Whether you are looking to upgrade your radiators, or you're hiring in an engineer to perform some essential radiator repairs for you, it's definitely the case that some of the terminologies can be confusing. That's why we've put together our ultimate glossary of radiator terms, relating both to the plumbing and engineering involved in your home heating system, and the types and composition of the radiators themselves.



Glossary


Air vented valves: This type of valve automatically 'bleeds' the radiator by releasing trapped air without the need for manual intervention.

Angled radiator valve: These are the same as normal valves, except they have a 90-degree bend. They are generally used when pipework is at an awkward angle.

Bleeding: Bleeding is a process that is carried out which releases any built-up air that is trapped inside a radiator. The build-up of air can stop the hot water reaching the top of the radiator - which is a common cause of uneven heating, i.e. cold patches at the top of your radiator.

Bleed valve: This is the part of a radiator which allows you to release the trapped air, as part of the bleeding process. They are generally found on the top of a traditional radiator.

British thermal unit (BTU): You might come across this term when you are choosing a new radiator. It is essentially a standard industry measure of the amount of heat that a radiator can produce. All of your rooms will have a BTU requirement, which you can calculate when you are working out which radiator you need to purchase.

Cast iron: Cast iron is a popular choice of material for radiators. It is often used in traditional styles and can hold heat for a very long time.

Central heating: The most common type of home heating, it is a centralised system in which water is heated in a boiler, and then circulated around the home through a network of radiators.

Combination (Combi) boiler: This is the name given to the common type of boiler which is able to supply instant hot water to your home, which at the same time supplies hot water to your central heating as well.

Convector radiators: These are normal radiators with convector fins attached to them, generally on the back of the radiator. These fins are normally large sheets of bent metal formed into a zig-zag shape. The purpose of these fins is to increase the overall surface area of a radiator, which increases the amount of heat output.

Double panel plus convector radiators: These radiators have a layer of convector fins sandwiched between two normal radiator panels.

Double panel convector radiators: Slightly confusingly named, these radiators actually have two layers of fins between two radiator panels (rather than the single layer of convector fins found in double panel plus convector radiators).

Efficiency: This is used as a measure of how effectively the radiator converts energy (i.e. electricity or gas) into heat. The more efficient the radiator, the less it will cost to run.

Heated towel rail: This is basically a small, lower-powered radiator generally installed in a bathroom. Heated towel rails provide a convenient place to hold and warm your towels.

Ingress protection code (IP Code): This is a widely used system, classifying the level of protection that the radiator casing provides against physical intrusion and water ingress. This is an important consideration for radiators, particularly those present in bathrooms. The code is made up of two numbers. The first number represents how much protection the radiator casing provides from dust and dirt getting into the system - and also shows how much it protects against access to hazardous parts (like the electrical circuits). The second number shows how much protection the radiator provides from water (e.g. steam, from your shower) getting into the system and potentially damaging it. A common example in bathroom heaters is IP44: which means that the system is protected against 1mm solid bodies and water spray.

Low-level radiators: These are a specific type of radiator which are short and compact, meaning they can fit into spaces in your home that a traditional wall-mounted radiator may not be able to. Low-level radiators are not dependent on wall hangings, they can usually be mounted to the floor.

Tappings: A term that you might hear if you are having new radiators installed; tappings are the thread inside the radiator inlets, which the valves will be screwed into.

Tails: This is the name given to the copper pipes which are fitted into the bottom of radiator tappings for plumbing installation. Tails connect the radiators with the valves that control the flow of water into the system.

Thermostatic valves: A thermostatic valve (which your engineer might refer to as a TRV) is a specific type of radiator valve, which is able to adjust itself automatically to the room temperature.

Valves: The radiator valve is the small, tap-like piece of equipment that sits at either side of your radiator, which connects it to pipes that make up your central heating system. Valves can help you control how hot the radiator is, as they allow you to control the flow of heated water in and out of the radiator.

Variable heat radiator: Simply put, this refers to any radiator where the temperature can be manually controlled, normally by means of a thermostat on the radiator itself.

Watts: Watts are a unit of measurement of energy, which you will often find displayed on electrical radiators. They give an indication of how much heat the radiator is able to generate.

Wooden radiators: Wood might not be the first material that springs to mind when you think about radiators, but there are actually some amazing wooden radiators on the market, which provide a beautiful addition for a natural decor theme in any room.

Zone: In radiator terms, 'zones' are used to describe the area that needs heating. Zones need to be considered when you are planning the installation of new radiators.