From Russia With Love The Story Of The Cast Iron Radiator

By Author: Edward Hall
Total Articles: 93
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Perhaps it was his warm-blooded Italian ancestry that led Franz San Galli, a Polish born resident of St Petersburg, to finally decide he had endured just one too many freezing St Petersburg winters. In the mid-1850's he sat down and designed the radiator. Considering central heating has been around since Roman times, some of us might think it was a long time coming. However, thanks to San Galli, the cast iron radiator was born and quickly became the must-have technology of its day.

The choice of cast iron for early radiators probably had something to do with limits of manufacturing technologies at the time. However, time has shown that cast iron radiators are not only attractive, but the material has qualities that make it an efficient choice for heating. Hard wearing and easy to maintain, cast iron radiators are once again a popular choice. Some original cast iron radiators remained in-situ for a century or more. Though they fell out of favour during the later 20th century the traditional cast iron radiator has seen a renaissance in recent years. Never completely out of favour in period homes, the surprise ...
... is that these stunning little design statements have evolved into a variety of modern and stylish looks.

Traditional Technology and Modern Values

Of course those of us who have had close encounters with cast iron radiators may be concerned about their efficiency - they really do seem to pump out a lot of heat! But the truth is that cast iron as a conductor of heat is rather more efficient than modern steel. Cast iron also maintains a more consistent heat than steel. While steel heats up very quickly it also cools rapidly whereas cast iron is completely the opposite. Heating up gradually it has a higher heat capacity than steel or other metals, providing steady, constant heat whatever the size of room. During the cooling process cast iron radiators cool much more slowly; the overall effect being that a cast iron radiator using the same amount of energy as steel or aluminium models, will provide heat over a longer period. It seems that the original design of radiator may, after all, be the best!

Choice, Style and Elegance

While modern steel radiators are highly functional many people choose to hide them away behind radiator covers - this in itself this can reduce their efficiency. Functional is great, but doesn't always fit well with a tasteful design, whether that design is traditional or contemporary. There's also something a little soulless about the more modern radiators, while good solid cast iron radiators have a real comfort factor about them - they just look solid and dependable!

Modern cast iron radiators come in a variety of designs to suit most homes and can provide a great finishing touch to any scheme. Nor do you need to have a coal fired industrial plant in the cellar to keep the heat flowing - most types of heat generation can be combined with this type of radiator, making them a modern and highly efficient solution for heating your home.

With many years in the heating and plumbing industry Edward Hall has been writing on such subjects as cast iron radiators and imparting his vast knowledge on the subject.