If you have any kind of central heating radiators in your home, then you’ve probably also come across the topic of radiator covers. But should you really be using them, or not? With lots of reasons for and against being put out from both sides of the debate, it’s hard to know what the facts really are. 

So to help you decide, we’ve broken down the reasons why you may want to add radiator covers to your home, so you can choose the best option for you. 

To keep your family members safe 

Everyone loves a warm, cosy spot – from young children to our beloved fluffy pets. But some radiators can get extremely hot – especially older, steam-based models, and they can pose a risk of burns to vulnerable individuals. A cover protects the radiator, while still allowing the heat through, keeping everyone safe and sound. 

To keep the volume down 

Some radiators can get especially noisy as water moves around the system, leaving all kinds of gurgling and sloshing sounds happening. While often, these common place sounds are completely normal, that’s not to say that they can’t get a bit distracting or annoying, and a cover can be a useful way of helping to dampen the sound a bit. However, if your radiators are persistently making strange noises, it’s also a good idea to get that checked out, as it can often be an indicator of something going wrong in the system. 

To change the look 

If your radiators look a little worse for wear, or start to feel a bit dated, one way to give them a quick and easy revamp is by adding on a stylish radiator cover. This is often an affordable way to change the look of a room, as you can easily create covers from MDF and paint them to any colour you like. But if you already have some chic and sophisticated designer radiators in your home, then you might prefer to show them off, instead of hiding them away! 

To create extra space 

If you’ve been on the hunt for a little extra shelf space in a room and don’t know where to find it, take a look at your radiators. By adding a cover on top, you can turn the top of the radiator into an extra area to keep handy items – from showing off your favourite photographs, to keeping that key bowl in a more convenient location. 

To make a radiator more efficient 

This final one is a little more controversial, with opinions from experts on either side, both suggesting that covers may or may not help radiators work more efficiently. While some suggest that having something on top of a radiator can help move the heat more effectively into a room, other experts also suggest that it can cut back on their heat output. A good solution to get around this however, might be looking at more heat-effective materials for a cover, instead of MDF.