mild steel radiators.
• There’s often less choice available in terms of style and finish.

Cast iron radiators

Cast iron was the traditional material used to make radiators and it’s still available as option today. If you have an older home or period property and want to have radiators that are in-keeping with the style and design of your home, then cast iron radiators are the obvious choice.

Traditional cast-iron radiators are available in a variety of colours and finishes, like this gorgeous antique brass radiator from The Radiator Company. Although radiators made from cast iron do take a while to heat up, once they’re on, they are efficient radiators.

Advantages of cast iron radiators

• Best traditional style radiator for older homes.
• They’re strong, well built and functional.
• They hold their heat well.

Disadvantages of cast iron radiators

• Cast iron radiators are heavy and can be quite chunky in design (not ideal if you’re looking for a slim radiator). You’ll need to ensure you have the right fittings to securely fix a cast iron radiator to your wall.
• A cast iron radiator can take a while to warm up and heat a room well, so might not be the best choice if you want a warm room quickly or have large rooms to heat.

What colour radiator is best?

These days radiators are available in a wide variety of different colours and a range of finishes, so your radiators can be as bold or minimalist as you wish. If you want to make a statement in a modern home, you can do so with a dark anthracite radiator, or a bold orange radiator. If you live in a New York style open-plan apartment, an antique brass finish radiator may be appropriate and for a traditional period property, a classic white cast iron radiator would fit the bill.

Whatever your interior decor or home style, or how you’re decorating individual rooms, you’re sure to find a stylish radiator colour that suits your requirements.

White radiators

White’s always been the traditional and timeless colour choice of radiators. They’re easy to clean and maintain and provide an even heat distribution in a room. If you’ve got classic white walls, white radiators blend in seamlessly.

Advantages of white radiators

• They’re widely available in a variety of radiator designs and styles.
• It’s a classic colour that looks crisp and fresh.
• They’re easy to clean and maintain.

Disadvantages of white radiators

• Dirt and dust can show up more on white radiators.
• If radiators are painted white, the colour can turn yellowy over time.

Anthracite Radiators

Anthracite radiators are a popular choice in modern homes and can be used to make a striking design statement. They’re available in both horizontal and vertical choices and can be used to tone in with or contrast with your wall colour and interior decor.

There’s a possibility that an anthracite radiator may be more efficient than a white one, as the colour black tends to absorb and retain heat, whilst white reflects it.

Advantage of anthracite radiators

• An anthracite radiator is a popular choice for a modern home aesthetic.
• It can help elevate the style of your home interior.
• An anthracite radiator can be used to make a design statement on a wall.

Disadvantages of anthracite radiators

• Black radiators aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, so if you’re thinking of selling your home any time soon, anthracite radiators might not be a great option as they may potentially put off buyers.
• If you have dark painted walls or dark wallpaper, an anthracite radiator may result in making the room look smaller.
• Anthracite radiators can cost more than other options, so if budget is an issue, this might not be the best radiator choice for you.

Brightly coloured radiators

If you want something different or are keen to use a radiator to make a design statement in a room, then brightly coloured radiators are an option. This bright orange Tap Factory Vibrance vertical radiator, for example, is modern and minimalist in style, but certainly packs a punch in terms of colour! It’s available in 15 vibrant finishes.

Do keep in mind that if you paint a radiator yourself, then over time the colour can fade or peel off, resulting in an untidy looking radiator.

Advantages of brightly coloured radiators

• They make a big design statement and add colour and interest to a wall.
• They coordinate with an interior design scheme.
• They’re available in horizontal or column radiator style.

Disadvantages of brightly coloured radiators

• They’re not to everyone’s taste and may put off prospective house buyers.
• You may go off the colour in the future.

Best space-saving radiators

If you live in a small apartment or don’t have much wall space room for a new radiator, one of the best types of radiator to choose is a vertical radiator.

Vertical radiators, or column radiators as they’re also known, help save space by being hung vertically on a wall. They’re available in a variety of shapes and finishes, from tall, narrow and traditional to wider, designer and modern, so you can find one to suit the style and design aesthetic of your home. Discover some of the best vertical radiators in our other post.

Summary

As you can see, buying a new radiator for your home involves lots of choices and decisions. But with such a wide range of different radiator styles, colours, designs and finishes available on the market today, with careful shopping you’re sure to be able to find the best and right sized radiator for your needs.

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