Electric Panel Radiators

Getting a panel radiator installed in any room at home doesn’t mean you’ll have to go through major rerouting work of your central heating system. 

Trade Radiators has a range of electric panel radiators that work well in any room; whether you’re looking for a new radiator in a spare bedroom or want to take a chill out of the air in an office space. 

We aim to take it as easy for anyone in the UK to get their spaces cosy in no time at all. It all starts with knowing what brands to look at. 

Electric Panel Radiator Brands 

There are several well-known brands that sell electric panel radiators. 

They include: 

  • K-Rad 
  • Stelrad 
  • Quinn 
  • Apollo 

If you’re looking for a cheap electric panel radiator, we recommend taking a look at our own Trade Direct Range. We have created some fantastic panel radiators that are high performance and won’t break your budget. 

Electric Panel Radiator Styles 

There are subtleties to how panel radiators are presented. The grill look is the most common and usually the cheapest you’ll find. They have an indented grill look on the front and an optional cover grill on top. 

For those with limited space, you may want to think about getting single panel radiator from a brand like Quinn who is known for their high-performance one panels with a round or seam top. 

Anyone who is after a more modern look at home, especially in the kitchen, should consider a flat panel radiator. Stelrad, Apollo and Trade Direct all have radiators like this. 

How hot can Electric Panel Radiators get? 

It will vary greatly depending on the size of the radiator. You may be inclined to go for the biggest radiator you think will fit on a wall when working with a troublesome room, but we would advise you figure out the correct BTU first. 

If you have no idea what BTUs are or how many your room needs, try our handy heating calculator. Just enter the dimensions and what type of room you’re dealing with, and we’ll help you understand what the best fit would be. 

What system can Electric Panel Radiators be used on? 

These electric radiators can be used to plug into a wall in rooms where you can’t or don’t want to redirect central heating systems. We would recommend if you plan on having a radiator plugged in to have a timer or heat controlled valve in place to ensure you don’t waste energy. 

What finish can Electric Panel Radiators come in? 

The finish will depend entirely on the make and model of the radiator you’ve found. White is the most common finish, although it may be possible to have a custom finish. We would advise getting in touch to see if it’s possible or what problems you could encounter trying this at home. 

Electric Panel Radiator Accessories 

We stock a range of accessories to help complete the look of your radiator. 

If you’re installing a panel radiator in a bathroom, take a look at some of the towel bars and robe hooks we have on offer. 

We also have smart thermostatic elements if you’re looking for a greater level of temperature control in a room. 

Delivering Electric Panel Radiators across the UK 

We strive to get radiators delivered as quickly as possible for customers. When it comes to ordering an electric radiator, there is a filling process that can add a day on to your delivery time. Panel radiators can take between 2-7 working days depending on the model. 

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    Do designer radiators cost more?

    Designer radiators can cost more than a traditional radiator or classic convector radiator. It will mainly depend on the brand you want to purchase.

    At Trade Radiators we try to ensure you get the best price possible and work directly with manufacturers to pass the savings on to customers.

    Are designer radiators efficient?

    Designer radiators are incredibly efficient. They may look great but they also have a very high performance level.

    The bigger the designer radiator is, the higher its BTU output will be.

    Is a designer radiator easy to fit?

    Designer radiators are as easy to fit as traditional radiators.

    The designer radiators we have at Trade Radiators come with all the necessary parts needed to ensure you can install a new radiator correctly.

    Choosing the correct designer radiator - Be sure to check out our Pinterest and Instagram for inspiration

    What size designer radiator do I need?

    Normally, the bigger the designer radiator and the more panels, the greater the heat output. Heat output is measured in BTUs or Watts. For selecting a designer radiator to adequately heat your room, please use our handy heat calculator.

    TOOL - Trade Radiators heating calculator.

    What is the difference between BTUs and Watts?

    British Thermal Units (BTUs) and Watts (W) are simply different ways of measuring the heat output of radiators. We display both on our website.
    If you need to convert BTUs to Watts, divide by 3.412.
    If you need to convert Watts to BTUs, multiply by 3.412.

    What are radiator pipe centres?

    The pipe centre measurement is the distance between the central points of the two pipe inlets on each designer radiator. If you have a standard, hot water central heating system, this measurement is important because you are likely to use the existing pipework to install your radiator. Measuring the distance between your existing pipes and purchasing a designer radiator with a very similar pipe centre measurement will make it much easier to install with minimal changes to your pipework. 

    What is radiator projection?

    This is the distance from the wall to the front of the radiator. Essentially, it's how far the radiator sticks out from the wall. If you have a small or narrow space, it would be better for you to select a radiator with a small projection measurement.

    How do I know what radiator valves I need?

    "There are three different types that you should be aware of; straight valves, angled valves and corner valves. 

    There are many different styles of standard or thermostatic valves, which you can match up to the style of your designer radiator. "

    Will a designer radiator heat my kitchen?

    Usually yes, providing the output of the radiator is greater than the heat loss of the room. If you have a particularly large room, we recommend having more than one radiator to give an even heat distribution. Feel free to find out the heat output you need by using our heat calculator.

    TOOL - Trade Radiators heating calculator

    Where do the valves fit into the radiator?

    Valves will either fit at the bottom or the side of the radiator, depending on its style. The positioning of the valves is stated within the description of all designer radiators on our website.

    What is the paint finish like on your designer radiators?

    All of our paint finish designer radiators are of a high quality 'powder coat' paint finish and are applicable to radiators that are black, anthracite and white. We clearly label the type of finish of every designer radiator in the descriptions on our website.

    What grade of stainless steel are designer radiators made from?

    All of our stainless steel designer radiators are made from high-quality Grade 304 stainless steel. To read more on why this Grade 304 is so well-suited to radiator manufacturing, please read the following article.

    BLOG - Why grade 304 stainless steel is used for heated towel rails

    What's the difference between polished and satin stainless steel finishes?

    A polished stainless steel finish gives a mirror-style reflective finish. A satin or brushed stainless steel finish has more of a smooth matt, non-reflective finish. Both have the same heat outputs and guarantees so choosing a polished or satin finish is purely down to personal preference.

    Why do stainless steel and aluminium radiators have longer guarantees?

    While all of our designer radiators are manufactured to the highest possible quality, stainless steel and alumiunium are non-ferrous metals, which are naturally more resistant to corrosion than mild steel with a powder coat finish. Because of the nature of the materials, we offer the appropriate length of guarantees depending on the metal. All radiators on our website are clearly labelled with their manufacturing material and the length of guarantee. Which finish you choose should always be appropriate to your budget and style preferences.

    Which radiators give the best heat output?

    Aluminium designer radiators usually give the best heat output. This is due to Aluminium being an excellent conductor of heat and an ability to reach the desired temperature very quickly.

    You can read more about the benefits of aluminium radiators in the article below

    Blog - Why are aluminium radiators so popular?

    What's the best finish of radiator to go in my kitchen?

    Of course, this is completely down to personal preference depending on your personal tastes and your style of kitchen. However, a very popular choice for kitchens among our customers is a designer radiator with a satin stainless steel finish as these often look great with kitchen appliances.

    What is the best radiator for limited wall space?

    We would advise selecting a vertical designer radiator if you have limited horizontal wall space. Vertical radiators make the most of upwards, vertical space and have been an excellent development in radiator technology as many of us move into smaller and smaller spaces.

    Blog - The benefits of choosing a vertical radiator

    How far will the radiator stick out from the wall?

    To determine this, please look at the 'Projection' measurement that is listed on every radiator on our website. The projection measurement is how far the radiator sticks out from the wall.

    I want to replace my standard radiator with a designer radiator. How do I know what heat output my existing standard radiator has?

    It is best to approach this question with what you NEED for your room rather than working out what you already have. Your existing radiator might not been replaced since your house was built or it may have been a replacement that is the wrong size for the room. Radiator efficiency has come a long way over the last decade, so we advise you to use our heat calculator to establish the correct heat output for your room and select a suitable new radiator accordingly.

    I need to replace all of my radiators in my house/project but don't know where to start. Can you help?

    Yes, this is a common request because it can be such a daunting task and we are more than happy to assist. We can provide a 'spreadsheet schedule' that will tell you what size radiator you need in each room, what styles would look good and much more. Please don't hesitate to contact us on 0141 225 0430 or info@traderadiators.com for further assistance.

    Installing and maintaining a designer radiator

    Do your designer radiators come with something to fix it to the wall?

    Yes all of our designer radiators come with wall brackets, fixings and everything you need to fix them to the wall.

    Can I install a designer radiator myself?

    Yes, it's certainly possible to carry out this task yourself, especially if you have DIY and plumbing experience. However, we would always recommend you use the services of a professional due to additional tasks that may need to be done when installing a radiator. Such things can include draining the system, balancing the system, moving pipework and adding a chemical inhibitor to your system. If you do want to install your designer radiator yourself, you may find the videos below, featuring Jimmy the Trade Radiators plumber, useful. 

    VIDEO - How to fit a vertical radiator 

    VIDEO - How to install a stainless steel radiator 

    VIDEO - How to install a heated towel rail, a step by step guide

    VIDEO - Installing a heated towel rail timelapse.

    Can I bleed my designer radiator myself?

    "Yes you can. Most designer radiators have removable bleed plugs that you can access should you need to let air out of a radiator. 

    The video below features Jimmy the Trade Radiators plumber explaining how to bleed a radiator. "

    VIDEO - How to bleed a heated towel rail

    What do I do if my designer radiator is cold & won't get hot?

    If you have employed a professional to install your new designer radiator, they should also check that it's actually working and getting hot before finishing the job. If this is the case, then you should not encounter this problem. However, if you have installed the radiator yourself, you may experience this problem, though fortunately it's usually fairly easy to fix. Jimmy the Trade Radiators plumber explains in the video below exactly how to fix a radiator that won't get hot. 

    VIDEO - How to fix a radiator that won't get hot 

    What do I do if my designer radiator gets warm but not hot?

    If your radiator is only getting warm, it's highly likely that your central heating system needs balancing. We recommend calling in a professional to balance your system, but if you want to tackle it yourself, Jimmy the Trade Radiators plumber explains how to do it in the video below. 

    VIDEO - How to balance your heating system 

    What should I use to clean my designer radiator?

    Do not use a strong detergent as this may cause damage to the metal or finish.

    What can I do if my designer radiator problem isn't covered above?

    We recommend that you call in a professional to have a good look at your central heating system, though you can look at the helpful blog post below. 

    BLOG - How to fix common radiator problems 
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