buynokian96

by monojussi

Cracking radiators

The recent cold snap and record-breaking low temperatures have led the British public to encounter a rarely seen phenomenon: cracking radiators! This is despite the radiators being inside a property and on a functioning central heating system. 

But radiators are known as strong and durable pieces of engineering, so how can a radiator crack?

When water freezes: its volume expands by around 10%.  A radiator full of water that is in a particularly cold room such as a conservatory, can freeze and the expansion of the freezing water can cause cracks; usually at weld points and seams on the radiator.

Radiator experts, Feature Radiators, recommend some options to prevent radiators freezing and the consequential damage.

Firstly, install a “frost stat”. This is a device that will override your regular central heating timer and thermostat by automatically switching on your central heating when it senses the temperature drop below a pre-determined amount.

Secondly, invest in some thermostatic valves as these have a “frost protection” setting.  This means that when the thermostat on the valves measures the room temperature as approaching 0°C, the valve opens a little, allowing water into the radiator to ensure that it doesn’t freeze.  However, this will only work when the central heating is “ON” as thermostatic valves are not able to turn the boiler on. 

The frost protection setting on thermostatic valves is great for protecting your radiators and pipes during the day when your central heating system is switched on and working.  However, a frost stat will ensure that you protect your radiators and pipes when your central heating system is switched off overnight or when you’re away during the winter and it is this period when most frost damage occurs.

Feature Radiators also recommends you consider frost damage when purchasing reclaimed cast iron radiators.  These are often purchased from salvage yards and can be stored outdoors leading to cracking.  Pressure testing of reclaimed radiators is essential to ensure that radiators are functioning correctly and that they are free from leaks.  

For more information on radiators, contact specialists Feature Radiators on 01274 567789 or visit their website www.featureradiators.co.uk. 

More Radiators Articles

by Dominic’s pics

Traditional Radiators or More Trendy Radiators

Whether it is used in a car or in a building, the goal of a radiator is to deal with the heat!

But funnily enough, the radiator of a car, bus or motorbike is not used to warm it up, but rather cool it down. The radiator actually transfers the heat using a fluid which is a blend between water and ethylene glycol. It takes the heat from inside to outside in order to cool the engine. To be as efficient as possible, the radiator will usually be at the front of the vehicle where it will receive air from the movement of the car. The person who invited the automobile water radiator in the nineteenth century is Karl Benz.

Obviously, we did not wait the nineteenth century to get warm in a building, and heating systems were put into place in very early ages. As a matter of fact, the Romans kind of invented the under floor heating.

As for the conventional radiator that we can find in our homes, it was invented in the nineteenth century by Franz San Galli. They simply consist of a hollow metal container that would usually be of flat shape, even though nowadays, you can find designer radiators of any shapes. Hot water gets into the radiator from pipes and then works its magic to warm a room up.

There are now many different types of radiators such as steam, electric, fan assisted radiators or even under floor heating.

Steam radiators tend to be the preferred kind of radiators used as the steam inside the radiator is going to flow through the pipes under its own pressure without the need for any pumping, thus reducing the energy cost. This is the reason why it was actually adopted before electric motors and pumps became available on the market. Steam is actually much easier to distribute in tall buildings like skyscrapers than hot water.

Fan assisted radiators are much recent kind of radiators. But because of their small size and even distribution of warm hair, they could be used more and more by people. As they are different from other types of more traditional radiators like cast iron radiators or heated towel rails radiators, some people consider them as designer radiators London. On the other hand, the biggest disadvantage of this type of radiator is that the fan does need electricity supply to work and is making noise as well.

Find More Radiators Articles