If you want to use heating radiators, you must understand the basics of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment. To understand the basics of heating radiators, you can consult manufacturers or experts in the HVAC industry.

You can also search for courses that provide education about heating radiator equipment and accessories. Additionally, you can subscribe to periodicals and magazines that provide information about radiators, their installation and operation.

You can seek an expert’s advice if you want to use a particular type of heating radiator, such as an antique heating radiator, central heating radiator or commercial heating radiator.

To educate yourself and/or your staff about heating radiator products, you should:

1. Understand the basics of heating radiator products
2. Attend a course that provides information on heating radiator products
3. Subscribe to magazines that provide information on radiators

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Read through basic information about heating radiator products and their accessories

Some heating equipment manufacturers provide basic information about heating radiator products, their operation and maintenance. This information can help you understand the radiant heating process and relevant terminology.

I recommend: Gronski Plumbing & Heating, a manufacturer of heating radiator products, offers information about the radiant heating process and its benefits. Antiqueplumbingandradiators.com, a supplier of antique heating radiators, offers information about steam and hot water heating radiators. You can read through an informative article at TACO, a provider of central heating radiators and accessories. InspectAPedia, an online information resource, provides a guide on heating radiators that could help you repair your heating radiators.

Search for educational courses that provide information about heating radiators

You can search for heating equipment courses that offer information about heating radiators and their accessories. You can also search for courses that provide education on the radiant heating process.

I recommend: The Reed Institute, an organization that provides training on basic HVAC principles, offers training programs on various aspects of HVAC equipment, such as the benefits of hydronic heating and baseboard installation procedures. In addition, Buderus, a manufacturer of residential heating radiators and commercial heating radiators, offers a course called ‘Hydronic Training Course’ that provides information on hydronic heating radiators.

Read through magazines that provide updates on heating radiator products

You can subscribe to magazines and newsletters that provide updates on heating radiator products and accessories.

I recommend: You can subscribe to Radiant & Hydronics, an e-newsletter that provides information about the radiant heating process and relevant equipment. Home Energy is a magazine that offers information about energy consumption of home appliances and techniques that you can use to reduce it.

While buying or renovating a house or a commercial building, you need to consider the radiator heating systems. Appropriate central heating radiators can help maintain a warm and comfortable living and working environment. A heating radiator is different from an automobile radiator. An automobile radiator extracts heat from the engine parts, whereas a heating radiator keeps the environment warm by radiating heat.

Conventional heating radiators used to be oil- or wood-fired, hence polluting the atmosphere. Today, hydronic and electric heating radiators are commonly used. Hydronic heating radiators circulate hot water to the front panels that radiate the heat to their surroundings. Electric heating radiators use electrical heating elements to radiate heat to the surroundings.

Heating radiators are available in different configurations such as wall panels, baseboards, columnar panels, curved panels, ceiling units and wall-hung units. The choice for the configuration depends on space available and the type of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system opted. You can use an independent unit as well as a unit connected to a centrally operated system for your building or environment. Some of the important parameters you must consider before buying a heating radiator are:

1. Method of heating: electric, hydronic or conventional, etc.
2. Available space, height and length for mounting
3. Temperature requirement from the heating radiator

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy a heating radiator from a reputable manufacturer

Heating radiators are available in various standard shapes and sizes. You can check standard products available with reputable heating radiators manufacturers.

I recommend: Antiqueplumbingandradiators.com supplies new and used antique heating radiators. Runtal North America is a provider of residential and commercial heating radiators. Governale Company is one of the pioneer manufacturers of residential heating radiators.

Buy a heating radiator from a retailer

Retailers offer various heating radiator systems such as a small independent unit or a centralized heating system. Compare various types and configurations of heating radiators suitable for your heating requirement.

I recommend: eComfortUSA.com is a distributor of various heating products such as hydronic and electric heating radiators. Everhot Inc. provides various plumbing and central heating radiator systems and their required spare parts.

Buy standard accessories for your heating radiator

For smooth working of your heating radiator system, buy accessories and spare parts from the heating radiator system manufacturers. Select standard accessories compatible with your commercial or residential heating radiator system.

I recommend: Glo-Quartz manufactures various parts for industrial heating equipment, including radiator panels. Taco, Inc. manufactures controls for various heating radiator systems such as electric and hydronic radiators.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Check installation time required for radiator heating systems.

Central heating radiators supply their heat through heated water, which then disperses that heat into the building. When properly maintained, radiator heating can be an economical choice for heating a business or a home. Additionally, depending upon the design you choose, radiators can enhance the décor.
If you are designing a new building for your business, or if you’re updating your business’ central heating radiators, you need to determine your budget before you settle on the types of heating radiators you’ll purchase. Heating radiator pricing and costs depend primarily on these factors:
1. Age and condition, if you’re purchasing an antique heating radiator
2. Overall design of the heating radiator, including its material
3. Size of both the heating radiator and the space to be heated
4. Whether you need a cover for the heating radiator

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find an antique heating radiator supplier for period pieces

If you want heating radiators to match your business' period design or to add more authenticity to the historic building in which your business is located, you can replace newer or drab radiators with antique heating radiators from the 19th and 20th centuries that have been restored and refurbished. A cast iron antique heating radiator can run anywhere from about $50 to hundreds of dollars, depending on its age, condition, rarity and warranty details.

I recommend: At Shafter Bros., download and submit a worksheet so the company can give you the price range of radiators that meet all your heating radiator needs. At A1 New and Used Plumbing and Heating Supplies, you can view a variety of salvaged models, but you need to contact the company for prices.

Locate a designer heating radiator supplier if your budget allows

If you have a modern interior yet are still relying on old radiators to supply your heat, you can upgrade to designer heating radiators. These radiators, often designed as residential heating radiators, can match the most modern of décor. Though more expensive than regular heating radiators, they can serve as decorative accents.

I recommend: Hudson Reed offers designer radiators that range from a little over $400 to around $750. Download the “Décor Radiator List Prices” document to see Myson’s prices, ranging from around $380 for a small horizontal unit with custom colors to around $2,500 for a large column style radiator.

Buy affordable institutional or commercial heating radiators

If you need to heat a large space, heating radiators designed specifically with institutional or commercial applications in mind are your best choice. The most common and affordable of commercial heating radiator options is a baseboard model.

I recommend: At PexSupply.com, you can find baseboard heating radiators appropriate for commercial or institutional applications. Here, a 6-inch by 24-inch radiator costs under $350, while a 24-inch by 48-inch radiator costs a little over $750. Rittling can design custom solutions, which may run into thousands of dollars, but which can solve any design problem you might have.

Choose a radiator enclosure to upgrade functional heating radiators

If your heating radiators still work well but either don't add to the décor or need to be covered as a safety consideration, consider purchasing radiator enclosures to hide the radiators. These enclosures run from very basic metal screening enclosures to designer options, and prices reflect the materials, designs and sizes.

I recommend: Stanley Radiator Enclosures carries a number of styles for heating radiators of all sizes, priced from around $40 for a standard 15-inch by 22-inch radiator enclosure to around $1,000 for a designer enclosure to fit a 90-inch-long radiator. For custom work, Monarch charges about $150 for its smallest cover and over $1,000 for its largest. To cover institutional or commercial heating radiators, contact ARSCO for a price quote.