Why do you need a screen for a radiator and how to choose it correctly

A screen for a heating radiator is a protective element that improves heat transfer, reduces the level of infrared radiation, and also performs a decorative function, hiding bulky batteries. This is especially true with cast-iron radiators, which have an unsightly appearance. They must also be used in public buildings: offices, schools, hospitals, rooms with a large crowd of people, because the lack of a protective screen is contrary to safety precautions.

The screen for a heating radiator perfectly performs a decorative function

Screen selection criteria for a heating radiator

They are a grill that covers the battery, while not hindering the heat transfer, but hiding the radiator itself. So the screen performs not only an aesthetic function, but also protects the residents of the apartment from a possible burn in case of accidental contact with a hot radiator.

When choosing a screen for a heating radiator, you should pay attention to such factors:

• the grid should not impede heat transfer;
• the screen must not close the valves of the battery regulator;
• It’s worth picking up a screen that can be quickly removed in case of an accident.

Types of screens for heating sections

The size of such a frame is selected based on the number of heating sections. The standard screen width for 9-section cast-iron batteries is 1 m, at a height of 60 cm. These figures may vary depending on the type of radiator and the installation of the protective element itself.

Decorative screen with box

There are several types of screens, depending on how they are mounted:

1. Mounted. Such protective elements are mounted on top of the heating section. In such screens there is no bottom and side walls.
2. With battery box. As a rule, they most fully mask the radiator, while the top cover of the structure opens.
3. Flat security element. It is used to mask niche-mounted batteries.

Metal screens and their characteristics

The most common material from which the radiator screen is made is sheet steel. The metal frame has increased strength and heat resistance, such designs are most economical. As a rule, such screens are specially coated with white enamel, but unpainted metal screens can also be purchased if the design decision so requires.

Metal screen for heating radiator

Among the other advantages of frames made of this metal: simple screen care, simple installation, the safety of the material itself and its high thermal conductivity. Also, this design filters infrared radiation and will be especially appropriate in lofts, rooms with High-Tech or a minimalist design.

Note! Sooner or later, a metal screen will require painting. Update the look better with heat-resistant paints.

Description of wood safety grilles

Wood screens are also popular.Often they are made of MDF panels (medium-density fiberboard, which includes caryuid resin, which increases their fire resistance). Lattices made of HDF panels (high-density fibers) are more resistant. Rattan screens (stems of tropical liana), which are distinguished by a wide variety of patterns and shapes, have gained popularity.

Wood decorative screen

The main advantage of such screens is that they are environmentally friendly, but wooden screens are certainly more expensive than metal ones. They also require more careful care: over time, the tree may become dull, damp and deformed. The use of screens made of combined materials, in which the frame is made of wood, and the main grille of MDF / HDF panels, metal, glass or plastic, will help reduce cost and at the same time increase the useful life. Such frames are suitable for almost any interior, among their aesthetic advantages - a harmonious combination with furniture.

Features of glass screens for batteries

Glass screens are less popular, mainly because of their impracticality and high cost. Keep in mind that a high-quality protective element must be made of tempered glass, the thickness of which is at least 8 mm. Often, such screens are presented in the format of a mounted model or box model without a top cover.

Important! A glass screen is not the best solution for a child’s room, for security reasons it is worth choosing wood or plastic.

Their main advantage is that the glass surface can be painted in any color and any pattern can be applied to it, which will make it possible to perfectly fit the radiator zone into the general interior of the room. However, closed glass structures impair heat transfer.

Glass screen for heating radiator

Look after such screens using standard detergents for glass surfaces. A cheaper alternative to standard glass is acrylic, which has similar characteristics, but is more bulky. There are such options for processing glass screens:

1. Drawing unique patterns when processing material with an air-sand stream. The procedure is carried out under pressure, with the addition of various colors, which creates a unique ornament.
2. Fusing - collecting a kind of stained glass window. A certain ornament is made up of different pieces of glass, which are then fastened together, baked at high temperatures.
3. When processing the material by the Tiffany method, individual elements are cut using a glass cutter, laid out on a copper film in accordance with the figure, and fastened with lead-tin solder. For added strength, the entire structure is coated on top with a layer of platinum.
4. The molding technology assumes that the glass is heated to a fusible state, and then a screen of the desired shape is formed from it.
5. Frosting glass. It can be used both separately and in tandem with scratching of individual elements of the picture.
6. The facet technology for creating a screen suggests that faceted glass forms are attached with a special glue to the metal frame. This solution is particularly durable, the combined screen is able to withstand large temperature differences.
7. The creation of film stained-glass windows is considered the most expensive method of forming a protective screen, while such stained-glass windows are distinguished by the largest color palette among all the glass frames presented.

Plastic grilles and methods for installing such screens

Plastic battery screens are the most inexpensive, but also the most unsafe. Low-quality plastic can be deformed under the influence of heat, releasing substances harmful to health, therefore, when choosing a lattice from this material, it is worth paying special attention to guaranteeing its quality.The average life of such a grill is 5 years. The advantage of a screen made of plastic is the variety of structures made of this material, which allows you to realize any design decision. They are also the easiest to clean; they are lightweight and overall compact. A neutral white plastic grille along with a sheet steel screen are one of the most popular office solutions.

Plastic Battery Screens

Screens for a radiator from any material, in turn, can be installed in different ways:

1. Outdoor way. In this case, the screen panel or grid in the form of a box is simply attached to the battery. The convenience of such a fastening is that the protective element can always be set aside if it is necessary to increase heat transfer, clean the heating sections or the protective element itself. Disadvantage: attached box screens can be quite bulky.
2. Wall mount. The main advantage of this installation is that the screen is mounted at a small distance from the battery, without interfering with heat transfer. However, it is not always possible to implement it (for example, if the radiator is located in the window sill).
3. The hinged way. Easier to install, in comparison with the previous one, the screen is fixed with 4 screws, acting as a cover. Lack of fastening: some parts of the frame are in direct contact with the radiator, impairing heat transfer.

Companies-manufacturers of protective panels for radiators and their pricing policy

Among the companies selling decoration elements and repair products, the organizations “Heat of Coziness” and “Leader” are distinguished. Their assortment includes screens of all materials, solid, perforated or with designer ornaments. Among others, the trade and production companies “Ekran-market”, “World of screens” and “Kvartek” are distinguished.

Carved screen in a window niche

Sectional metal screens vary in height (30 to 60 cm) and width (0.5 m to 1.5 m). The depth of the frames, as a rule, is the same - 15 cm. The price range of such screens is from 3.5 thousand rubles to 9 thousand with installation. Lattices from MDF panels are usually higher (from 40 to 80 cm), the standard width slightly exceeds 1.5 meters. The cost of screens, depending on their size, varies from 4.5 to 18 thousand rubles with delivery (as a rule, they are floor models-boxes, which the customer is able to install independently). Glass models are made in the format of panels with a height of 40 to 80 cm and a width of 85 cm to 2 m. You can purchase such screens by paying from 12 to 30 thousand rubles, depending on their design and size. Delivery is usually included in the price.

Traditional screens that are hung on cast-iron and bimetal radiators are designed for a standard battery size and have the following parameters: 610 * 290 * 150 (mm). The model is called "Classic", it is made of sheet steel 1 mm thick, the frame is perforated and coated with special white enamel. The average cost of one model is 700 rubles. Simple and economical, they are used in offices and budget organizations, but they can also be a good solution for the home if the buyer has the goal of protecting the heating radiator zone without claiming to create an additional design accent.

Note! Choosing the cheapest plastic screens, you should make sure the material is safe. When heated, a poor-quality polymer can release harmful substances into the air.

Separately, there are screens in the manufacture of which laser cutting is used. They have standard sizes, but the buyer himself chooses a pattern that is cut out on the main grill using a laser. Most often, such models are used to cover batteries built into the niche, but there are also models of the box. The cost of protective panels with a unique pattern is from 9 thousand rubles with delivery.

Decorative screen in the nursery

Given the characteristics of each type of screen and the features of the room, you can choose a high-quality protective panel that will last for many years. Do not forget that if there are children in the house, then it is worth giving preference to wooden screens, as they are safe and environmentally friendly. But such panels will last a short service if there are pets in the house: if there are frisky pets, it is better to choose more durable metal structures that will not come out to damage or scratch.

Regardless of the type of screen, each of them has its own expiration date and should not be neglected, especially for plastic products. At the end of the operational period, they can not only lose their attractive appearance, but also create a fire-hazardous or generally hazardous to health situation.