Do standard radiators perform better than designer radiators?

Zippyfan

I have been looking at buying MHS Radiators (Zero range) direct and having them installed by a heating professional. A heating installer came to have a look at the job and told me that standard radiators like the Delonghi Compact Single Panel Single Convector Radiators perform better. He can get them at a third of the price of the MHS radiators.

Is it true that the standard radiators are better performers or is it a sales tactic?

WestonDave

The easiest way to assess it is to look at the heat output of both for a radiator of the same dimensions. MHS seem to claim the opposite - i.e. that their radiators have a higher heat output. It is true I think that some of the really fancy radiators have a relatively poor heat output but the ones you are looking at don't appear to be in that category. Do your own research on the BTu output of both types, and if that suggests yours are as good, ask the installer some awkward questions or simply dump him as he may be thinking he can make a few quid on the supply!

HappyMJ

Sales tactic... Where does the heat go? Either to the room or back to the boiler where it will be recycled back to the radiator. It makes little difference.

Zippyfan

The information from the heating installer was shifty. Comparable sizes of both radiators show that the MHS rads are better:

MHS Radiators
Size: 523mm x 1644mm x 70mm
BTU: 9311
Output (Watts): 2727

Delonghi Compact Radiator - Single Panel Single Convector
Size: 600mm x 1800mm
BTU: 6496
Output (Watts):1904

It is a bit academic really as I have calculated that I need around 5000 BTU for the room in question. All that is really the pain is to match the sizes to my old radiator/pipework.

aliasojo

I bought a huge stainless steel vertical designer rad for my kitchen. £500+, output was well over what the room required and more than original standard rad was. It's rubbish. It just doesn't heat as well as the old rad did, regardless of what it says on paper. Waste of money and lesson learned.

latecomer

We bought an Acova vertical radiator for our bathroom which was seriously expensive. We bought one that was approporiately sized for our bathroom and its works pefectly.

Innys

aliasojo wrote: »

I bought a huge stainless steel vertical designer rad for my kitchen. £500+, output was well over what the room required and more than original standard rad was. It's rubbish. It just doesn't heat as well as the old rad did, regardless of what it says on paper. Waste of money and lesson learned.

I'd be interested to know what you believe the lesson was.......don't believe what manufacturers are required to quote by law? If so, buying anything/everything is likely to be more of a lottery than it is already.

aliasojo

Innys wrote: »

I'd be interested to know what you believe the lesson was.......don't believe what manufacturers are required to quote by law? If so, buying anything/everything is likely to be more of a lottery than it is already.

(Personal) Lesson = next time be less concerned with the look and take on board the advice from the plumber that despite what the figures say, it will not be as effective as the standard rad we replaced.

How he came to that conclusion I couldn't say. All I know is, he was right.

garethgas

Any modern radiator will have fins behind it to increase its surface area and therefore its output.
With regard to your radiator's output, if it says 2.7kW then that must be true.
However, if you buy it and something goes wrong (ie it leaks or doesn't perform as expected) then don't expect the plumber to replace it for free. He will quite rightly charge you.
I have no experience of the radiators you mention so can't comment any further I'm afraid.
Hope this helps you decide.

muskoka

I must admit I would have liked designer rads, but when I looked at the price and the BTU against the standard rads which my plumber recommened and the standards had the higher output. 1) I saved myself some money going with his recommendations and 2) what he supplied has a 10 yr warranty so anthing goes wrong I can call him up.