Sectional Radiators: What Are They and How Does the Concept Work?

Whether you are upgrading an inefficient old unit or planning a heating layout for a brand-new extension, finding the right fit can be a challenge. Standard radiator sizes don't always work, especially if you are dealing with awkward architectural spaces, low windowsills, or unique room dimensions.

If a standard off-the-shelf size won't cut it, it is well worth considering a sectional radiator approach to your heating.

Available in a massive variety of styles, finishes, and colours, sectional (or modular) radiators can be tailored to suit anything from a traditional period property to a sleek, modern apartment. Here is our guide to how the concept works and how it can solve your heating dilemmas.

Understanding the Sectional Radiator Concept

Think of a sectional radiator as a modular system built out of individual vertical "slices." Instead of being restricted to fixed factory dimensions, you dictate the exact size of the unit by adding or removing these sections.

When configuring your design, you have three dimensions to play with:

• Height: Each section is available in several heights to fit tall, narrow walls or low-level spaces.

• Depth (Columns): For our steel or cast-iron multi-column radiators, you can choose how deep the radiator sits. The more vertical tubes (columns) there are per section, the deeper the radiator is, and the more heat it emits.

• Width: The overall width of your radiator is determined entirely by how many vertical sections or "slices" you choose to join together.

Take our signature Ancona Steel Column Range as the perfect example. It offers options spanning two, three, four, five, and six columns deep. If you look at a two-column model from the side, you’ll see two vertical tubes per section; look at a six-column model, and you’ll see six.

The true beauty of this system is its flexibility. By tweaking the height, depth, or width, you can perfectly hit your required heat output (BTU) with a chassis that sits beautifully in the physical space you have available.

How Do I Configure and Order a Sectional Radiator?

We stock our sections individually, allowing us to build up your chosen style to your precise width requirements.

When it comes to designing yours, we always recommend calculating the BTU requirement for your room first. Once you know how much heat you need, you can use our smart online design tools to play around with the dimensions until you find the perfect match.

We have built a dedicated configuration tool right into our website to make this process incredibly easy:

1. Find Your Style: Navigate to your chosen range, such as our Ancona.

2. Open the Radiator Builder: Click on the 'Buy Radiator' button on the product page.

3. Choose Your Depth: Select how many columns deep you want your radiator to be (e.g., 4 or 6 column).

4. Select Your Height: Pick the vertical height that suits your wall space.

5. Slide to Your Perfect Width: Use our interactive 'number of sections' slider to add or remove sections.

As you move the slider, our builder will automatically calculate and display the exact BTU and Watts output for that size. If the output is too low, you can instantly increase the height, depth, or number of sections until your heating needs are completely covered.

Important Things to Remember Before You Order

Before you finalise your custom build, don't forget to take your room's physical layout into account. Crucially, you must check the positioning of your existing pipework. Because sectional radiators can be built much wider than standard models, ensuring your pipe centres align correctly will save you time and disruption during installation.

Whatever interior aesthetic you are aiming for, our sectional radiators provide a completely tailored solution that balances high-performance engineering with beautiful design. They don't just heat your home, they make a stunning design statement.

Click here to explore the Ancona range and try our Radiator Builder today.