Column Radiators

catbert_2

Hi,

My partner and I are planning to update our central heating. We have a new condensing combi boiler going in and are replacing our old, rusty tatty radiators.

We live in a nearly 200 year old stone terrace. It is only small and nothing special - except to us! But want something a bit different so we are looking at putting in column radiators instead of the normal flat ones.

Can anyone recommend a good manufacturer or has anyone had experience with how these look? I have found Acova, Stelrad and Modus do variations of shapes and numbers of columns to make the right size, and all look similar.

So I am trying to get some information which will help us choose between them. We don't necessarily just want the cheapest if they might not last. Any tips, experiences or suggestions gratefully received.

CB

Bob63

Think carefully how they might look out of place in a 200 year old house. You should choose something that won't stand out like a sore thumb and therefore ruin your chances of selling the house in the future. People generally like period features in period houses.

Just my US$0.02

Mike

Volcano

Mike has got a point....your small and nothing special cottage could be someone else's "tastefully restored early 19th century cottage" when you come to sell and expensive, pain-in-the-butt (to change) radiators might make it look a bit strange....

I have got vertical designer rads in my late 1960's bungalow and whilst they do look pretty good, esp with a totally renovated room, even I think they might be a bit too much for some people's taste. Probably ace in a new build or trendy city flat though.....

As for function- I put them in as a straight replacement for the existing rads, no problems with functionality at all.

griff.

I think vertical radiators are ridiculously over-priced, and from an energy efficiency point of view they completely lack the design features that reflect and conserve heat properly. One in the bathroom is more than enough, and in those places where space is an absolute premium...but then if you have a room that small then your own breath will keep you warm.

FirstClassMale

I agree with previous posters that getting the look right is important. However, 200 years ago, radiators weren't exactly all the rage so people wont expect dirt floors and pigs wandering about the living room.

We have a late victorian terrace and have started to replace the pressed steel rads with column ones. The Acova ones are good and dont look out of place. Get along to B&Q and check whether any of the stock are reduced. Ours were picked up of the period of a few months by checking for reduced to clear ones. Normally they have been returned due to slight cosmetic scratches but are marked down, in some cases, to half their original price.

I have just recently noticed that Wickes do a range of designer radiators at some pretty good prices.

economiser

Bear in mind that to obtain maximum efficiency condensing boiler systems should be set to operate at a lower return temperature than older boilers (82C flow 62C return agains 82C flow 72C return). So unless your radiators were oversized before you may need larger ones than before.

thesaint

Hi Catbert,
I have fitted column radiators. As long as you like them, do not worry about what someone who may or may not buy your house in 10 years may think.
One thing though, get a bigger output than you need. In my dining room I had to fit an extra radiator because it simply wasn't heating up enough.
Column radiators can look spectacular, and no longer become a place to hang your washing(not recommened).

catbert_2

Hi,

thanks for all the replies. I appreciate the comments about resale but as the latter posters say - I'm decorating for us not the resale value - and if I went for period I'd have no heating and I'd have to put the toilet back in the garden!

Thanks for the tips about boiler size and settings. We now have a log burner in the front room, so what was an oversize radiator now doesn't get used, but we will bear that in mind when looking at outputs for the rest - thanks.

ajbaker

Hi Catbert.

I too own a similar aged property and went through a similar thought process to yourself. While I agree modern fixtures can look out of place in a period property, some contemporary features that are well designed can look just as good as certain period features. It very much depends on the room.

In the end I purchased a Biasi Tubular column rad for my living room. Reviews online suggest they are almost identical to the Stelrad and Myson column rads, and are certainly of a similar quality. Its almost two months now since I purchased the rad and I have finally got round to completing the heating system... and have now decided the radiator does not look right in my lounge (I wanted it in front of the window but it is slightly too high and looks odd.)

Biasi Tubular:
http://www.biasi.co.uk/tubolaser.htm

If you are interested in purchasing the rad from me, and is roughly an appropriate size (not too much of a problem if it is slightly over-sized since you can use a TRV), then I am happy to sell the rad at an low, agreeable price... I paid £200 + for it from BHL:
http://www.bhl.co.uk/default.asp?t=1007

As I said, it has not been fitted and is still in its protective packing, complete with wall brackets etc. Size: 600 high x 1012 wide, 3 column. Output: 4474 BTU at 50 degrees or 5638 BTU at 60 degrees temp drop.

If you are interested drop me an email or private message.

jimmyjim_uk

Have you tried MHS radiators.

I work for a M&E consultant and for commercial heating systems MHS are very good

http://www.mhsboilers.com/radiators/period/burlington.htm

http://www.mhsboilers.com/radiators/period/clasico.htm

http://www.mhsboilers.com/radiators/period/liberty.htm

http://www.mhsboilers.com/radiators/period/sanaplan.htm