How Do Home Radiator Heaters Work?

Steam Radiators

There are two main types of home radiator heaters: steam heaters and electric heaters. Steam heaters are powered by a boiler, usually located in the basement of the house. The boiler heats water up hot enough to turn it into steam and sends it up through pipes into the radiator. The water then transfers some of its heat into the radiator and cools, turning back into liquid water. That liquid water then trickles down a pipe back to the boiler, where it is heated again.

Electric Radiators

Electric radiators have a heating element inside of them, like that in an electric stove. The heating element resists the flow of electricity, turning the current into heat. In many electric radiators heaters, the element is actually in a pool of oil. The oil heats up with the element, helping to spread the heat through the whole radiator.

Heating the Home

Radiators heat the air directly above and around them, causing it to expand and rise. As this hot air rises it creates a vacuum, pulling in more cold air after it. When the air rises, it flows along the ceiling and eventually cools, descending again. As the radiator continues to heat the air, it creates a continuous cycle of moving air, warming, spreading out, cooling and returning. This moving air stream, called a convection current, is what heats the room.