It dazzles, glimmers and shines in the sun, and moonlight dances across its shimmering surface by night. Chrome is the icing on the cake for any shape it takes; furnishings to complete a luxury bathroom, bright shining alloys to complement a sports car, the plating on a roaring low-rider motorcycle, and chrome radiators to brighten and enhance your home.

However, not all chrome is made equal and so it certainly pays to pay close attention when thinking about what type of radiator you are going to buy, and which brand that radiator comes from. Having to replace a dodgy Chrome radiator 2-3 years after purchasing it is going to cost you a lot more than paying a little bit more now for a quality radiator with a genuine guarantee.

CHROME RADIATORS

Chrome’s magical sheen is only topped by its versatility in application, making it perfect for completely unique shapes, especially dramatic designer radiators. Truly chrome is the choice for dreamers, but sadly it’s also the choice for schemers…

The consequence of cheap Chrome might not be seen for a year or two after you’ve purchased it, but they can begin to deteriorate within 12 months depending on the environment they are in. In bathrooms where the air is humid every day, poor quality Chrome simply cannot stand up to the moisture, it starts to peel at the corners and welding points, rust sets in and it only gets worse from there.

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR

The three most telling signs that a Chrome radiator might not be what is promised are the price, guarantee (the supposed quality) and heat output. Let’s delve into this further;

VERY LOW PRICE

Chrome radiators cost a good deal of money to manufacture. If the radiator you are looking at is exceedingly cheap, especially for larger sizes, then this is a tell-tale sign that it is too good to be true. The aphorism goes; ‘you get what you pay for’, and this certainly applies to Chrome designer radiators

BIG GUARANTEE

The absolute best quality manufacturers in our industry, for example the likes of Zehnder who have been manufacturing radiators since the early 1900s, even they only offer a 5 year guarantee of Chrome.

If you are seeing a 15 year manufacturer’s warranty being offered for a big Chrome radiator at £195, then chances are that within a few years the ‘manufacturer’ won’t exist anymore – no manufacturer, no warranty, no obligation for the company you bought it from to help

BIG HEAT OUTPUT

If we compare a steel radiator finished in Chrome versus one which has been painted, the Chrome version would provide between 20-30% LESS heat output. This is a big one, the radiator industry is plagued by misinformation regarding heat output from less reputable manufacturers – Naturally if they say that their radiators produce more heat and they cost less, then that’s a guaranteed buy, right? Wrong.

This is a bit trickier to spot as a customer, but if you are looking at a Chrome designer radiator and it’s heat output is drastically higher than a similar alternative (by more than say 10-15%), then take your medicine and consider the thought that the information for that radiator might just be smoke and mirrors

All of our designer radiators, including our brilliant range of Chrome models, are manufactured by well-established and reputable designer radiator brands. View our whole range.

When we buy a new vacuum cleaner, a new TV, stereo, games console and so on, we’re always conscious of the guarantee given with it (or at least you get pestered to buy the super annoying “3 years of cover for only £120 per year!”). Any way you slice it, guarantees are important to know about.

It’s only natural to want a little reassurance when making an investment of both your money and your valuable time into something, and down the line could need replacing as well should something go wrong. The guarantee means that your designer radiators are covered in the event of a leak, or if they don’t perform as well expected due to a manufacturing fault.

There’s nothing more reassuring that should anything be amiss with your designer radiators, you will receive a free of charge replacement model. What your radiator is made of will likely play a big part in your guarantee’s length, so read on to find out more.

STEEL

Steel designer radiators are the standard for the designer radiator industry. They are easy to work with, and relatively cost effective to manufacture. Most painted radiators as well as chrome model are made from steel, and the industry standard for them is a guarantee of 5 years.

Be wary of unscrupulous retailers who are offering 10 years (or sometimes even more!) on steel designer radiators, the manufacturer won’t exist in a few years’ time, never mind 10 or 20 years. The absolute highest quality radiator producers throughout the world (Bisque, Eskimo, Zehnder, Arbonia, MHS etc), will only provide a 5 year guarantee on their good quality steel with carefully manufactured designs.

ALUMINIUM

Similar to steel, aluminium is a great material for designer radiators to be made from, as it’s lightweight and convects thermal energy very efficiently. The most common warranty for aluminium products is 5 years, but it isn’t too uncommon to see 10 years being offered by the likes of Aeon, a luxury, high-end of the range brand.

Radiators like our own DRS Brescia are perfect examples of the efficiency of aluminium. Using only 1/10th of its design to hold water means that it is tremendously efficient, and looks simple but sleek at the same time.

STAINLESS STEEL

The cream of the crop for radiator quality and guarantee length is stainless steel. By making an alloy of both steel and chrome, we create an opulent looking metal which in the right hands can be worked into amazing shapes, and will last for decades.

Stainless Steel is where the biggest swings in warranties come about. Most manufacturers offer 20-25 years for their stainless steel beauties (Aeon and Reina for example), but some brands like SBH offer exceptionally sturdy, full life-time guarantee on their designer radiators.

CAST IRON

It may seem odd because of how susceptible iron is to deterioration, but our cast iron designer radiators from the amazing specialist Paladin are so carefully protected, sealed and finished that they can confidently offer a full 10 year guarantee on their products.

If you are something of a traditionalist, beautiful cast iron models like the Neo Georgian are perfect for your tastes, but works quite rebelliously in the contemporary home as well.

MAINTAINING YOUR GUARANTEE

While sometimes it’s easy to sit back and relax once you have made your purchase, safe in knowing that your guarantee protects you, there is a degree of responsibility on your end to reasonably look after your heating system and your radiators.

The simplest one, and one which you should probably be doing already, is having your heating system serviced and cleansed with a corrosion inhibitor once per year. Chemical cleansing means that the water has been neutralised, and will gently pass through your system, greatly prolonging the lifespan of your designer radiators.

With the proper care, even steel designer radiators can last upwards of 20 years, so make your purchases wisely and you’ll only need to replace them once they’ve gone out of style, not when they’ve gone south.

Take Action Now!

Explore the top-selling radiators in the UK and choose one that fits your budget and requirements. Don’t settle for a subpar heating system and upgrade your home heating with the best selling radiators today. Your comfort, energy bills, and the environment will thank you.

It is crucial to seek guidance from the manufacturer and a certified professional for the installation process to ensure safety and compliance with all technical specifications and requirements. Proper installation is key to the optimal performance and longevity of the product.

Additionally, professional installation may be necessary to maintain the product’s warranty. Therefore, it is highly recommended to consult with experts and not attempt to install the product yourself unless you are qualified to do so.