Cold Feet are history with Underfloor Heating

Posted on June 22, 2012 by admin

Underfloor heating dates back to the Greek and Roman eras – around 400B.C. These systems were primitive; they would be similar to a chimney system, pumping hot smoke underneath the floor before being expelled by a vent. Roman baths were commonly heated using underfloor heating, this was considered to be the best heating system available at the time. We have a much better system now, and it could come in useful.

If you’re thinking of purchasing underfloor heating then now would be the perfect time; by October the weather will have turned cold, and I’m sure you will be feel it more than ever, especially on your tiled bathroom, kitchen or conservatory floor. Now is the perfect transition time, as getting it installed in the winter with ice cold tiles and bare concrete floors would be harder. I’m sure you would much rather wake up to a warm floor, and avoid the shock of cold feet after stepping out of your bed.

Underfloor heating isn’t hard to install, simply cut the mesh to size (make sure that you don’t cut the heating pipe) and install it underneath existing tiled flooring, carpets or laminates. It’s not recommended to install under hardwood flooring as the wood is a good insulator of heat, and you won’t feel the benefit of the heating.

Electric underfloor heating is more efficient than radiators; none of the energy is lost, as all of the electrical energy is converted into heat energy. Gas powered heating systems have exhaust gases, this adds to the cost of maintaining them. Electric underfloor heating is much cheaper to buy and to run in the long term.

Radiators produce a high temperature close by, but lower temperatures at a distance. With your radiator being the only source of heat in a room this can be a major concern. With underfloor heating this isn’t the case; the heat is spread out evenly and it rises from the floor, ultimately warming up the whole room. Alongside the underfloor heating it’s recommended to use a heated towel rail, these are much more practical than radiators and less space consuming.

Underfloor heating can be used in conjunction with radiators; whilst the underfloor heating is more efficient, it is practical to use both. Underfloor heating can warm up a whole room, but has a lower average temperature than a radiator; the average temperature of a radiator is 82°C whilst the average temperature of underfloor heating is 40°C, although it operates in a wider area which ensures the whole room stays warm. The underfloor heating is the more practical choice in terms of warming your room; once you have it installed you won’t see it again. It takes up minimal space (3-5mm added to the height of your floor), there is no loss of energy and long-term you will save a lot of money.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged conductor, feet, heat, heating, pipes, radiators, underfloor, warm | Comments Off

Bleeding Those Radiators

Posted on May 1, 2012 by admin

If you find that your radiators aren’t heating up as quickly or as much as they should be, or are staying cold in certain patches (usually near the top) then the cause is probably a large bubble of air trapped inside*; if this is the case, then do not worry our 3 point guide will teach you how to ‘bleed your radiators’.

1. Heat Them Up

The first thing you need to do is test the radiators. To do this, turn your radiators (or the ones you want to test) to full and turn your heating on (if this is thermostatically monitored, increase the desired temperature to ensure the radiators turn on). Then wait for around thirty minutes whilst the radiators warm up, or until you the radiators feel like they are on.

 

2. Check Which Radiators Need Bleeding

Once you know that the radiators should be on, you need to check whether they are warm to touch. So go to each of the radiators which you want to test and put your hand on the radiator in different places. It is best to be quite thorough with your testing, to ensure you don’t miss out any parts.

What you are looking for is a cool area on the radiator, which should be warm, but isn’t. These are normally at the top of the radiator, and even more commonly on the top floor of your building.

 

3. Bleed The Radiator

Depending on the age of your radiator you will need either a radiator key (available at the majority of DIY retailers) or a flat headed screwdriver.

At the top of the radiator there should be a valve where you can either attach the radiator key or a groove where you can fit the screwdriver.

Before you attempt to bleed your radiator, it is highly advised that you get a towel or cloth, and have that near you. To bleed your radiators what you have to do is turn the radiator key/screwdriver in an anti-clockwise direction, slowly.

One of two things will happen, the first of these is that gas may start coming out of the radiator, with a hissing sound. Don’t panic. This is exactly what you want – it is releasing the trapped gas/air. When it is done – the second of the two things should happen (please note that if your radiator did not need to be ‘bled’, then this would happen instead of the above) – liquid will start to escape (this is where your towel comes in handy – the liquid may be discoloured, so don’t use your favourite towel/cloth). As soon as you feel this happen, turn your radiator key/screwdriver in a clockwise direction, until tight.

 

There you have it – you have just bled a radiator, and remember once completed put your radiators back down to the normal temperature you would have them at, to ensure you don’t waste energy.

 

(N.B – The gas that is emitted from the radiator may be flammable, so please refrain from smoking or having a naked flame nearby when opening the valve, or for a substantial time afterwards.)

* – If this does not fix your problem, we would advise that you contact a plumber to look at it for you.

 

Posted in DIY Hints and Tips | Tagged bleed, bleed radiators, check, heat them up, radiator key, radiators | Comments Off

Kitchen Radiators

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Steph

Those of us who love to spend some serious time getting creative in the kitchen will know all too well how chilly the room can become during the colder months of the year. The hard laminate or tiled flooring which commonly features in household kitchens certainly has a tendency to harbour cold temperatures, and certainly provides a chilly shock to anyone who might wonder to the kitchen for a glass of water in the middle of the night!

The standard kitchen clearly isn’t built with the intention of remaining cosy; it would seem the everyday household kitchen is heated only during cooking times or when adjoining rooms and areas are being warmed. But have no fear, stylish and contemporary kitchens nationwide can now maintain that perfect ‘homey’ temperature without having to compromise in style with the use of Designo’s kitchen radiators.

Our luxurious and stylish range of radiators are crafted in a range of various styles, shapes and tones to ensure any room in your home can benefit from the fantastic Designo selection. As always, Designo’s kitchen radiators bring their own sense of contemporary style into any room, whether it is of a standard, vintage/classic or modern design.

If you are looking for more than just one of our sleek kitchen radiators, then you’ll be thrilled to know that we also supply an extremely luxurious and practical selection of underfloor heating products allowing you to prepare a chilly kitchen, bathroom or any other living space’s floor for use even on the coldest of days.

Many people like to ‘double up’ and use their kitchen as a dining or entertaining area, and kitchens that feature a dining table or breakfast bar are sure to see plenty of usage during feeding times! Adding a comforting temperature to the room with one of our stylish and contemporary kitchen radiators is a sure fire way to ensure your family dining sessions and weekend dinner parties feature a friendly and inviting atmosphere along with an extremely stylish and desirable radiator.

Posted in Acessorizing tips, Designer Radiators, Heating advice | Tagged heating, home, kitchen, radiators | Comments Off

Temporary heating: the perfect solution to your central heating problems

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Steph

Boiler on the fritz? Having building work done? Temporary heating units or a boiler can be easily installed to provide you with central heating and hot water in the meantime. We’re not just talking about a little fan heater here: temporary heating units these days are much more sophisticated. It’s possible to heat rooms quickly with temporary heating – a great solution to any heating woes.

temporary radiator

Emergencies are never a straight forward matter, which is why it is highly recommended that you employ an expert to take control of the situation. Rather than running up costly electricity bills with electric radiators strategically placed throughout the affected property, the better heating companies can tailor temporary heating units and generators to your own existing system of radiators.

If your home of place of business has a more modern system, for example incorporating underfloor heating, then do not fret. Although in many underfloor heating plans, it is near impossible to access the pipes without damaging flooring and the structure of the building itself, temporary underfloor heating is a relativity simple plan to sustain the property without incurring costly and often unnecessary damage. A tailor-made temporary underfloor heating plan can be managed directly from the site of your failed boiler, connected to the system of built in pipes.

Temporary heating units not only ensure that you and your family or co-workers have a comfortable environment but also help protect the building from long-term damage. If your property is undergoing a lot of work to one part of the structure or is being extended, leaving the other part exposed to the extremes of British weather, temporary heating is an imperative to protect it. Without heat, damp could quickly set in, causing mould or, in the future, cracks and subsidence. Keeping the structure warm is just one way in which you can make sure that no further problems are incurred by the minor heating issues you have now.

Top tip: heating in the workplace

Do you keep pushing getting the boiler fixed to the bottom of your to do list? Well you may not think that constant heating in work is such a necessity but it is in fact a legal requirement. The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 places a legal obligation on employers to provide a ‘reasonable’ temperature in the workplace.  The Approved Code of Practice which accompanies the regulations suggests a minimum temperature of 16°C in workrooms or 13°C if a lot of the indoor work involves severe physical effort.

Posted in Heating advice | Tagged heating solutions, temporary heating, temporary radiators | Comments Off

Designo Radiators – A Radiator for Every Room

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Steph

At Designo Radiators, we pride ourselves on supplying a wide range of radiators to match every room; no matter the shape or size of the room you are looking to add to, we have the perfect piece to complement it wonderfully. It may seem that many rooms in your home are unsuitable for additions such as radiators, due to the shape or size of the area, but at Designo Radiators we have created a range of stylish pieces that is sure to yield the perfect addition to your home. Let’s take a look at just a few of our fantastic radiators and discover how they could complement that tricky room in your home.

Open Plan Rooms

The MHS Raven Brushed Stainless Steel Radiator is just one example of radiators that would complement a large open plan room. The length and height of the radiator accompanies long rooms to create an overall effect of horizontal spaciousness; longer rooms are wonderfully well-suited to features such as this, and with that fantastic chrome finish this piece is sure to add heaps of modern style too! 

Complementing Themes

At Designo Radiators, we have taken into consideration that many people have a pre-set theme which they wish to adhere to; many would like to continue a modern look with one of our various cutting edge designer radiators, but others may have a more vintage or traditional theme in mind. The Synergy Savoy Traditional Radiator does a fantastic job of showing just how versatile and personal the Designo Radiator’s range truly is; with the littlest of effort, this piece completely accents a room with a vintage look and can bring an overall design or theme together.

Something Different

Those looking to create a modern (or even futuristic!) looking room may look a little harder for items and fixtures to make clear the effect they wish to convey. If you are looking to bring warmth into a room with a radiator that has ‘something different’ to offer, then look no further than our great range of contemporary and stylish pieces. The MHS Deck Stainless Steel Radiator is a great example of how our radiators can add heaps of style to a modern room as well as standing out as a fashionable and innovative fixture. Many more pieces like this can be found right here at Designo Radiators in a wide range of shapes and sizes!

Smaller Rooms

Many smaller rooms can be tricky to add new features to; it often becomes difficult to manoeuvre around these areas and adding new fixtures may seem like a waste of what little space you have. Fear not! Designo Radiators have a contemporary and fashionable range of radiators to complement these rooms wonderfully and save on space! The MHS Zero Aluminium Panel Radiator shows just how easily our radiators can be added to a room without compromising on space or style. Those small box bedrooms and en suite bathrooms will never be chilly again!

 

Posted in Accessorising tips, Designer Radiators | Tagged decor, design, home, improvement, interior | Comments Off

Decorative Radiators – How they can complete the Look

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Steph

If you’re an interior design enthusiast then there’s a high chance you’ll also be a perfectionist. If one aspect of your décor doesn’t quite fit the rest of the room it can ruin the room’s appearance entirely – which is a great shame if you’ve put every effort into getting everything just so. One element of interior design which is often overlooked is the choice of radiators. It’s incredibly easy to just opt for the typical white design, but with many more styles on the market why follow the crowd and risk compromising the appearance of your abode?

As the old saying goes “An Englishman’s home is his castle” – so it’s important that you have a home which fills you with pride, rather than being ashamed to invite guests. With this in mind, it’s time to assess what decorative radiators are on the market to ensure you’re entirely happy with the appearance of your home.

The Simple yet Striking

traditional radiator

Decorative radiators doesn’t mean it has to be covered in flowers or polka dots, you can still have a traditional style radiator but with a modern edge. This modern twist could merely be a chrome finish, which is far more eye-catching than white and considerably more modern. This is a popular choice for kitchens and bathrooms where appliances and plumbing fixtures may also have a chrome finish – rounding the colour scheme off perfectly.

The Popular Modern Designs

heated towel rail

Many homeowners are starting to realise the attractiveness of newer radiator models and experimenting with different designs. Heated towel rails are a modern alternative to the conventional white radiator and are often a more efficient method of heating a bathroom or kitchen whilst drying towels and other garments. Their popularity has become so great that manufacturers even experiment with different designs of heated towel rail, which make excellent decorative radiators for small bathrooms where they can be used as a focal point.

The Downright Quirky

quirky radiator

Some decorative radiators are designed to simply turn heads and are as ornamental as they are practical. Breaking style conventions, quirky radiators are for those with who want their home to be that little bit different. They are still incredibly classy and attractive, but have the ability to give the room a real edge. Quirky radiators can add depth to minimalistic living rooms by providing an ornamental value. Many minimalistic homes lack character; a decorative radiator could be just the finishing touch.

Radiators can be a great way to add different design, texture and levels to your home. Rather than buying the first radiator you see, browse through different options and visualise how they would look in your home. Then you can ensure interior design perfection and be proud of your home.

Posted in DIY Hints and Tips | Tagged decorative radiators, home decor, interior design | Comments Off

Winter warmth

Posted on November 14, 2011 by Steph

Radiator

 

Winter is well on the way, and it’s time to start locking up our windows and turning on our heating; with considerably lower temperetures and colder nights, it’s time to start thinking about how each of us can lock in the winter warmth in our homes. Properly heating our homes throughout winter is vital, having rooms on higher levels of your home with no means of heating is a sure fire way to make it an extremely uncomfortable place to spend time (especially if it is a bedroom). As winters are notoriously harsh and cold, many people look to instally more heating systems in their home; many however, miss out on some simple and efficiant methods of maintaining a cozy house. With this in mind, let’s look at some of the best ways to radiate heat throughout your house and maintain it once you have locked in that winter warmth.

Insulation

Having your walls and roof properly insulated is a great way of maintaining a warm and energy efficient home. Thermally insulating your house can prove to be a great idea; your energy bills will be reduced each year (as you will be using considerably less heating) and your home will remain warm and cosy for extended periods of time. Insulation can also help to keep your house cool during the summer as its primary purpose is to stop heat transferring through the material. After year pass, insulating your home will pay for itself after savings in electricity and gas heating bills.

Electrical Heating

Electrical heaters are an effective way of quickly warming a room or area in a short period of time. Commonly made with a built in fan to project heat around an area, electric heaters are a short and sweet way of turning a bitter, chilly room into a cosy area full of winter warmth. Another effective way of warming up this winter is purchasing an electric bed blanket; switching these on half an hour before you’re ready for bed can radiate heat around your bed and matrass, helping you to relax and unwind the second you crawl under the sheets. Keep in mind, electric heaters tend to use a lot of electricity and can be harsh on your energy bills so try not to overuse these appliances.
Add Radiators

If you are planning to remodel your home and are looking for ways to lock in some winter warmth over the coming months then consider adding radiators to areas of your house that you find become more chilly during the winter season. Adding bathroom and kitchen radiators can help the heat reach areas of your home that would previously have been untouched, resulting in a comfortable and comforting temperature all around your home.

 

Posted in Seasonal interiors | Tagged energy saving, seasonal heating, warm homes, winter heating | Comments Off

Kitchen Radiators

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Steph

kitchen radiators

Kitchen radiators are an essential appliance if you want your kitchen to be comfortable and warm. Thanks to modern design manufacturing, there’s a radiator to suit every kitchen in terms of style, design and size. Nowadays, kitchen radiators can actually enhance the appearance of your room – not just the comfort. With many quirky and funky radiators available, your kitchen can be a haven for interior design.

The Practicality

Kitchen radiators can increase functionality and improve visual aesthetics in a room which was, once upon a time, far from glamorous. Kitchen radiators however, are becoming more of a modern essential as kitchens are no longer merely a place to slave over a hot stove.

Your kitchens can be a fantastic space to entertain guests in. If you’re having a considerable sized gathering there may not be sufficient space in your living room to accommodate all your guests. If you decide to dine or entertain in your kitchen you’ll need it to be warm – even when you’ve stopped cooking. Kitchen radiators can keep your guests warm, as modern manufacturing ensures high heat outputs for optimum comfort within your home.

Kitchen radiators can be extremely convenient as a source for airing clothes and other fabrics. Heated towel rails are a practical place to store and dry tea towels and similar kitchen linen. They serve as a duel-purpose appliance, both heating the room and drying fabrics.

The Design

Kitchen radiators are available in such a vast array of different designs that you’re guaranteed to find a style to suit your kitchen. For country kitchens, new takes on traditional radiator designs allow you to opt for a classic radiator style with a modern edge. Vertical bar radiators are the classic radiator design yet no one wants a large, old-fashioned radiator in their kitchen. New, stylish vertical bar radiators in a chrome finish is a popular traditional radiator design which is incredibly appealing to the eye.

If your kitchen in modern in design, you have the benefits of choosing from a wide range of radiator designs which span from classy and striking to quirky and eye-catching. If you’re simply spoilt for choice, use your kitchen appliances to guide you towards the right radiator for your kitchen. If you have stainless steel or chrome appliances then a glossy, a chrome finish radiator could be the perfect choice.

In addition to colour, there are many different designs and shapes available to choose from. If your kitchen doesn’t boast space as its main benefactor then browse for flat panel radiators which are excellent space-savers. Wall mounted radiators also free floor space which could then be used for a kitchen essential, such as a dustbin. If you’re blessed with a spacious kitchen you can choose from a variety of different styles, your designer radiator could even be the focal point of your kitchen.

The beauty of kitchen radiators is the fact that the warmth they produce means your kitchen can really be utilised as a living space – rather than a room of sole functionality. With your new radiator you can enjoy cooking delicious cuisine in a cosy atmosphere.

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Curved Radiators

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Danny

curved radiators

Having a well-structured and modern interior to our homes is of huge importance in this day and age, and with some fantastic and ever more inventive designs being produced it’s far too tempting to delve into our inner designer and see exactly how impressive we can make our homes. Obviously when considering which items we want to bring into the house we must consider practicality too. This is why many people are taking the parts of their home that play a vital part and trade it in for a more modern, fashion conscious alternative. Radiators are the primary tool for warming many houses in winter and without them it’s fair to say things might get a bit uncomfortable. When redesigning your house consider choosing a newer, more stylish curved radiator to really add the finishing touches to a room.

Any room with a modern design can be well complimented with stylish curved radiators. Continuing this idea throughout the house can give a great overall look and feel to a home showing consistency and planning. Carefully choosing well designed furniture which matches the continuity of your home (matching the texture, shape and general design of woods and metals) can prove to be a fantastic way of enhancing your living space.

Designing every room exactly the same is not what we’re getting at here. Each room of your house should be its own with unique colours, furniture and decoration. However you can subtly continue the underlying style of the building buy designating one or two items per room which carry the same design and texture as each and every other room. This is where items such as curved radiators can come into play. Choosing a stainless steel or aluminium radiator gives a very modern look that is sure to stand out when mounted onto a wall; consider this when choosing an underlying design for your home.

The textures themselves can be applied to most colour schemes throughout any home while the sleek design and shape of curved radiators can accompany other modern furniture and household items. This is especially true when applied in kitchens and bathrooms, as there are often a lot of appliances in these areas of the home that will match the colour and be well complimented by stylish chrome curved radiators. Bathroom fixtures such as chrome taps and walk in shower units can all be incorporated into this.

 

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Halloween Special: Home Décor Ideas

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Steph

halloween-pumpkin

It’s nearly that spooky time of year again where the ghosts and ghouls come out and “trick or treat” is shouted at everyone who dares to open their door. If you’re hosting a Halloween party or simply want to be part of the spooky spirit then here are some haunting Halloween decoration ideas which will transform your warm and cosy home into a haunted old mansion…

Bats

A spooky home wouldn’t be complete without the eerie flapping of bats wings. If you’re hosting a Halloween party, hanging bats from the ceiling can be a great touch and give your guests the creeps! You can make them yourself by drawing a bat template, purchasing some black felt and cutting around the template. You can mix things up by drawing different sized templates. Once you’ve cut all the bats out hang them from the ceiling with clear string so it looks like they’re mid-flight. Cut all the pieces of string at different lengths for a realistic effect.

Spiders

Halloween wouldn’t be the same without some creepy crawlies. Making spooky spiders out of pipe cleaners can be a great activity to occupy children. Make sure you have in particular, orange and black pipe cleaners so they match the Halloween colour scheme. When they’re finished place them in fake cobwebs around your front door to give your guests a ghoulish greeting.

Sweets and treats

Another fun activity to do with the children is to bake some ghoulish cupcakes. You could top the cupcakes with icing in a spider’s web design and place a jellied sweet spider in the centre of the web. To prepare for the trick or treat knocks you’ll need an ample stash of goodies. For a real Halloween theme cut out the face of a pumpkin in the usual ghoulish manner and then cut the pumpkin in half horizontally. Fill the pumpkin with trick or treat sweets and place the pumpkin back together again, now you have a ghoulish place to store your treats!

For an adult treat, Bloody Marys can be an excellent vampire treat – their bloodlike appearance should fulfil any vampire’s craving. You could also use a cauldron filled with ice to chill bottled beers and wines to keep in with the Halloween theme and save some fridge space.

Garden Cemetery

If you have lawn in your front garden you could create the ultimate creepy entrance for your guests by turning it into a cemetery. Make some foam tombstones to scatter around your garden and drape cobwebs over them. Place a cauldron, witch’s hat and broomstick near your front door to bring “hocus pocus” to your doorstep.

Halloween can be a fun time to experiment with accessories and décor within your home. Your Halloween decoration can really make your party one to remember for you and your guests alike. Getting your children to assist you in making ghoulish decorating and haunted sweet treats can be a fun task for them and take some of the stress of you too.

Happy Halloween!

Posted in Seasonal interiors | Tagged accessories for the home, halloween decorations, party decorations | Comments Off