Do I need to replace my radiators?

While radiators are considered to be one of the most resilient things you have in your home, this does not mean that they will last forever

As with anything else you use on a regular basis, radiators can fall victim to wear and tear. Unlike wear and tear on other household items, such as the sofa, damage to your radiators can be quite dangerous and not particularly noticeable. Old radiators can fail, leaving you without central heating or with insufficient heat.

You can often tell when old radiators need to be replaced by looking into your central heating. If you are not having any issues with hot water, but have noticed that it feels colder than usual, then it is likely that the time has come to look into replacing your radiators.

How Often Should Radiators be Replaced?

There is no straight forward answer but in general you should replace your radiators anywhere between twelve and twenty years.

Sometimes, a lack of central heating does not mean that you need a new boiler but need to replace your radiators instead.

There are various benefits to buying new radiators, and it goes beyond just making sure that you will be warm and cosy when you need it to be!

New radiators are made with modern features and technology, which means they are much more energy efficient than older models.

Not only does this mean that you have a greater range of designs compared to older radiators, but new radiators can also help you considerably lower your heating bills as they are potentially much more energy efficient.

You might not have given much thought to a radiator and everything it does for you, for most of us, the radiator is a standard feature of the household, and it is something we all take for granted.

This is why many people end up struggling to manage their energy bills or the cold spots because they do not even consider getting a new radiator until it is too late.

We tend to assume that a radiator will perform as it should when we require it, but if you live in an older property, it is likely that the central heating system has not seen maintenance for many years and it may no longer be fit for purpose.

Replacing the radiators is more than an aesthetic upgrade, although this is also something worth considering if you are renovating and aiming to add value to your home.

However, before you look into getting new radiators installed, you need to make sure your boiler has the capabilities to deal with the new system

How to Prepare For New Radiators
While a radiator can transform the appearance of a room, there are more things than just the aforementioned aesthetics to consider.

Most properties will benefit from modern radiators, if you are moving into a new build property you shouldn't have to worry, as most new housing developments already feature relatively new systems.

While modern radiators are going to be more energy efficient and effective than the old system you have been using, many people, when they choose to replace this heating system, tend to get more units than they have previously had.

This can be a good option for some homes, but you need to make sure that the boiler you have installed can handle this increase in workload.

The same rule applies for those who are looking into getting a larger style of radiator for their homes, one that covers a wider surface area, as this too will increase the amount of heat and hot water that your boiler system has provide. For some properties, replacing the radiators will also mean getting a new boiler.

In most cases, it is a good idea to replace the boiler anyway as this will provide heating for years. Even though modern radiators are made for efficiency, they won't last forever, but the boiler system can be used for other radiators over time.

Getting a new boiler can be a difficult and time consuming, with multiple engineers required at once. However, this is a task that is worth doing, and you will feel the benefit for years.

What Causes A Radiator To Break?
Usually, issues that occur with a radiator are the result of a larger issue rather than something happening with the actual unit itself.

This is why it is sometimes best to replace all radiators within the property, and potentially even the entire heating system.

Corrosion is one of the most noticeable issues that you might see on the radiators or heating panels you use in your house. Corrosion can appear on the panel of the radiator itself, on the pipework or within the heating system for example, and cause major issues.

Internal corrosion of radiators usually takes years to notice, as the problems may gradually get worse.