Feature Radiators, a radiator expert, has provided below some helpful
advice on which valves they would recommend for different radiator set-ups,
enabling you to make an informed decision when buying radiator valves.
- Are your pipes already installed?
You may be starting from scratch without any pipes installed; in this
instance, you can probably choose where you want your pipes to come from (wall
or floor). This means you have freedom
when it comes to choosing your radiator and valves.
However, as is often the case, you may already have your pipework
installed. You may be able to have this
moved but, if not, this may narrow down your radiator and valve choices.
- “Wall-mounted” or “floor-mounted”?
A question we are often asked is whether a particular type of radiator
can be “wall-mounted” or “floor-mounted”.
- “Wall-mounted” means that the radiator is hung from the wall on brackets (without feet). However there is a common misconception among homeowners that “wall-mounted” means that the pipes come out of the wall.
- “Floor-mounted” means that the radiators are sat on the floor, usually on “feet”. Again however customers often think that this means that the pipes come from the floor.
Whether the radiator is hung from a wall or sat on feet, the pipes can
come from wherever you need them to; out of the wall, out of the floor, along
the skirting board, etc. This position of your pipes does not affect
your choice of radiator, but it does affect your choice of valve.
- Position of valve connections?
In order to choose the best valves, you firstly need to know if your
radiator has “side connections” or “underside connections”.
Side connections
The connections for the valves (holes) are situated at the bottom of
the radiator on either side. This is the
norm for standard corrugated panel radiators and traditional style cast iron
radiators. This type of connection is
also known as BBOE or Bottom Bottom Opposite Ends.
Underside connections
The connections for the valves (holes) are situated underneath the
radiator, at either end or centrally at 50mm apart. This is the norm for ladder style towel
radiators and is common on many modern vertical radiators, which are designed
to take up a minimum amount of wall space.
- Position of pipes?
Choose your particular set-up from the list below:
- Pipes coming up from the floor on a radiator with side connections = you need “angled” valves
The head of the
valves would sit upright, either side of the radiator.
- Pipes coming up from the floor on a radiator with underside connections = you need “straight” valves
The valves would
sit underneath the radiator and the head of the valves can be twisted so they
are in-line with the bottom of the radiator and do not protrude into the room.
- Pipes coming out of the wall on a radiator with side connections = you can choose from “angled” or “corner” valves
Traditionally installers would use angled valves, but this means that the
valves would lie flat either side of the radiator and the valve heads would
stick forward into the room usually beyond the front of the radiator. A neater alternative is to use corner valves, which means that the
valves would be either side of the radiator but the heads of the valves would
sit upright, rather than protruding into the room.
- Pipes coming out of the wall on a radiator with underside connections = you can choose from “angled” or “corner” valves
Traditionally installers would use angled valves, but this means that the
valves would sit underneath the radiator and the valve heads would stick
forward into the room usually beyond the front of the radiator. A neater alternative is to use corner valves, which means that the
valves would sit underneath the radiator and the heads of the valves would sit
horizontally, rather than protruding into the room.
Manual or thermostatic?
Remember, you
also need to decide whether you need thermostatic or manual valves. Please see our article regarding the
differences via the link below.
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