The Radiators Resource

Cast iron radiators can get extremely hot. Especially so when the weather is cold outside and you have the thermostat raised. The fact of the matter is that they will be safety hazards at this point, especially to small children and pets. Kids ages five or younger may not quite understand the whole “don’t touch the radiator” rule that you have, so it’s up to you to make sure that they are safe. This safety hazard is only made worse if you have lots of dust and clutter around the home. Getting a central vacuum may take care of the mess, reducing the fire hazard that cast iron radiators pose, but they keep your loved ones away from danger.Here’s a couple of basic safety tips you can use to make your radiator less of a hazard.

Radiator Covers

The best, most efficient way to increase the safety of your radiator is to apply a radiator cover. These are specially crafted units which go over your radiator, keeping the hot metal away from inquisitive fingers. These can be made to look like metal enclosures or wooden bookshelves, or anything in between. Many professionally built ones are for sale, or you could always attempt to build one yourself. Radiator covers also have the benefit of directing heated air in particular directions. This could increase the efficiency of your radiator and lower your heating bills. For safety and practicality a radiator cover is best, and the choice I would always try first when keeping safety in mind.

Safety Gates

If you can’t protect or cover the radiator directly, then the next best option is to keep people and animals away from the radiator. Try setting up some sort of barricade, such as a child safety gate, around the radiator area. Make sure that the gate is sturdy enough to not fall over - you definitely do not want it leaning against the radiator as that could start a fire. You may want to consider reinforcing the supports of your barricade to make sure that this doesn’t happen.

Cloth Covers

If all else fails you may want to consider covering the radiator with heavy cloth. There are specially made pads for this in Europe called Rad Pads, but they could be expensive. The heavy cloth will provide some barrier between the hot metal and your child. If you use the wrong kind of cloth you’re running the risk of having it dry out and light on fire, so be extremely careful. I would recommend consulting a local professional before putting anything flammable on top of a radiator.

Safety First

Safety is of paramount importance, and all the more so with a cast iron radiator. Take the necessary precautions and you can enjoy all the benefits of these units without any of the worry.

A couple different varieties exist in the world of cast iron radiators. There are two basic ways to heat your radiator, hot water or steam, and many different varieties in style. Here’s an overview of what makes each distinct and unique.

Steam Radiators

Steam radiators were the first ever free standing radiators, and were developed by Joseph Nason in the 1860’s. This system had a single pipe that went from the elaborately designed radiator to a boiler elsewhere in the home. The boiler would heat up water into steam, which would flow through the pipe and into the radiator. The heat would get transferred to the radiator, meaning that the steam would cool down, turn back into water, and drain through the pipe back to the boiler. If your radiator at home has a single pipeline, it’s a steam radiator.

Hot Water Radiators

Hot water radiators use two pipes. One takes water from the boiler and into the radiator, and the other returns the cooled water back to the boiler. The great thing about these two pipe setups is that they could potentially be used with steam boilers as well as hot water boilers, making them desirable and versatile. Hot water radiators weren’t seen until the twentieth century, but have been around ever since. It’s important to make sure that you bleed this kind of radiator on a yearly basis to ensure that trapped air isn’t impeding the flow of water.

Vintage Cast Iron Radiators

Older cast iron radiators weren’t just created for the practical purpose of heating a home. They were also used as ornate metal decorations. The idea was that if you needed a large clunky piece of iron in a room, there was no reason for it to look bad, too. Vintage radiators and vintage clones can still be found for sale today. Some styles you may run into include Italianate and Victorian. The first generally includes rounded fins and curved feet, where as the second generally has raised ornate patterns. For pure asthetics, the Victorian radiators have generally been held in higher esteem, and have often been used for purely decorative purposes.

Modern Cast Iron Radiators

Believe it or not companies are still making cast iron radiators even today. The modern style is a minimalist one, with sleek curved coils and columns. Modern radiators are not necessarily better than their vintage counterparts for heating your home, but they are more likely to have had higher standards of quality when they were produced.