A radiator that produces a lot of heat has a high heat output. High heat output radiators are designed to produce more heat, making them ideal for larger rooms and open-plan spaces. They are also a good option for areas with poor insulation that require a strong heating source. You may need a high heat output radiator if you find your room is taking an exceptionally long time to heat or it has cold spots.
There are many advantages to high output radiators, but you may be undecided if they are the right option for you. Continue reading to find out the different types of high output radiators available and things to consider before getting one.
What is a BTU rating?
All radiators have a BTU (British Thermal Unit) rating, which indicates the radiator’s performance and output. High BTU radiators produce more heat, while a radiator with a lower BTU rating produces less heat.
The BTU rating of a radiator can help you work out if it’s the right choice for a room. You may not need a radiator with a high BTU, or it could be an efficient way to save energy and money.
To work out the BTU requirement for a room, you’ll need to know the measurements of the room, how many windows and doors the room has, and how well insulated the room is. You can also use our handy radiator size calculator to work out how large the radiator should be.
Why have a radiator with a high BTU rating?
Radiators with a high output and a high BTU rating are great for heating large rooms or open space areas. Larger rooms or spaces with higher ceilings require more heat to maintain a comfortable temperature. A radiator with a high BTU rating provides the necessary heat output to effectively warm these spaces. They will ensure consistent and even heating throughout the room. Radiators with low BTU ratings struggle to heat larger rooms and aren’t energy efficient as a result.
In homes with poor insulation, heat can escape more easily, making it harder to keep them warm. A high BTU radiator compensates for the poor insulation by producing more heat. Radiators with a high output can also heat rooms more quickly than radiators with a low output, meaning you don’t need to keep them on for as long. If you have a radiator with a too low BTU, it will have to work extra hard to heat the room and will have to stay on for a long time.
Best radiator for high BTU
The best radiator we would recommend for your room depends on several factors. The room’s dimensions can determine the most suitable radiator, as can the insulation of the room and what’s above and below it.
Our heat loss calculator will help you work out the potential heat loss in each room of your house. Based on the score, we can suggest the best radiator for each room. This will include different styles and BTU ratings.
High BTU column radiators
If you’ve got limited space in a room, column radiators make a good choice. They are tall and vertical, which means they can fit in tight spaces. Column radiators feature hollow tubes and are the most traditional style of radiator.
The columns on this type of radiator are spaced out, which also means they still have a large surface area to distribute heat. You can get both horizontal and vertical column radiators, depending on the space in your room.
Are High BTU Radiators right for my home?
While there are many benefits to radiators with high BTU ratings, they’re not right for every room or home. Getting a high output radiator for every room in your house could cost you more than is needed and won’t be an environmentally friendly option.
The best way to work out whether you need a radiator with a high BTU is to consider the type of room you have. Is it a large room or quite small? Radiators with high BTU ratings are a good option for large rooms because they can cope with the increased heating demand. A radiator with a low BTU rating would struggle to heat a large room and would cost more money to run. On the other hand, if you have a small room and install a radiator with a much higher BTU rating than it needs, the radiator will be using more energy than is needed and will overheat the small space.
You should also consider the insulation of your room. Poorly insulated rooms require more heating to get them to reach a comfortable temperature. A room may have severe heat loss because of reasons such as single glazed windows or gaps and cracks around the windows and doors. If you have a poorly insulated room, you may need a radiator with a high heat output in order to get the room to a comfortable temperature quickly. A radiator with a low BTU rating will take longer to heat up a badly insulated room.
Contact us for help
Here at Stelrad, we have a wide range of different radiator styles and shapes. Our radiators are available in various BTU ratings, so you’ll be sure to find the right rating needed for your room.
You can contact us if you’d like to speak to a member of our expert team. We’d be more than happy to advise you on our radiator range and help you find the perfect radiator for your room. Our sales hotline is open Monday to Friday, 8:00 to 17:00.
