Bathroom Design Ideas

Many people are now opting for floor mounted bathroom radiators as a means of adding a stylish feature into their room. The Aestus Partito floor mounted radiator is a particularly popular choice. There is a choice of seven sizes on offer which means that there should be a size to fit any bathroom, no matter what space is actually available. One of the main plus points about this radiator is that it combines practicality with design.

You can choose from one of the seven common sizes available, but obviously your choice of radiator will depend on the size of your bathroom and the space you have available. However, if you are looking for a traditional column radiator to make the most of your traditionally designed bathroom then this is truly one of the best options out there.

Of course, you want your bathroom radiator to look good but you also want to be assured of its quality. These Aestus Partito radiators are finished in a strong and durable white powder coated finish and are made from high quality mild steel tube that will last a lifetime.

Electric underfloor heating can be fairly easily installed and there is a choice of different systems to suit everyone. They can be used safely in kitchens and bathrooms as the cable is protected with a waterproof layer. If a room is a standard shape, it may be best to use mats which have electric cables already spaced out correctly. For unusually shaped rooms, you can obtain free-flowing cable to lay out yourself. Twin conductor cables only have to be connected at one end, rather than starting and finishing in the same place. To ensure the efficiency of your underfloor heating kit you will need some kind of insulation underneath it.

Electric cables should never be touching or overlapped, and must always be at least 50mm away from walls or fixed structures. Where an electric underfloor heating kit comes fixed to mats, you can cut the backing away but never cut the cable itself. The temperature of each circuit or zone is controlled by an underfloor heating thermostat. These range from simple manual versions to fully programmable digital ones. They use air sensors, floor sensors or a combination of the two. If you have a floor probe it should be positioned in a space between cable loops.

Once your DIY underfloor heating cables are fixed into position, they are usually covered in a layer of cement or latex screed before the floor covering is laid. If you have under tile heating, flexible tile adhesive should be spread over the cables.

Thermostatic radiator valves are used as part of a central heating system to control the amount of water or other fluid that goes through into the radiator. These are also called TRVs for short.

These radiator valves have an element that expands and contracts to increase, or decrease the flow of water by opening and closing the valve. Basically, these thermostatic radiator valves control the temperature in the room by regulating how much hot water goes through the radiator. There is a number on the radiator valve which corresponds to the air temperature in the room and can be set to keep the room temperature constant.

This is an excellent way of preventing a room getting too hot or too cold and if set at the optimum number can save quite a lot of money on the cost of running a central heating system. Thermostatic radiator valves will ensure that you have a warm and cosy bathroom when you get up for work on a cold, frosty morning.

There are a number of thermostatic radiator valves on the market and it should be relatively easy to find one that fits onto your bathroom radiator. Some of these can be fitted to existing radiator valves without the need for a plumber. Costs vary but most radiator valves of this type are quite inexpensive. Generally speaking it should be possible to recoup the cost of the valves in a year by savings made on central heating fuel.

Acova have been sector leaders in radiators throughout the world for years. They are the creators of stunning, design-led bathroom radiators which are available in an abundance of sizes, styles and colours to meet each individual’s requirements. In fact, if their standard range does not include exactly what you are looking for, Acova also offer a bespoke service where your bathroom radiator can be made to measure according to your exact specifications.

Acova bathroom radiators come in a variety of styles; from towel drying rails to mirrored heaters and traditional bathroom radiators. This range offers the customer the opportunity to combine the necessity of warmth with a stylish bathroom feature. Acova radiators are truly the epitome of stylish luxury.

If you are considering the Acova towel drying rails you will be pleased to hear that they are easily fitted through your existing central heating system, be it gas, electric or a combination of the two which means that this item is an option for everybody who falls in love with its sleek design. You have complete control of the towel rail, even down to the choice of matching accessories and valves. These designer bathroom accessories are practical and chic.

Another example of the Acova radiator range is the Balmoral, which is a floor mounted radiator. This radiator only comes in one size but can be finished in antique gold or chrome depending on your individual taste. Radiators are often considered a necessary but unattractive feature within any room, but you will want to show these Acova radiators to their full effect as a focal point of your bathroom.

Underfloor heating is one of the oldest methods of heating buildings (other than burning material inside) having been invented by the Romans. The modern day forms of underfloor heating are either hot water or electricity based. For the former, a series of underfloor water pipes are laid; for the latter, electric cables or mats are used. Both water and electricity underfloor heating systems can be installed professionally or on a DIY basis.  There are kits available for the DIY option.

The main advantage of an underfloor heating system is the greater efficiency when compared with standard radiator networks or room installed wood, coal and gas fires, or oil fired boilers. Placing all the equipment underneath the flooring also saves space. Underfloor heating heats a room gradually and on a widely distributed basis, in contrast with the freely circulating heat emitted by radiators and fossil fuel burners. In the long term, underfloor heating systems have often been shown to achieve the same or better level of heating at a lower cost than radiators, etc.

Further, in terms of thermal comfort, water and electric underfloor heating naturally achieves a highly desirable effect in terms of heating: warming the lower body but leaving the upper body, and especially the head, relatively cooler. This directly contrasts with radiator and burner types of heating.

As the entire floor effectively operates as a radiator by using underfloor heating, less power compared with forced air heating systems such as radiators is needed to achieve comfortable levels of heating.

Water underfloor heating systems work in a similar way to conventional systems by circulating warm water in pipes, but in a more efficient way, heating the large surface area of a floor, rather than the small surface area of a radiator.

A gas boiler usually creates the heat, although you can also get water underfloor heating kits to use with solar panels or geothermal pumps. The temperature of the water is lower than that required by traditional central heating, typically 50 degrees rather than 60 or more, and usually a separate pump is required to enable controlled circulation.  Each area of the house is divided into zones which are individually managed, by thermostats. Hot water circulates through continuous pipes made from high quality polyethylene, via a series of valves. A manifold automatically controls valves which combine hot and cold water to achieve the correct temperature for a particular zone, as determined by its thermostat. The system works automatically and allows complete flexibility.

The maze of pipes can be either embedded in a layer of cement, or simply attached with a dry fixing to the underneath of your floor covering. They are spaced out evenly so that the floor is uniformly heated. The method of installation will be dictated by the type of flooring, and a layer of insulation is usually needed beneath the pipes. There are no joints in the pipes beneath the floor, and floor coverings are laid directly on top.

Heating wire systems are useful for rooms where heating mats cannot fit.  If you have any irregular shaped rooms in your home, then you may want to opt for a heating wire system.  Like heating mats, wire systems are also easy to install.  They are suitable for small or large rooms.

Wire systems come as part of a kit, which usually includes tape, primer and an installation guide.  An underfloor heating thermostat is also included and varies in size depending on the size of the room.  For the wiring, you will need the help of an electrician, but the rest of the installation is easy.

Wire systems are suited to floors such as stone, ceramic, tile, hardwood, laminate and carpet.  Different types of systems may be suited to a certain type of floor, so you may need to check which type is the most suitable for the room where you wish to install it.

As with a heated mat, wire systems offer lots of space, allowing you to keep your rooms tidy and clean.  The only thing that will be visible is the thermostat, but these are offered in a variety of styles.  Further, they do not take up as much space as a radiator.

If you are looking for an environmentally friendly option, then a wire system is a good choice.  The wire system provides comfort while operating at a low temperature, using less energy and allowing you to save money.  Wire systems are also maintenance free, so you will not have to worry about replacing your underfloor heating system.

One of the reasons that underfloor heating is increasing in popularity is the fact that the maintenance is very low, especially when compared to a more traditional radiator based system. Normal electric central heating systems need annual maintenance, while gas fired systems not only need annual maintenance, but also have potentially deadly consequences if they go wrong or are not maintained properly.

Even though the water underfloor heating system has water running through it, unlike radiators it does not need to be bled in anyway and is therefore much easier to live with. There really is little that can go wrong with these systems and they are therefore a dream to run. The electrical underfloor systems will not rust or corrode, which means there are really no maintenance issues here either. The fact is, they can run at much lower temperatures than conventional radiator systems, which is a bonus, but it also means that they system is less prone to needing maintenance, as it is just left ticking over at lower temperatures.

The main area that may require maintenance will be the electrical system of the house, which you would still need to carry out with normal radiators and the boiler of a water underfloor heating system. However, these power systems do more in the house than just support the underfloor heating, so it is little wonder that you will need them maintained annually. The fact cannot be ignored; underfloor heating systems need only minimal maintenance.

Underfloor heating is an increasingly popular way of heating a home and is being used more and more in new build and renovation properties, thanks to its many benefits. Underfloor heating systems are invisible, which means there is no need to give up any valuable wall space for radiators and no need to spend hours trying to find a heater that you like the look or that is most efficient.

Unlike radiators the system is maintenance free, so never again will you have the hassle of walking around the house to ‘bleed’ each radiator before the winter hits, which is a real bonus. The system runs off hot water and is perfect for use in new builds where a condensing boiler is to be used. What’s more, it is a cheap way to gain effective heating to the home. Remember heat rises, so by having floor heating you are going to create lovely warm floors that slowly heat the room from the ground up.

Conventional wall heaters are normally already a good two or three feet off the ground, which means that the lowest part of the room is never heated at all. This is definitely a bonus for those with young children who spend a lot of time crawling on floors playing, it means that in the winter they are not going to get cold, in fact you may well want to get down and join them as the floor will be lovely and warm, so kick off your slippers and enjoy the heat.

When having an underfloor heating system installed in your home, don’t forget to consider insulation when ordering the materials you will need. Insulation should not be thought of as unimportant, as it really does serve a key function and is used slightly differently, depending whether you have wet underfloor heating or electric underfloor heating.

When using a wet underfloor heating system you need to have a layer of insulation boards on top of the concrete screed, which can support tile and wooden flooring options. It will help dissipate the heat across the floor and ensure that the system is working effectively. You need to prevent the heat being lost by escaping in the wrong direction.

Electric underfloor heating works best if you have the insulation boards under the heat element, regardless of whether you are using a heating mat or a wiring system. The insulation boards can be stuck to the floor using a tile adhesive and the heating wires can then be taped to it. Alternatively, the heating mat can be laid on top, with the tile or laminate flooring being fixed over the top. There are lots of insulation companies out there, Marmox being one of the leading players, but if you choose to have your underfloor heating system installed by a specialist company, you may have to be guided by the products they use. This shouldn’t make any difference as long as the floor is insulated properly.