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When it comes to the heating industry there is a large amount of terminology, anagrams and phrases that can be confusing if you’re not in the trade! We’re here to break these down for you to make shopping for and purchasing your new radiator as simple as possible.

A

Airlock: A blockage in your pipe caused by an air bubble.

Angled valve: Valves that have a 90-degree bend to connect a radiator or towel rail to the pipework at an angle.

B

BAR: A common measurement of pressure.

Bleeding and bleed valves: Bleeding a radiator allows you to release any trapped air to prevent cold spots. Bleed valves expel the air from your radiator to make it more efficient.

Bleed key: A small tool which is used to bleed your radiator.

BTU (British Thermal Unit): The standard measurement of heat output given by a radiator or towel rail. All rooms will have a BTU requirement to heat them most efficiently. Use our BTU Calculator to ensure you choose the right heating for your home.

C

Capacity: The amount of heat a radiator can disperse.

Cast iron: A popular material choice for more traditional radiators, which is known for holding heat for a long time.

Central heating: The most common type of heating for homes. Water is heated in a centralised boiler and then circulated through all radiators in the building.

Combi boiler: Also known as a combination boiler, this is a unit that provides instant hot water to your home as well as to your central heating system. It does not store water but instead heats it as and when required.

Convector: A device, such as a classic radiator, that heats the room by way of convection. Rows of fins heat up which in turn heat the body of air inside the radiator and allow it to escape through the vents, usually found at the top of the radiator.

D

Dual fuel: Generally a towel rail which allows you to switch between running on your central heating or using electricity.

E

Element: A heating element converts electrical energy into heat, meaning you can turn your radiator into a dual-fuel or electric radiator. They are a simple metal rod that goes into the side or bottom radiator inlet.

EN442: The European Standard for radiators BS-EN442. All radiators and convectors installed in heating systems in buildings must conform to these standards by law.

H

Heat output: The amount of thermal energy a heat pump releases to heat a space, measured in BTUs.

Heat pump: A device that works to transfer heat from one location to another, usually from outside to inside a building, to provide heating. These devices are good for energy efficiency and use the outside air to provide hot or cold air when required.

M

Manual valves: Allow you to manually control room temperatures by adjusting the handle yourself.

P

Panels: The long wall of metal that is filled with water to emit heat around your room.

Pressure: Relates to the pressure of water running through the central heating system. It is important to maintain the correct pressure level to keep pipes running efficiently.

S

Stop cock: A valve that enables the temporary shut-off of the entire water supply. Typically used for maintenance purposes.

Straight valves: Valves that are used on radiators or towel rails to connect pipework coming up from the floor.

T

Tappings: The thread inside a radiator inlet which the radiator valves will be screwed into.

Thermostat: A device used to control the heating temperature in the home.

Thermostatic valves: Radiator valves that operate independently, sensing the air temperature in the room and continuously adjusting the heat based on this, creating a consistent temperature.

Type 11: A single panelled radiator with one set of convector fins.

Type 21: A two-panelled (or double panelled) radiator with one set of convector fins in the middle.

Type 22: A two-panelled radiator with two sets of convector fins in the middle.

W

Watt: A measurement of how much heat is given out usually by an electric radiator or electric towel rail. An alternative to the BTU measuring unit.