When to Invest in New Radiators

While it is relatively common knowledge that boilers need replacing every 10-15 years, one thing that homeowners often overlook when considering their home’s heating efficiency is the radiators.  

Old radiators can impact the efficiency of your boiler and consequently, the efficiency with which you heat your home. The knock-on effect? Wasted energy and wasted money. So, whether you’re buying a new home and reviewing the radiators or think your existing radiators have been working a little too hard for a little too long, we’ve got you covered.

In this blog, we’ll break down how radiators can impact your boiler and central heating system, and signs that it’s time to invest in new radiators. 

How radiators impact your boiler

Radiators are often perceived to be a particularly resilient feature of the home, and one we can easily forget about. Despite the conception that these features will keep working forever, it is generally appropriate to replace them every 15-20 years. A set of outdated and inefficient radiators can impact your boiler in several ways.

Reduced heat transfer

Over time, radiators can accumulate rust, sludge, and other debris inside. This buildup acts as an insulator, making it harder for the hot water to transfer heat efficiently to the room. The boiler has to work harder to heat the water enough to overcome this resistance, wasting energy.

Slow response time

Older radiators, especially bulky ones, can take longer to heat up and cool down. This can lead to the boiler’s short cycling, which means it turns on and off rapidly. Short cycling is inefficient because it wastes energy during the start-up and cool-down phases.

While old radiators themselves aren’t technically less efficient (i.e. the ratio of heat output to heat input remains the same), they hinder the efficiency of your entire heating system by making the boiler work harder.

Radiator maintenance 

There are steps you can take to increase the longevity of your radiators. It is still wise to replace them once they come to their 20-year lifespan, particularly when radiator advancements mean that modern radiators are as much as 50% more efficient than those installed in the 2000s. 

Nonetheless, active maintenance of your radiators is great to ensure your radiators last as long as possible and any risk to your boiler health is reduced. 

Bleeding your radiators 

Bleeding removes air pockets, which improves the heating efficiency of your radiators. By increasing the flow of hot water through your radiator system you will also reduce the pressure on your boiler. 

Bleeding radiators is very simple. By turning a radiator key inserted into the valve until you hear hissing, you begin to let out trapped air. Leave the valve open until water starts to seep out. Make sure to put a cloth or container under the valve to trap any water that might escape. Repeat for all the radiators in the house. 

Be careful to ensure your boiler is off and your radiators are cold before bleeding, as failure to do so could lead to nasty burns. 

You might need to check your boiler pressure after bleeding your radiators to ensure it is not low. 

Cleaning your radiators 

Cleaning your radiators can improve their efficiency by removing dust and debris that limits the dispersal of heat into the room. It’s not a fun task, and one we all like to avoid, but cleaning your radiators somewhat regularly can help to reduce spending on energy and increase the efficiency of your heating system. 

Different types of radiators will require different cleaning techniques and you should take care with certain materials to avoid rusting and corrosion. Generally, however, a duster or a warm, damp sponge will do the trick to remove grime and build-up. 

Like with most cleaning chores, doing this more often will make it easier and less time-consuming. 

Heating systems from Warmaway 

When the time comes to update your heating system, you want to know you’re in safe hands. At Warmaway we offer expert guidance and installation, so you can be assured you’re getting the right products and they’ll be put into place to the highest standard. 

We provide a range of renewable heating solutions including air-source heat pumps, ground-source heat pumps, and solar power systems. We also work with the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to provide new, more efficient boilers. 
Get in touch with our experts today.