Cold house - will new radiators help?

figgyroo

I've been living in a 1930s semi for a few years and have had a lot of work done to the house but still find the house unbearably cold downstairs to the extent that I am unable to sit in the reception rooms in winter and have started spending my evenings upstairs!

I have two lounges: the one at the front is South facing and has a large curved bay window which is newly double glazed. This is the only external wall. It has an old curved radiator in the bay. The radiator gets very hot but doesn't seem to give out much heat. I also have a recently fitted gas fire. The one at the back is North Facing and has a large newly double glazed window and again this is the only external wall. This has a newer small double radiator. I have an open fire which is currently unusable due to the chimney needing lining.

I have had a new combi boiler fitted, have loft insulation but am unable to have cavity wall insulation fitted due to there being debris in the cavities.

I wondered whether replacing (and possibly moving) the radiators with larger more modern ones will help, or whether anyone has any other suggestions?

magpiecottage

Is the radiator hot throughout or cold at the bottom or top.

If it is cold at the top it has air in and needs bleeding.

If it is cold at the bottom it probably has sludge in it and needs flushing

figgyroo

Thanks for your reply.

Radiators are all hot throughout.

PasturesNew

How big are the radiators? Are they single or double? What is the total area? What is the volume of the room?

If you can't do that maths, can you supply the dimensions.

figgyroo

The front room is 14ft 2 x 13 ft. Radiator is 159cm x 59cm. This is a single radiator.

The back room is 13 ft x 12ft. Radiator is 80cm x 60cm. This is a double radiator.

Ceiling height is 8ft 8 in both rooms.

figgyroo

They're two seperate rooms. I have loft insulation shoved up the chimney in the back whilst I am unable to use this fire.

TheSaint_2

The curved radiator will need replacing. My inlaws have exactly the same curved one from the 1930's and it is very thin with no fins.
Get yourself a nice big double.

Also, do you have solid floors or floorboards?
If the later, consider buying some of the lining plastic foam sheets that go underneath wood flooring. Lay them on top of the floor boards and fill in any gaps around your skirting board with some kind of sealant. Then relay your carpet. That will stop you losing heat from updrafts. If your chimney is properly capped it will possibly help (even with insulation shoved up there as there may be gaps).

figgyroo

Thanks for your reply.

I thought the curved one needed replacing, it's exactly as you described, and doesn't seem to radiate heat at all, although it gets mad hot to touch.

It's floorboards - I'll have a look for that plastic foam lining, sounds like a good idea.

ally18

Figgyroo,

I thought I would add something on here because I have exactly the same problem. Mine is a 1930 semi with two rooms downstairs separated by a hall and stairs. My front room which has a bay window never seems to be warm unless the gas fire has been on for over an hr.(Its normally at arnd 13 dg with heating on) There is a radiator below the window which is a double but only a small one and although it gets hot to the touch, does not warm up the room. The room size is the same as yours as well. I tried to see if I could have cavity wall insulation but apparently the house is single brick and there is no cavity (according to the insulation guy I got round). I have even stuffed blankets around the skirting boards to stop any drafts which doesn't look nice but anything to help. I don't know what else to do, unfortunately I cant afford any costs like lining the walls and floor, im not sure I could get the carpet back down if I pulled it up! The cold air actually hits you when you walk in the room. I did wonder at one point if I had ghosts lol. There is something to be said for small houses with nice and cosy rooms, isnt there

My dining room is better because it has the kitchen attached and a large radiator so I've moved in there now.