The Best Radiators for Your Heating System: A Guide to Radiator Types

Radiators are designed to warm your house. However, you must choose the right type for the comfort of your room, compatibility with the existing system, performance, and even the look of your space.

Certain radiators are compatible with a central heating system, where hot water is circulated in pipes by a boiler. Others are electric, and you can use them in areas that need instant heating, while some offer dual fuel options, giving you the best of both worlds. We’ll walk you through all the major radiator types to help you find the best one for your home.

The Best Radiator Types For Your Home

Radiators transfer heat from the heating system to the surrounding space. They warm the air through convection, where the heated air rises from the radiator into the room. Additionally, radiators emit infrared radiation that directly heats objects and people in the room, providing instant warmth. 

That's why the best radiator type for your home depends on your heating system, room design, and comfort needs. The following radiator types each offer different strengths in high performance, style, responsiveness, and heat output.

1. Hot Water Radiators (Central Heating Radiators)

Hot water systems circulate hot water from the boiler or heat pump through the radiator body, which then transfers heat into the room. They're typically part of a two-pipe system, where one pipe brings hot water in, and the other returns water to the boiler or heat pump. These systems are linked by gas boilers that heat water and send it through pipes, or by an air-to-water heat pump that captures heat from outside and brings it into your home using electricity..

You can improve the efficiency of your heating system with weather compensation controls, which adjust flow temperature based on outside temperatures.

Why Choose Hot Water Radiators?

• Great for heating the entire house when sized correctly
• Works with boilers or air-to-water heat pumps
• Compatible with thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) for increased control

If you're looking for a practical, reliable option for most homes, our central heating radiators deliver consistent heat when correctly sized and integrated into a well-designed heating system.

2. Electric Radiators

Electric radiators offer an easy alternative to traditional central heating. They’re filled with either dry heating elements or a heating element and thermal fluid. These convert electrical energy into heat energy and transfer the warmth into the surrounding space. No pipework is needed, and they're great for spring and autumn in homes with central heating systems, when you only want heat in a specific part of your home.

Why Go Electric?

• Quick and easy to install, no plumbing required
• Perfect for secondary heating
• Great for spring/autumn use when your main system is off
• Available with smart timers, Wi-Fi control, and thermostats

At UK Radiators, you can trust our electric heating radiators to deliver the warmth you need. The heat output of our electric radiators at 70 degrees is greater than the wattage of the element. This ensures that the heat output you see in Watts is what you get, and if you size the radiator properly based on your room's heat loss calculations, it will keep your home warm.

3. Convector Radiators

Convector radiators feature convection fins that increase surface area and flow around the product. This can result in higher heat outputs, but it does depend on the overall size of the radiator and what you are comparing it to. They’re ideal for rooms where higher heat output is needed without taking up too much wall space, and style or design is not a consideration.

They’re suitable for bedrooms, offices, spaces with good insulation and sealed windows, and are compatible with all central heating systems and smart heating controls.

4. Dual Fuel Radiators

A dual fuel radiator connects to your central heating during winter, but switches to electric when the heating’s off. That means you can have a dry, warm towel warmer on a rainy summer day without firing up the boiler. They run on central heating in winter, but can switch to electric for towel warming or occasional heating in warmer months.

Radiator Style Types

1. Column Radiators

Column radiators are a traditional choice with a design that appeals to many homeowners. They’re great for both period properties and modern interiors, and are available in various finishes for different looks.

Their shape also makes them a stylish alternative to conventional radiators, earning them a place among the best radiators for homeowners who want both function and form.

2. Designer Radiators

Designers radiators heat the room and look the part while doing it. They come in bold colours, sculptural shapes, and even mirrored finishes.

Our designer radiators are Ideal for open-plan spaces and feature walls. They’re stylish enough to feature in living rooms or entrance halls, and come in a range of materials such as aluminium and steel.

All our radiators are compatible with smart or zoned heating systems, making them the best option for modern homes looking to add warmth with a side of wow.

3. Bathroom Radiators & Dual Fuel Towel Rails

Bathroom radiators and electric towel radiators help keep your bathroom space cosy and dry. And with dual fuel options, they’re handy all year round.

Some of the benefits of bathroom radiators and dual fuel towel rails include:

• Keep towels dry and rooms warm
• Use with hot water in winter, electric in summer
• Wall-mounted to save valuable space
• Ideal for en-suites, family bathrooms, and cloakrooms

At UK Radiators, there’s a towel radiator to suit your style and system. Our bathroom radiators and dual fuel towel rails offer high quality, competitive prices, luxury finishes, various sizes, and BTU outputs.

4. Double Panel Radiators

Double-panel radiators are a clever solution that provides warmth without taking up extra room. As the name suggests, they feature two panels, sometimes with convection fins sandwiched between, allowing for a much higher heat output compared to a single-panel radiator model of the same size.

Our double-panel radiators provide more surface area, which translates to more heat. Despite this extra heat output, they come in slim profiles and are available in both convector and flat-panel styles. They’re ideal for bedrooms, living rooms, and larger spaces that require more heat.

Radiator Material Types

1. Cast Iron Radiators

Cast iron radiators take longer to warm up than other modern radiators. While they continue to radiate heat after the system switches off, this can waste energy if not well managed.

They pair well with older steam heating systems or newer setups using weather compensation controls that run at lower temperatures.

Cast iron radiators are ideal for heritage homes and restoration projects because they’re built to last. They’re compatible with most central heating systems and are often used in place of vintage steam radiators, designed for hot water systems.

Because of their weight and size, they require professional installation, especially on upper floors or homes with delicate flooring.

2. Aluminium Radiators

Aluminium radiators heat up and cool down quickly thanks to their low water content and high thermal conductivity. Their rapid response helps reduce energy wastage.

What Makes Them a Smart Choice:

• Quick to respond to temperature changes
• Lightweight, easier handling, and wall mounting
• Suitable for small or large room sizes
• Work well with smart controls and on/off heating systems

If you’re hunting for a practical and stylish radiator, look no further. Our aluminium designer radiators disperse heat efficiently without missing out on a sleek, designer look.

3. Steel Radiators

Steel radiators are the most common type in UK homes, and for a good reason. They’re durable, affordable, and available in a wide variety of styles, from standard conventional radiators to sleek designer options.

Steel radiators are budget-friendly, compatible with other radiator types and heating systems, easy to pair with TRVs and smart controls, and offer good heat distribution and long-term performance. They work perfectly well, transferring the heat from hot water passing through the pipes to the surrounding space.

Choosing the Best Radiators for Your Heating System

So, how do you choose the right radiator for your home? It's all about matching the radiator type to your heating system, the room size, and the heat output you need.

Here’s what to consider:

• Room Size and Layout: Small spaces or rooms with proper insulation can use radiators with lower heat output.
• System Type: Are you using a traditional boiler, an air-to-water heat pump, or electric-only heating?
• Design Preferences: Do you want your radiators to blend in with the background or make a statement?
• Wall Space and Installation: Slimline vertical radiators or double panel options are great options where space is tight.

Why the Right Radiator Size Matters

It's easy to focus on radiator style or material, but none of that matters if the size is incorrect. A radiator that is too small won't heat the room enough, leaving it cold and making your system work harder than it should.

Here's why size matters:

• Size Always Comes First: No matter how efficient the material, an undersized radiator will never heat the room properly.
• Exaggerated Radiators: Many manufacturers exaggerate their product’s efficiency, which means your radiator may be undersized for the room if they overstate its heat output. At UK Radiators, we independently test each model here in the UK, so you get accurate figures you can rely on.
• Efficiency Starts with Sizing: To run your system at lower, more efficient temperatures, every radiator needs to be sized appropriately for the room it occupies.
• Electric Radiator Sizing: Sure, they're 100% efficient, but that doesn't mean any model can heat any room. Electric radiators must also be sized appropriately based on how much heat the room loses.

The bottom line is that if you want consistent warmth and a system that runs efficiently, always size your radiators based on the actual requirements or heat loss of each room.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are The Different Radiator Types?

Radiators come in several forms, each suited to different heating systems and home needs. The various radiator types include hot water radiators, electric radiators, dual fuel radiators, column, convector, and panel radiators, cast-iron radiators, designer, and vertical models. There are also older steam radiators and steam heating systems, mostly found in historic properties.

What Type of Radiator Is Most Effective?

The most efficient radiator is one that's sized correctly, well-positioned, and supported by a well-engineered system.

• Aluminium or convector radiators have a faster response time, which is great when you need to heat your home quickly.
• In older homes with a steam system, effectiveness depends on maintenance of components like the expansion tank and sight glass.

How Do I Choose a Good Radiator?

Start by evaluating your space and heating setup. Here’s what to consider:

• Room Size and Plan: You might need a bigger radiator with a higher heat output for open-plan areas, especially if they are poorly insulated or heavily windowed.
• Type of Heating System: Are you using central heating, or going fully electric? The answer determines compatibility.
• Style Preferences: Do you want a minimalist or a designer radiator?
• Installation Space: Narrow spaces can necessitate a vertical unit fitted above the skirting board.
• Budget: Good quality radiators can be found at an affordable price, with great performance.

Nonetheless, your new radiator must be correctly sized for your room. The radiator’s heat output should be greater than the rate of heat loss of the room. Efficiency is achieved when radiators match or slightly exceed the calculated heat loss of the room, and the system is running at an optimal flow temperature.

Which Radiators Retain Heat Longer?

In general, radiators don’t retain heat – they transfer heat to a room. That said, cast iron radiators retain heat longer than radiators made of other materials.

However, retaining heat is different from transferring it, and in practice, this residual heat can waste energy.

Aluminium and steel radiators, by contrast, can transfer heat quickly. This can be a good thing in modern homes, as it means they respond rapidly and reduce energy waste.

Conclusion

There's a radiator to meet every room, system, and style, from old-fashioned central heating radiators that use hot water, to fashionable electric radiators for convenient heating.

The secret to choosing the correct radiator is to understand your heating system, room layout, and preference, then select a model and size to deliver the heat you need.