Decorative screens for radiators: how to mask the battery in

Modern batteries that are used to heat a house are very diverse in size, design, color, and other parameters. In most cases, they fit perfectly into the interior of the room, complementing or emphasizing various design solutions. But in some cases, heaters bring dissonance into the design style, forcing the use of decorative screens on radiators, which are the subject of today's discussion.

The need for masking radiators

The reasons that may force you to use screens for radiators - decorative or protective - can be very diverse:

1. The need to sustain one direction in the design of the room.
2. Close old and unattractive looking radiators.
3. In the end, it may just be an irresistible desire to make something with their own hands.

Anyway, the advantages of using such a design solution are obvious.

Decorative screen:

• improves the appearance of the room;
• protects the occupants of the room (especially young children) from burns, which may be caused by a heated battery surface;
• a huge variety of models, sizes and colors (much more than heaters);
• more even distribution of heated air flow around the room (a decorative screen on the radiator of heating serves as a convector grille);
• the ability to frequently change the grid, bringing freshness to the interior of the room without much financial expense (because the price of the battery is much higher than the cost of the decorative grid).

Note! When buying a decorative screen for a radiator that you like, you should choose a model that would not interfere with the distribution of thermal energy in the room, otherwise the efficiency of the heating network will decrease significantly.

Varieties of products

Metallic

Represent a box of sheet metal coated with a decorative layer. Special steel is used for its production, which does not retain heat and fully releases it to the air in the room.

Modern technologies allow making gratings that do not fade with time, their decorative coating does not lose brightness, and the surface is reliably protected from corrosion. In addition, spraying prevents the negative effects of other external factors.

The cost of the lattice is low, there are many varieties to choose from, which will satisfy even the most exquisite taste. In addition, you can optionally paint the box in any color you like, making changes to the interior.

There is such a solution and a disadvantage. It is very difficult to adjust the metal grid to the size of the battery directly at the installation site. In addition, decorative screens for cast-iron radiators with a large number of sections can not be bought, will have to issue an individual order, which will lead to additional costs.

Wood

Protective grilles made of wood give the batteries a very sophisticated appearance, introducing features of nobility and respectability into the interior.

When choosing or self-manufacturing wooden screens, you need to pay attention to the following features:

• it is advisable to take beech or oak as a material, since other wood species do not have the required strength;
• the grille can be integral with the window sill, giving the interior integrity;
• removable and non-removable screens can be manufactured (the first option is preferable, as it allows washing and servicing the battery from time to time without destroying the design).

Note! Instructions on the use of convector radiators of heating are not strongly recommended to close such batteries with grills, as they disrupt the air flow and, thus, reduce the efficiency of the heating system.

From MDF sheets

These products combine all the advantages of wood shields and low cost. They are made of special glued sheets. On the strength of such a lattice leaves far behind wood. It withstands significant physical impact, including shock.

MDF boards are perfectly processed by machine tools. On sale there are screens, the pattern on which is cut out by special computer-controlled machines. They give the interior a truly refined and sophisticated look.

Plastic

Decorative screen for plastic heating radiators is an even cheaper way to design batteries, however, it cannot be considered safe. The fact is that from exposure to hot air, it begins to expand, melt and release volatile substances that can be dangerous to the human body.

But due to its lightness, low cost and ease of installation, such products are widely used for office space decoration.

Tip! Rooms where plastic panels are installed, which cover radiator radiators, it is advisable to ventilate intensively from time to time to get rid of harmful substances accumulated in the air.

Tips for choosing

It is necessary to choose the material, appearance and color range of screens that protect the batteries, based on personal preference.

But to make their operation safer, it is advisable to adhere to the following tips:

1. When buying and installing a protective grid, you must make sure that the shut-off valves that block the access of the heat carrier to the battery are freely available and not closed by the decorative elements.
2. Fixed screen should be easily removed if necessary. Otherwise, a small leak can become a big problem while you disassemble the protective box that you have designed.
3. The screen should organically complement the interior of the room, and not make a dissonance in the harmonious design of your room.
4. Under no circumstances should the decorative screen interfere with normal heat transfer, especially if convectors are installed.
5. Do not cover the decorative grille with furniture. Then the whole point is lost in its installation.

Conclusion

Decorative grilles installed on radiators of the heating system are not a mandatory element of the latter. They are necessary to give the batteries an attractive appearance. This is not the only option for decorating heating equipment. You can learn more about other methods from the video posted in this article.