What is a convector radiator?

So what, exactly is a convector radiator and how does it differ from its more familiar rival? The answer, as you might suspect, is heat.

Difference between radiators and convectors

In a standard radiator, the heat comes from hot water flowing through the panels or tubes. The water heats the metal of the tubes and panels, which in turn heat the ambient air around them, heating the room with a combination of convective and radiant heat. Convector radiators use hot water as well, but their method of operation is different. In a convector radiator, the hot water fills a small tube at the base of the appliance. This tube is surrounded with aluminium fins that act as a heat exchanger, increasing the surface area of contact with the ambient air. These fins, once heated by the water, draw up cold air from the bottom of the radiator and subsequently heat it up. As we all remember from school, this hot air rises, before eventually cooling, dropping back to floor level and being sucked up again by the convector radiator.

Energy efficient

This form of convective heat keeps the air in the room warm by heating it on a constant cycle, which helps to warm a room more evenly than a standard radiator can manage. More importantly, the energy use of a convector radiator is considerably smaller as it only needs to heat the aluminium fins, rather than a whole wall-mounted radiator panel. If a convector radiator sounds appealing, come visit UK Radiators, where you’ll find an extensive range of convector radiators available at competitive prices, including fast and free UK delivery.