Technical aspects of radiator installation

Feature Radiators explains a few of the technical aspects that need to be considered when installing a new radiator - be it traditional cast iron, a contemporary model or a towel rail.

The company confirmed that its customers often ask the following questions: do I want a radiator with side or underside connections?; do I need angled or straight radiator valves?; what is the relevance of whether a radiator has side or underside valve connections? The location of the valve-connection points on a radiator should be considered as they determine: whether straight or angled radiator valves are required; and the total width of wall space needed to accommodate a radiator once it has been installed.

Radiators with side valve connections (bottom opposite ends) are the standard connections used on traditional steel-panel and cast-iron radiators.

Side connections mean the valves will be situated on either side of the radiator.

On a radiator with side connections, you need angled valves where conventional pipe work is used.

Add approximately 150mm to the width of the radiator to give the total width needed to accommodate the radiator and valves once installed.

Many radiators, including all cast-iron and standard steel-panel radiators, have side valve connections.

Radiators with underside valve connections are a good choice where only a narrow space is available.

This type of connection allows the valves to sit neatly underneath a radiator, as opposed to protruding either side, meaning less space is required.

When a radiator has underside connections, either straight or angled radiator valves are required, depending on where the pipes are coming from.

If the pipe work comes up from the floor, straight valves are required; but if the pipe work comes out of the wall, angled valves are required.

Most heated towel rails and many contemporary radiators, especially vertical models, now have underside connections.

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