Upgrade your home’s style with these radiator covers

Radiator covers are back in style. At vidaXL, we have a wide range of stylish and affordable radiator covers that will make your home look modern, and you get to hide a tired radiator while still getting the heat from your radiator. Radiator covers come in a variety of materials and designs, and they are primarily used for aesthetic design purposes or to protect children and animals from the heat from the radiator. Browse or full selection online at vidaXL.

What are radiator covers? 

If you have never heard of a radiator cover until now, fear not. We will tell you everything there is to know about radiator covers on this page. As mentioned, radiator covers are essentially covers that cover a heating unit, such as a radiator. The covers can come in various materials, which we will get back to in a little bit. There are three main reasons why people decide to invest in a radiator cover:

• For aesthetic purposes, such as covering an old or ugly radiator

• To protect children and animals from the heat of the radiator

• To get extra storage space - some radiator covers have storage space

Radiator covers are great for people who don’t have the time or the money to buy a new radiator that is more modern looking.

How do radiators even work?

Before we dive deeper into radiator covers, let’s take a look at how radiators even work in the first place before we start covering them up. Generally speaking, radiators generate heat in three ways:

• Through radiation

• Through convection

• Through conduction

Let’s unpack that a little. Radiation turns into heat when it comes into contact with a surface, which causes convection to occur, where the air is heated and begins to expand. Conduction then happens, resulting in the heat travelling through solid objects, such as your radiator. It heats up the radiator, which will warm the area around it. Naturally, the more powerful the radiator, the more heat will be generated and spread around your home.

Do radiator covers block heat?

You might be wondering if radiator covers will block the heat from your radiator. It is only natural to ask this question, so let us take a look at this topic here. Naturally, when you put a solid object, such as a radiator cover, around your heat source, it will have an effect on the heat output, as the object will act as a barrier, making it harder for the surrounding area to heat up. However, a radiator cover is designed for radiators, and as long as your cover has gaps and slots for the heat to escape and warm the air up through convection, a radiator cover will not block too much heat.

However, if your radiator cover is completely solid, you will be losing heat and energy, as it will be much harder for the heat to escape. This will make turning on your radiator more expensive, as your boiler now needs to work harder to reach the temperature set by your thermostat. At the end of the day, an uncovered radiator will always have a higher heat output, and it will be more efficient as it doesn’t have a barrier in the form of a radiator cover. But that doesn’t mean you should invest in a radiator cover, as the pros could easily outweigh the cons.

Are radiator covers safer for children?

As mentioned, one of the main reasons why people decide to get a radiator cover is to protect children and pets from burns and the heat from the radiator. Radiators can cause rather severe burns, especially on smaller children who usually have more sensitive skin. The solution? A radiator cover. A radiator cover will prevent and protect your children and pets from getting burns, and it will give you peace of mind. 

Moreover, a radiator cover will also protect parts, such as valves and piping on radiators, which can be susceptible to damage. Lastly, a radiator cover will also serve as a protector for your feet. Have you ever come home cold to the bone and put your feet on the radiator? This is actually not such a great idea, as the movement from intense cold to intense warm can cause chilblains. A radiator cover will help prevent this as it will serve as a barrier between the warm radiator and your cold feet.

Which materials are the best for a radiator cover?

Wood is by far the most common material regarding radiator covers, despite the fact that wood is not a very good conductor of heat. So, why is wood typically used? Because it is the best material to childproof your radiators. Wood doesn’t get nearly as warm as other materials, such as metal, and it actually absorbs some of the heat. It is, however, a very good idea to have lines and gaps in your radiator cover, as this will help improve the heat output, so your home continues to be nice and warm.

You can also get radiator covers made of galvanised metal. Galvanised metal is a wonderful material for heat conduction, and you can be sure no heat will get lost. However, metal gets hot, so if your main reason for getting a radiator cover is to protect your kids and pets, this is not the most suitable material. However, it can be a great material if you are looking for something that is stylish and modern.

Installing your new radiator cover

If you already have your radiator cover, the next step is installing it, so let’s take a look at how you do this. Luckily, it’s not hard at all, and you can easily do this yourself. First of all, it is a good idea to have enough space between your radiator and your cover, as this will ensure that the heat is more evenly distributed. It is generally recommended that the radiator and the cover should be at least five centimetres in width, three centimetres in height and three centimetres in depth.

It is also generally advised that you keep your furniture at least 20 centimetres away from your radiators. This is good for your furniture, and it will also make heat distribution more efficient. If you have any doubts about how to install your new radiator cover, you can always get professional help, but the most important thing is that you keep the right distance, as this will allow the heat to flow more freely around the room.

Can you make your own radiator cover?

You can make your own radiator cover if you are in the mood for a fun DIY project. Naturally, buying a radiator cover is the easy solution, and you know that you will get something that will look lovely in your home. At vidaXL, we have radiator covers in a variety of sizes, colours, materials and finishes, so we are sure we also have a radiator cover that will look stunning in your home.

However, if you have the time and the resources, you can absolutely try making your own cover. If you are only feeling a little creative, you can purchase an unpainted radiator cover, grab your paint brushes and make a completely unique radiator cover. The options are truly endless. 

Now, if you do wish to make your own radiator cover from scratch, you can do so as well. Here, you will need materials like wood, MDF or aluminium or softer materials, such as cane, string or fabric. This will entirely depend on your style and the purpose of the radiator cover. You will also need the right tools for making your own cover. By making your own radiator cover, you have the option of turning it into a piece of art, and you can customise it to your home décpor. For instance, you can paint the cover in a bold, bright colour or you can choose a matte finish for an elegant, minimalistic look.

Are there any cons of radiator covers?

We have already touched a little bit on this, but radiator covers will cause a small heat loss. However, good radiator covers should not cause very much heat loss. Poorly designed covers could potentially cause greater heat loss, so make sure you invest in a good radiator cover. Good radiator covers are in fact designed to create minimal heat loss, so they are worth investing in. This, really, is the only downside of radiator covers. Otherwise, they are actually very practical.

Buy your radiator cover at vidaXL

At vidaXL, we have a wide selection of various radiator covers in different styles, materials and colours. Our covers are affordable yet stylish and modern, which make them perfect for any household. With such a big selection, we can almost guarantee you that we have a radiator cover that you will love too. 

Should you have any questions or you need help choosing a new cover for your radiator, you are always welcome to contact our customer service. We are experts in our field, and we love helping our customers find the right products for their homes, and we look forward to assisting you as well.