I grew up in an old farmhouse that was heated by a boiler and old cast iron radiators. I have fond memories of my childhood, so when I think of those old radiators that I sat dried my mittens on, it brings back a real sense of nostalgia. So I was shocked one day to see a modern electric radiator in a friend’s office. It was actually quite attractive. I kind of did a double-take as I reconciled what I had categorized as a thing of the past with what I was looking at in the present. Once I looked up modern radiators on the Internet, I found several choices, looks, and styles that have been developed. One site contrasted new radiators, which convert electricity into heat, with the old models that were water-based, although some models still use a liquid coolant. The amount of heat generated by an electric radiator is controlled by a thermostat that’s installed within the radiator itself. There are four types of radiators today: fan heaters, convection radiators, infrared radiators, and oil-based electric radiators. Fan heaters consist of the fan, which emits a constant air flow, and the heater itself. The built-in thermostat shuts off the fan off once the predetermined temperature is reached. Convection radiators do not burn oxygen nor dry out the air, and the continuous movement of warm air in the room makes for a very cozy environment. Infrared radiators use electromagnetic waves of a certain frequency, which actually produce heat. And then there are oil-based radiators, which are very portable and quiet, although getting very hot themselves. Quite honestly, when I do get ready to purchase a radiator, I’ll probably get the one that’s the prettiest!