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Expert buying advice, installation guidance, product comparisons and practical information across plumbing, heating, bathrooms, kitchens, electrical and building supplies.
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Radiators Buying Guide: How to Choose Radiators for Any Room
Everything you need to compare radiator types, outputs and sizes before you buy — written for installers and homeowners.
Latest advice & guides
26 guides
Radiators Buying Guide: How to Choose Radiators for Any Room
Everything you need to compare radiator types, outputs and sizes before you buy — written for installers and homeowners.
Boilers Buying Guide: Combi, System and Regular Compared
How to choose between combi, system and regular boilers — output, hot water demand, fuel type and the parts every swap needs.
Bathroom Suites Buying Guide: Layouts, Sizes and What to Order
Compare complete, cloakroom and designer bathroom suites, plan the layout properly, and order everything the fit needs first time.
How to Size a Radiator: BTU Calculations Made Simple
A step-by-step method for working out the BTU output a room needs, and how to turn that figure into a radiator height and width.
Boiler Efficiency Explained: ErP Ratings and Running Costs
What ErP ratings mean in practice, why flow temperature matters more than the label, and how to keep a condensing boiler efficient.
Air Source Heat Pumps Explained: Sizing, Radiators and Cylinders
How air source heat pumps work in practice, why low flow temperatures change radiator sizing, and what a retrofit involves.
Soil and Waste Pipe Sizes Explained
Which waste pipe size each appliance needs, how soil stacks and traps work together, and the falls to aim for.
Insulation Types and U-Values Explained
U-values, lambda ratings and the practical differences between loft, cavity, PIR board and acoustic insulation.
Essential Tools for a Plumbing Tool Kit
What belongs in a genuine plumbing tool kit, from grips and pipe cutters to jointing compound, and which specialist tools are worth adding later.
Thermostatic Radiator Valves Explained
What a thermostatic radiator valve does, what the numbers on the dial mean, where TRVs should and shouldn't be fitted, and how smart TRVs differ.
Freestanding vs Built-In Baths
Weigh up freestanding and built-in baths on space, installation, floor loading, tap options and how practical each is with a shower over.
A Homeowner's Guide to Switches and Sockets
An overview of switch and socket styles, finishes and features to help you choose the right look and specification for each room.
How to Prepare a Materials List for a Project Quote
A clear, well-structured materials list gets a faster, more accurate quote. Here's what to include and a worked example.
What Size Boiler Do I Need?
A general guide to how boiler size (kW) relates to bathrooms, radiator count and hot water demand — and why a proper heat-loss calculation is the right basis for a final spec.
Bathroom Taps Buying Guide
Choose the right basin, bath and shower taps for your bathroom, with guidance on water pressure, tap holes, finishes and waste compatibility.
A Guide to Plumbing Valves
A plain-English rundown of the plumbing valves you'll come across on a typical domestic system, and what each one does.
How a Trade Account Can Simplify Material Purchasing
What a Plumb Supply trade account actually gives you, from trade pricing and quotes to order history and team access.
Plumbing Pipe Sizes Explained
What the common UK pipe sizes are used for, plus the difference between metric and older imperial pipework.
Combi Boilers Explained: A Buyer's Guide
What a combi boiler is, how it compares with system and regular boilers, and the practical points to weigh up before choosing one.
How to Choose a Shower
Work out which type of shower suits your home's water system, pressure and household needs, from electric to digital showers.
How to Choose a Kitchen Sink and Tap
A practical comparison of sink materials, bowl configurations, installation types and tap styles so the sink and tap you choose actually fit your worktop.
Copper Pipe vs Plastic Pipe: Which Is Best?
A practical comparison of copper and plastic pipe covering cost, durability, installation and where each performs best.
Type 11 vs Type 21 vs Type 22 Radiators Explained
A plain-English guide to panel radiator type numbers — what Type 11, 21 and 22 mean, and how output and depth compare.
Push-Fit vs Compression Fittings: Which Should You Use?
How push-fit and compression fittings differ, and how to decide which is the right choice for a given job.
How to Plan a Bathroom Renovation
Plan your bathroom renovation properly: measuring, layout, plumbing runs, sanitaryware choices, ventilation and the order trades should work in.
How to Choose the Right Radiator for Your Room
Understand radiator types, sizing, heat output and the differences between panel, column and designer radiators.
Popular buying guides
Evergreen guides our customers ask about most often.
- 1HeatingRadiators Buying Guide: How to Choose Radiators for Any Room3 min read
- 2HeatingBoilers Buying Guide: Combi, System and Regular Compared3 min read
- 3BathroomsBathroom Suites Buying Guide: Layouts, Sizes and What to Order3 min read
- 4HeatingHow to Size a Radiator: BTU Calculations Made Simple3 min read
- 5HeatingBoiler Efficiency Explained: ErP Ratings and Running Costs3 min read
- 6RenewablesAir Source Heat Pumps Explained: Sizing, Radiators and Cylinders2 min read
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