Most people, whether they work in the heating industry or not have heard of cast iron baseboard radiators. A feature of many homes since the 19th Century, they could be about to get a new lease of life as the radiator system of choice for the 21st Century also. Cheap to produce and widely available Worldwide, Iron is the ideal medium from which to construct domestic heating components.
In fact it can be said that the Earth, as well as most of the rest of the Solar System, is basically made of Iron and around 95% of Worldwide metal production is of Iron. In addition to being widely and cheaply available Iron is easy to cast into almost any shape, whilst its heat conducting properties are ideal for domestic heating. Quick to heat up, Iron retains its heat, slowly releasing it as it cools down, avoiding sudden drops in temperature as the system shuts down for the night.
One of the great benefits of a cast iron baseboard radiator system lies in its simplicity and durability. Really nothing more than a series of Iron pipes, the system has proved that it can happily cope with literally centuries of use with little or no maintenance.
This inherent simplicity has led to cast iron baseboard radiators being selected by increasing numbers of homeowners and architects for use in modern homes, using a variety of heat generating systems. Obviously the system can be easily updated by the replacement of an old, inefficient or broken boiler, with a new modern boiler. Most, if not all, of the original 19th Century radiator systems will have gone through several boilers during their lifetime without the need for updating the entire heating system, saving time, money and causing far less disruption to the household during the process.
One of the more exciting developments of late has come with the use of cast iron baseboard radiators with modern forms of ‘green’ energy. The system is ideal for use with a groundwater system. Here a bore hole is sunk into the ground down to a level where the Earth’s internal heat is great enough to heat water to a high temperature. Water is then circulated between the bore hole and the radiator system in the building providing an unlimited supply of heat.
Once the initial cost of the pump and bore hole are recouped the householder will benefit from unlimited, free, heating. Another exciting development suitable for use with a radiator system is the use of hot water provided by solar panels. Solar panels can be situated anywhere there is sufficient sunlight, on the roof or ground, and work by passing water over the surface of the panel. As it passes over the panel the water is heated by the Sun’s rays, providing hot water for a variety of uses. Of course Solar panels are also used to generate electricity for the building, and the technology is rapidly developing to the point where it will be a cheap and valuable source of our energy needs.
Both deep bore and solar panel technologies are ideal for use with a cast iron baseboard radiator system. Another benefit not to be forgotten with the system is the fact that it is already installed in millions of homes. Whether you live in a Victorian brownstone or a more modern, 20th Century home, your existing system will be ideal for updating with the latest heating technologies, now and very likely in the future too.