The Radiators Resource

If you have a cast iron radiator at home that isn’t housed in a radiator cabinet, you’re doing yourself a great disservice on multiple fronts. Radiator cabinets are absolutely essential because they provide many different advantages to your home. In essence, a radiator cabinet is not dissimilar from a radiator cover in terms of appearance or function. What separates the two is merely a turn of phrase. While the specific benefits will vary from unit to unit, pretty much all radiator cabinets will provide added functionality, appearance, and safety to whichever cast iron radiator they are placed around.

A radiator cabinet adds a lot of utility to a cast iron radiator. Ordinary radiators serve as mere heating units. While they do a great job of this, their functionality stops there. Radiator cabinets provide a solid foundation over the radiator where objects can be placed without cause for concern. In essence, it reclaims the unusable space above a radiator. Unlike radiator covers, cabinets often include extra space in an interior which can open up to multiple shelves.

Another reason why you need to get a radiator cabinet is that it significantly improves the look of any room it is placed in. The fact of the matter is that cast iron radiators can look distracting or distasteful as they age, especially if they haven’t been taken care of well. Radiator cabinets hide this eyesore, replacing it with an aesthetically pleasing unit. Many of the best radiator cabinets are made of fine wood. Others have clever facades which provide the illusion of bookshelves or fireplaces. Your choice should ultimately reflect your own personal tastes and the other furniture in the room.

In addition to the extra utility and exceptional looks, radiator cabinets are also important because of their safety benefits. A bare cast iron radiator can be a significant hazard, especially to flammable substances or small children. A radiator cabinet serves as a barrier between the fragile people and items you care about and the hot iron coils of the radiator. Pretty much every radiator should have a radiator cabinet if only for the safety benefits.

A radiator cabinet is an excellent investment for any home because of the many benefits it provides. For safety, an improved aesthetic, and added utility, you receive excellent value in a radiator cabinet.

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.