Need a new Radiator

JamesBlue_3

dickibobboy wrote: »

Hi there, we are currently doing the bathroom (well i say, new items in and a lick of paint!:p) and i think its time the radiator was changed, apart from it having layers of paint in from before we lived here and what we have put on its looking grubby there is a small rust patch appearing that i dont want to risk for much longer. Its a dark patch at the top and if it pops near there then its a bigger problem.

We will be able to find somone to replace the radiator but at the moment i am quite interested to find out roughly how much they are and maybe buy one in ready for the change over. The radiator is the first one after the boiler so only has a close knob on it nothing else and is just a single one.

I measured it as Height - 70.5cm Width 80cm and the rough distance between each pipes from the floor is 90cm give or take a cm.

bhl is a place local to me and i can maybe get a decent discount from there but any where else i dont mind too.

Thanks

My brother just had new rads installed in his bathroom - they are like chrome and are a really weird shape - have a look around the arty type shops, you can get some really good deals!

James

andrew-b

Wickes don't appear from their website or catalogue to do a 800x700 rad. They do a 800x600..but the heat output will be less than what you have now.
Wouldn't actually cost much for a different brand..for example see http://www.homesupply.co.uk/stelrad-compact-800mm-x-700mm=STCK17080.htm - but shop around.

Your existing radiator looks a bit low to the floor to me already so probably not radiating heat as effectively as it should. I'd be tempted to raise it up higher but that would involve extending the pipes (i.e soldering) - though i'm too much of a perfectionist for my own good sometimes!

Some handy guides for you here...
http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/CENTRAL_HEATING_CENTRE.htm

Note that the radiators don't usually come with the tails (the metals bits that screw into the radiator that the valves connect onto) but do come with the valves. You either need to remove the tails from the existing rad for reuse or replace the valves (that means a full drain down of the whole system usually!) or if you can't buy just the tails buy some cheap valves and use the tails from them.

Other issue is the distance between the pipes and the radiator on the left which is a bit wider with what looks like a drain valve incorporated into the radiator tail. You may need to get hold of some adjustable radiators tails (screwfix/plumber's merchants etc) to make up the width.

Also to remove/fit tails you need the right tool like this.

Hope i haven't confused too much!

hardpressed

What is the minimum hight that a rad should be from the floor?

andrew-b

A good question

Stelrad recommend 150mm (6 inches) from the floor to the base of the radiator (example page 7 "installation" section of http://www.stelrad.com/UK/docs/elite.pdf ).

"Recommended height from the floor to the base of the radiator is 150 mm minimum. This allows adequate airflow when the radiator is placed on the bracket."

shirlgirl2004

Just bumping this up to aska question. I'm looking at a Wickes 600 x 600 radiator. I need a double rad but single convector. Is this what the Wickes ones are? They don't say (or I'm being thick!)

andrew-b

Looking at the pics the doubles look like K2 (i.e double panel and double convectors between panels) and singles K1 (single panel single convector). Double panel and single convector is known as a P+ ..wickes don't appear to do them from looking at the website..

Have a look at http://www.discountedheating.co.uk/shop/acatalog/Radiators.html to see how the branded one's compare to wickes in price (wickes one's are made by quinn)

.

shirlgirl2004

I saw a few referring to plus radiators and didn't know what this stood for. Will look at your suggested site. Thanks

27col

I'll go word for word with ormus. Also the newer radiators with fins on the back have a higher output than the single rad shown in the picture. So you could get away with a slightly smaller rad if you cannot get one of the same dimensions as the existing one.

Canucklehead

shirlgirl2004 wrote: »

I saw a few referring to plus radiators and didn't know what this stood for. Will look at your suggested site. Thanks

Good evening: P+ = double panel single convector...try Stelrad Softline from PTS as a value for money option (and more aesthetically pleasing than the Wickes products;))

HTH

Canucklehead

shirlgirl2004

can anyone order from pts is it not just trade?