Spotlight on: Radiator BTUs

When you’re working with radiators and towel rails, it’s important to be aware of all the terminology relating to these products – and being able to explain this clearly and concisely to your customers.

One of the key things associated with heating is the BTU rate, so we’ve turned the spotlight onto this and put together everything you need to know. Keep reading to find out more about BTUs …

BTU rates are provided with all radiators and heated towel rails.

What is a BTU?

BTU stands for ‘British Thermal Unit’ and is essentially the unit which measures radiator efficiency, gauging how much energy is required to heat one pound of water (0.45kg) by one degree Fahrenheit (0.56° Celsius). It shows how much heat a radiator will emit so you can judge whether it’s sufficient in size to heat a particular room. While design and finish are also important when your customers are considering what radiator to purchase, the BTU rate should therefore always be checked first and will determine which is best.

If customers choose radiators with an insufficient BTU rate, then their rooms won’t be heated as efficiently and they can end up with spaces that are either too hot or cold. Every radiator and heated towel rail (aside from electric rails) comes supplied with a BTU rating, so it’s easy to check the heat output of products to help with deciding what to purchase.

It’s all about using common sense, as a small cloakroom space obviously won’t need a large double-panel radiator, where a larger living room would. Basically, the higher the BTU rate, the more heat output you can expect from a radiator.

NB The BTU rate usually refers to the BTUs per hour (BTU/hr) that are used to heat the room.

Key factors which influence BTU rate:

• Room size
• Window size
• Wall material

To measure the BTU rate needed for radiators in a particular room, you can use our handy free BTU Calculator tool on the Bathshack website. Just select the room you want to choose a radiator for, enter the dimensions and then select any additional features, such as having a north-facing wall, glazed windows or patio doors.

Knowing the amount of windows in the room will influence the BTU rate as draughts need to be factored in. It’s also worth considering the wall and floor/ceiling material around a particular room as a solid floor, for example, will have different heat retention than a floor placed above a cellar. How well insulated walls are will also contribute to the BTU your customers will need.

Use our free BTU Calculator on the Bathshack website to work out the BTU rate for rooms.

BTUs compared

As an example of BTU rates, the Peretti Aluminium Radiator in Matt Black has a BTU of 4313, so has a high heat output and is suitable for heating sizeable spaces, such as bathrooms and living rooms.

This tall vertical-style radiator is therefore a good choice if your customers want a stylish, contemporary radiator which will save on space with the vertical design and add visual interest to their interior, as well as providing sufficient heating.

The Peretti Aluminium Radiator in Matt Black has a high heat output.

The Addington Horizontal Gloss White Steel radiator has a high BTU.

The Addington Horizontal Gloss White Steel radiator, meanwhile, has a BTU of 6766 at 60°C, so has a very high heat output and is therefore also ideal for larger spaces like living rooms.

With a double-panel design, it has two rows of convector fins which ensure efficient heating of rooms.

In contrast to these, the Emerson Heated Towel Rail in Chrome has a BTU of 1074, as its primary function is to heat towels rather than rooms. The BTU subsequently reflects this and, while it will also warm the immediate surrounding space, if the room is big, then installing a radiator in addition to or instead of the towel rail is recommended.

The Emerson Heated Towel Rail in Chrome has a lower BTU and is intended primarily for warming towels, not rooms.

No matter what type of heating your customers want, the BTU rate will always be the deciding factor on which design and size they ultimately choose. Being able to outline the key points of BTUs to your customers will help them to make more informed decisions about what to purchase – and out team is always on hand to help, should they need it.

At Bathshack we supply a wide range of high-quality radiators and heated towel rails in a variety of styles and finishes – with everything from traditional and contemporary style to those which fuse the two. We also have polished chrome and matt black options, as well as brushed brass, white and other colours to choose from, so there’s something to suit everyone.

Customers can further select single and double-panel styles as well as vertical, column, horizontal and many others. With our trade clients benefitting from great-value prices through their trade accounts, if you need radiators or heated towel rails for your customers, just get in touch.

Contact Tradeshack for all your trade bathroom needs. Alternatively, email our team at info@bathshack.com or give us a call on (028) 9077 0188.