DESIGNER RADIATOR

Mirror radiators

Having a heated mirror is both a novel and a space effective way of heating a room whilst adding an unusual touch of style.

There are two types of heated mirror. A proper (demisting) mirror and a mirror-radiator that is styled with, connected to, or encapsulated within a more conventional radiator.

In reality these heated mirrors are intended primarily for the bathroom where their heating capacity is seen more as a supplementary boost to an existing radiator or heater, however they do have an effective secondary purpose.

Demisting mirrors

Heated mirrors are sometimes called demisting mirrors and this gives a very obvious clue as to their rprimary purpose.

Whilst theses mirrors do provide some real heat, their main aim is to provide a clear mirrored surface that can be used in a warm and humid bathroom without the need to wipe the mirror surface.

These heated mirrors prevent steam-up or misting of the glass by providing enough heat to prevent water condensation on the mirror's surface. This is achieved by the presence of fine heater elements that are embedded within the glass of the mirror.

This kind of mirror is operated by an on-off switch and, on a slightly cool evening, the use of the heated mirror may be sufficient to bring a small bathroom up to a suitable temperature.

As the heating technology within these mirror radiators improves, so will the heat output that they can produce and it is easy to foresee this style of designer radiator being a big seller in the near future.

Most heated mirrors will also include self contained lighting which will usually be controlled by the same power switch.

At the moment this kind of mirror radiator is not a common sight on the high street, but they can be found online and they are available in various sizes and shapes.

Most heated mirrors are stylish with a designer look that is minimalist or hi-tec and particularly well suited to bathrooms or cloakrooms.

Combined mirror radiators

The other kind of mirror radiator is a combination of a conventional convection radiator with a mirror either - connected to the side of it, sandwiched between two radiator panels, or placed in front of a water or oil filled radiator.

In this instance the mirror itself is not actually producing any direct heat, however the heating effect combined with the appearance and function of a mirror is still achieved.

This style of mirror radiator is widely available and the radiator component may be stainless steel, or brightly colored to provide a distinct contrast to the mirrored section.These radiators are normally water filled and will work in conjunction with a standard central heating system.