The Radiators Resource

Modern cast iron radiators combine all of the strengths of vintage styled radiators with the technical knowhow of modern science and engineering. These devices are a bit harder to come by, since most people seem to be switching to forced air units to heat their homes, but they are still out there and work well. There are many occasions where a modern radiator system will reduce your heating bills and save energy, truly the green solution.

Advantages Over Forced Air Systems

Modern radiator systems hold huge advantages over forced air systems which knowledgable engineers and architects use when designing homes and heating systems. For one thing, you never need to worry about getting hot spots or cold spots due to wierd air flows inside your home. The heat provided by the radiator flows outwards in a controlled space and does not rely on these currents. In addition, you’ll never get that drafty feeling you often get in forced air heated homes. The lack of a draft is also a strong advantage when it comes to odors, pollon, smoke, or any other particulates within the house. Because there’s less drafts, there’s less movement of these undesirables around your home.

The Benefits of Zoning

With modern systems you could set up zoning in your home. This means that each radiator can be controlled seperately, or several could be chained together (not literally) to form a ‘zone.’ A single thermostat could control the entire zone. By controlling the heat in each room or floor of your home seperately, you could tailor the heating of specific rooms at specific times to your specific needs. There’s no need to heat the downstairs if you’re upstairs in bed reading a book, for instance. Similarly, why waste energy heating the bedrooms when everyone’s downstairs for dinner? Zone control lets you save on energy costs which means a little more green in your pocket at the end of the day.

Modern Systems with Vintage Radiators?

So is it possible to set up a modern system but with vintage style radiators? Absolutely, although you’ll likely need the help of your local professional. Many people love the advantages of modern systems, but are also attracted to the ornate metal work of Victorian style radiators. So why not go with the best of both worlds? There are companies that refurbish vintage cast iron radiators to make them as good as any modernly manufactured unit. After you have the units, setting up the zones and reaping the benefits takes no more than a simple phone call to your local pro.

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.