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It can often be difficult to purchase an efficient and effective radiator for some rooms in a home.  One room that is harder to heat than you might expect is the kitchen.  There are many factors to take into consideration when choosing a kitchen radiator.  Some of these factors include:  the size of the kitchen, how often the oven are used, and the amount of space to physically fit a radiator, as most kitchens have floor to ceiling cabinets, countertops, and large kitchen appliances (i.e. refrigerator, stove/oven, dishwasher, etc). Columnrads’ easy-to-use site provides a whole section dedicated to kitchen radiators.

Measuring the kitchen and required BTU

When considering the size of the kitchen in need of a new radiator, measuring the room is the best first step in properly heating the room.  Our site has a BTU calculator to help guide potential customers in the right direction, in terms of what size unit to purchase.  We also offers a range of powerful, yet cost-efficient kitchen radiators under the kitchen section to browse through if you already know how many BTU you are looking for.  These units range from 2180 - 5564 BTU. Buying a radiator for a kitchen is also tough due to the main reason for the room - cooking.  For homeowners that cook a lot, it might be beneficial to purchase a radiator that is not as powerful, due to the heat that will be given off by the oven.  Too powerful a unit will cause the room to feel like a sauna.  On the contrary, if the homeowner does not use the oven too often, the room would likely require a larger unit to maintain a comfortable temperature in the kitchen. Some people favour a wood-burning stove in the kitchen, but these take up a lot of space, can be difficult to install and can also take a while to heat up the room. Therefore these are not always the best option as a solitary source of heat in a room and tend to be more suited to the living room, where people tend to spend more time.

Other factors to consider when choosing a kitchen radiator

Another hurdle to overcome when choosing a new radiator for a kitchen is the amount of physical space to fit the unit.  Kitchens are often full of kitchen units, cabinets, large appliances, and countertops, leaving little to no space to fit a radiator properly on a wall. However, we have a range of sizes and even coloured radiators, easy to fit in even the tightest of spaces for extra warmth.  For example if you are interested in having a new radiator match a new set of black appliances, one should purchase the Express Jet Black Two Column Vertical Radiator for just £170. The good thing about modern radiators is that they can become a focal point in the room because there are plenty of designer radiators available that can stand out for all the right reasons. In some kitchen set ups where there is an AGA or range cooker, even more space is devoted to the cooking surface, further reducing the space for a classic radiator.  AGA owners are known to love their cookers so are unlikely to want to switch it out so that they can have a radiator installed instead. For these individuals, a great option, especially if you are remodelling your kitchen, or having it refitted is to install a central heating system that uses underfloor heating. This is quite a common way to improve the overall kitchen heating and can be installed under the ceramic tiles or sub floor if space permits. This style of heating can be a wet system that uses hot water, or instead can be installed as an electric underfloor heating system. Both options will save on wall space and is a great way to counter a cold kitchen where the heating options are limited. This is also a good way to maximise the use of space and to reduce any dead space, whilst still managing to heat your home effectively. Typically underfloor heating is always left switched on in the colder months to provide a constant source of heat. Another benefit is that the usually cold kitchen floor will be warm to walk on bare foot! With underfloor you can say good by to a cold floor, although this can end up being quite an expensive item to install initially.

Saving energy in the kitchen and home

Of course heating the kitchen is only one aspect of an efficient heating system. Heat loss can be reduced and warm air can be maintained in the room by ensuring that the room is properly insulated. If you find that the kitchen has chilly external walls, then some other form of insulation may be required. Even good quality draught excluders can help reduce heat loss from the room a lot. In summary when buying a new kitchen radiator, the homeowner should consider physical space to fit a unit, how often the oven is used, and the size of the room.  Check out our affordable and quality radiator and heating product options at https://www.columnrads.co.uk/kitchen-radiators