Tue 18th Jul 2017 - 1:39pm Radiators

What's the difference between Compact, Round Top & Seam Top Radiators?

When choosing a radiator, there are so many different styles to choose from, that actually making a final decision on what you want to buy can be quite challenging.

You may have decided that you want to keep things simple and opt for a classic white convector radiator, the most common type of radiator that can be seen in most people's homes up and down the country.

However, even with the humble white convector radiator, there are still some choices to be made, most notably between compact, round top or seam top radiators.

However, though you may be given these choices (we offer them on our site), they are nothing to be worried about, as they simply refer to the way the radiator is styled and finished at the top.

COMPACT RADIATORS

You can recognise a compact convector radiator most easily when looking at it from the top or from the side. Usually a compact radiator will be 'enclosed' in the sense that when looking down or from the side, the inner parts of the radiator are covered up by thin white panels. 

On top there will usually be a neatly fitting grill panel which allows the hot air to escape but covers up the internal convector fins (the zig zaggy bits of metal inside the radiator). Down the side will be a long smooth panel, matching the white of the rest of the radiator and again covering up the side of the internal convector fins.

It's really a stylistic choice rather than anything functional, but compact radiators are popular because they are aesthetically pleasing and easy to keep clean. They're also informally popular for resting things on, like a cup of tea or some defrosting sausages!

You can view our full range of Quinn Compact Convector Radiators here >>

ROUND TOP RADIATORS

Whereas with compact radiators the internal convector fins are covered up, with round top radiators, the fins are visible.

However, this is offset by the fact that the panels (the grooved, white faces of the radiator) are rounded off at the top, creating a smooth and gentle look that is also pleasing to look at.

If your home was built in the 1970s or 80s, then these types of radiator may well have been installed when they were built and are therefore popular for doing a straight swap with a more modern and efficient version.

Round tops are informally popular for drying clothes on due to the ease with which items of clothing can be slipped over the top of them!

You can view our full range of Quinn Round Top Convector Radiators here >>

SEAM TOP RADIATORS

Again the internal convector fins can be seen from the top or from the side, but this time the tops of seam top radiators are thin and straight, providing a crisp, straight line to the top of the radiator.

These were also standard installations for many 1970s built houses and if your radiators have not been replaced since your home was built, these are a popular choice for a straight swap that won't change the aesthetics of your rooms.

The straight nature of the finish makes them popular for drying socks and underwear on them, without them sliding off (the radiator)!

You can view our full range of Quinn Seam Top Convector Radiators here >>

All of our convector radiators utilise 3rd generation radiator technology meaning they are more energy efficient, use less water, are manufactured from less steel and provide greater heat outputs than previous generations. This means you will be spending less on heating bills as well as knowing that you're likely purchasing a product that has a smaller carbon footprint than what you have in place at the moment.

Article by Benjamin Clarke

RELATED ARTICLES

• What's the difference between single and double panel radiators? 26th Jun 2013 

• What's the difference between radiant heat and convected heat radiators? 30th Oct 2014 

• The radiator and heated towel rail jargon buster 30th Aug 2016 

 

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Thu 13th Jul 2017 - 10:36am Latest Products

New Live Chat Support - Get your questions answered instantly

It's even easier to get in contact with us than ever before now that we've added a new Live Chat Support facility to our website.

Available to use between 8.30am - 5.30pm Monday to Friday, all of our customers can go on our website, click on the speech bubble icon in the bottom right corner and ask a question.

One of our very knowledgeable Customer Support team will be available the other end to answer you instantly!

We've all been in the situation where we are about to make a purchase and realise we need a very simple question answered before we go ahead with the purchase.

Often that means sending in an email or having to make a phone call for a question that takes only 10 seconds to answer and this isn't always convenient. Now you can open the chat window and get answers or clarification straightaway!

It's not always possible to make a phone call to get a question answered, especially if you are on public transport, on holiday, or working in a strict office! So we hope that by making this excellent facility available, all of our customers will have no problems with getting in contact, whether you're considering making a purchase or are checking on a previous order.

So, if you've got a question that needs answering, get on over to our website and look for the chat icon. Our Customer Support team are waiting for you! 

Article by Benjamin Clarke

RELATED ARTICLES

• Share your radiator or heated towel rail experience 8th Jul 2013 

• A look inside the Trade Radiators office 28th Aug 2014 

• Trade Radiators - A tale of entrepreneurship 9th Jul 2013 

 

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Wed 28th Jun 2017 - 4:35pm Competitions

Win a £500 radiator voucher in our photo competition

Summer is a great time to get your central heating system sorted, and in particular installing stylish new radiators to give your home a fresh new look.

You're much more likely to get hold of a plumber to do the work quickly and cheaply in the summer as they are not off dealing with emergencies like they are in the winter.

For that reason, we've decided to hold a photo competition to give you a chance to win a £500 voucher for any of the radiators and towel rails on our website, to help you with replacing any old, scruffy radiators around your home!

All you need to do is take a picture of one of your radiators that's most in need of replacement and upload it to our Facebook Competition Page.

You can also include a little bit of info like what room the radiator is in, how long it's been there and what you'd do with a £500 radiator voucher!

We will be promoting our competition across all of our social media channels and will be encouraging people to get on there enter. By the end of the competition on 31st August 2017, we'll choose the winner and make the announcement!

We're looking forward to this competition and discovering what type of old radiators are out there!

You can enter the competition and see all the other entries at our Facebook Page here >>

ENTER OUR COMPETITION NOW!

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PHOTO COMPETITION TERMS & CONDITIONS

• The promoter is Trade Radiators, 82 Mitchell Street, Glasgow, G1 3NA, United Kingdom (the "Promoter").
• In the event of any dispute regarding the rules, conduct or the results of the competition the Promoter's decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Entries that do not comply in full with these rules will be disqualified. The Promoter reserves the right to disqualify any entrant for any reason whatsoever in its sole discretion

• The Promoter reserves the right to alter, amend, suspend or terminate this competition without prior notice in the event that circumstances make this unavoidable.
• The Promoter and its agents accept no responsibility for any technical difficulties experienced in submitting an entry to this competition or for entries not received by the Promoter or its agents due to technical difficulties.
• All entrants' personal data will only be held for the purpose of the competition and will not be used for any other purposes whatsoever without their prior permission.
• Entry into this competition shall be deemed to be a full and unconditional acceptance of these terms and conditions.
• The Promoter will not accept any responsibility whatsoever for any loss, expense or liability arising from the winner's use of the prize.
• These terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United Kingdom and Great Britain.
• All enquires relating to this competition should be made to Trade Radiators via info@traderadiators.com
• We reserve the right to change the terms and conditions at any point in time
• By entering the competition, all entrants agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
• To enter, please upload your picture of your radiator on our competition page. Please also include a description of your towel rail and your email address.
• The competition starts at 9am on Sunday 2nd July 2017.
• The closing date for competition submissions is 12pm on Thursday 31st August 2017.
• No purchase or payment is necessary to enter the competition. You can enter for free via our competition page..
• No responsibility is accepted for entries which are for any reason whatsoever not received or delivered.

PRIZES
• The prize for this competition is a £500 Trade Radiators Gift Card for use on TradeRadiators.com.
• The competition award cannot be modified and is non-transferable
• The competition decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
• Should you win the award, you will be required to participate in any post-competition publicity that we may require.

SELECTION OF WINNERS
• A judging panel of representatives from the promoter will select the entrant to receive the award based on their photo entry containing their  heated towel rail or radiator. We will choose the winner based on our own favourite and our decision is final.
• All entrants must enter a valid email address in order to claim their prize.
• The winner will be notified by email no later than 17:00pm Thursday 7th September 2017. You will not be notified if you are not the winner.
• The winner's name will be shared via Trade Radiators Facebook, Twitter, blog and website, and also through any other relevant media channels
• By entering the competition, you also agree that we can share your submission through our Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, Blog, Website and any other relevant media channels

Article by Benjamin Clarke

Tue 13th Jun 2017 - 9:41am Latest Products

LATEST PRODUCTS! Apollo Aluminium Malpensa Radiators

We're very pleased to that we've added some incredibly stylish new designer radiators to our online catalogue, called the Apollo Aluminium Malpensa range.

These beauties are available in a multiple variety of sizes, including horizontal and vertical orientations, so whether you're looking to fill a wide space or utilises an area going upwards, we've got you covered.

The Apollo Malpensa radiators are manufactured from aluminium which is a very popular material in radiators manufactures. One of the biggest benefits of aluminium is that it is an excellent conductor of heat, meaning your radiators get up to temperature very quickly without wasting energy, making them an excellent choice for long term money-saving on energy costs.

The Malpensa range comes in 3 distinct styles, all equally stunning and capable of providing a focal point to any room they're installed in.

1. The Malpensa Flat -  a more traditional flat panelled finish.

2. The Malpensa Curve - a stylish twist on the flat panel, with the front panels providing a gentle curve.

3. The Malpensa Wave - innovative, alternately curved front panelling proving an eye-catching 'wave' effect.

View our full Apollo Aluminium Malpensa range here >>

 

Article by Benjamin Clarke

Wed 7th Jun 2017 - 1:57pm Energy and Heating

Why Carbon Monoxide can be so dangerous

It's very important to understand how dangerous Carbon Monoxide (CO) gas can be to humans when it occurs in concentrations above 35 'parts per notation' (PPM).

It does occur naturally in the atmosphere in low levels that is not of danger to humans, however, as it is formed when there is not enough oxygen to produce Carbon Dioxide (CO2), it can be lethal in enclosed spaces.

Carbon Monoxide has been gruesomely nicknamed 'The Silent Killer' because of it's inability to be smelt, seen, heard or tasted, which makes it all the more dangerous.

Every year, CO will cause 4000 people to visit the hospital with CO poisoning, with 200 of these needing an overnight stay and 50 not surviving. This also doesn't take into account the CO deaths that occur without the victims making it to hospital.

In terms of our homes, lethal levels of Carbon Monoxide can be produced when carbon-based fuels are not completely burned. This usually occurs when fuel-burning appliances are faulty or malfunctioning.

Appliances such as furnaces, ranges, gas boilers, water heaters, gas or kerosene room heaters and fireplaces are the main examples that can kill if functioning incorrectly. Any of these that are malfunctioning can cause your home to fill up with carbon monoxide gas in the same way as starting a car in a closed garaged or lighting a BBQ in a tent when camping. All are serious and all can kill very quickly.

Physical symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include nausea, vomiting, headaches, dizziness, becoming out of breath, feeling lethargic, behaving erratically and feeling better as soon as you leave the house.

Pets can also give you an indication that there is too much Carbon Monoxide in your home. Cats will often refuse to come in and dogs may have sore mouths or become irritable. The old classic tale of miners taking a canary down the coal mine is for this very reason. High levels of Carbon Monoxide would kill the canary before the miners and act as an indicator that they need to get out.

While you can't see the gas itself, visual symptoms include yellowy-brownish stains around fuel burning appliances, orange or yellow pilot lights (they should be blue - see your boiler for an example), pilot lights that won't stay or and an increase in condensation on the inside of windows.

If you do suspect that an appliance is faulty and producing Carbon Monoxide then switch it off, open all the windows for ventilation and call the Gas Emergency Hotline on 0800 111 999 for further advice. You should also visit your GP or local hospital and tell them you suspect you've been exposed to too much CO. They can do a blood and/or breath test to confirm, though you should get this done immediately as Carbon Monoxide leaves the body quickly.

To avoid your fuel-burning appliances becoming faulty, you should get them checked at least once per year. Gas Safe Registered plumbers and engineers can be called into check your appliances and thoroughly test them. This is particularly recommended for gas boilers, as not only can it identify any leaks, it will also help prevent breakdowns and the possibility of being without heating during the winter months.

You should also install a Carbon Monoxide Detector and test it regular and change the batteries if necessary. It's pointless to go to the trouble of installing an alarm if you allow the batteries to go flat, rendering it useless!

Article by Benjamin Clarke

RELATED ARTICLES

• The importance of checking your Carbon Monoxide Alarm 5th Aug 2016 

• The importance of annual heating system maintenance 7th Jul 2015 

• The quest to stop illegal gas fitters with the Gas Safe Register 15th Jan 2015 

 

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