new radiator

georgiesmum

I have bought a radiator,a large double one. Any idea how much it will cost to fit this. I live in the Northwest and the reason i want an idea is i am 75, on my own and frequently if i ask for a quote i find they are way over the top. I don't want to be dragging people out to give me a quote that i think is horrendous when it might be quite reasonable.

southcoastrgi

it will depend if it is the same size (lenght) as the old one & the wall is sound for it to be fixed to, if the above is true & the valves both ends switch off ok then it's about an hrs work for a plumber.

georgiesmum

OK got a quote, apparently the radiator i have won't do,(couldn't make out why,) so a radiator and fitting will be £300. That seems an awful lot to me. But then maybe i am being unreasonable. The width will be the same, but it will be higher. piping will be straightforward. Is this a decent quote.I have seen the radiator he is talking about for £87 in B&Q,, and then there is the valve. Any plumbers out there to help me.

Jem8472

We just had a whole new boiler installed and new rads. In the original quote we one had changing 2 radiators. We then later decided to change two other rads. The extra two rads (which were not very big) put an extra £150 onto the original boiler install quote. That included new valves for the radiators. So I would think that £300 is a bit over the top.

Our plumber had to get some fitting so he could get the pipes into the right position for one of the new radiators. I would be surprised if the one you bought would not be any good if its the same size. Might be worth ringing up a few more plumbers.

southcoastrgi

if the rad is the same lenght as the old one or slightly smaller then there is no reason why it can't be used, what was their reason that it can't be fitted ?

T_T_2

southcoastrgi wrote: »

if the rad is the same lenght as the old one or slightly smaller then there is no reason why it can't be used, what was their reason that it can't be fitted ?

I couldn't figure out from the OP's comments if he was saying the rad he bought was the same width but higher or if he was referring to a rad that the installer was going to get hold of. If the latter is true then perhaps the rad that the OP has sourced himself would be giving out insufficient BTUs. Could also be that the one the OP sourced is a double panel with single/zero fins and the installer is proposing a double panel double fin rad.

southcoastrgi

very true TT but you might want to look at the OP's name

A.Penny.Saved

georgiesmum what difference in radiator size was there between yours and one that the person who gave you the quote?

Did he leave any sizes of the radiator and what type it was? Single panel single convector (SPSC), double panel single convector (DPSC), double panel double convector (DPDC) and there are some triple panel rads. Those are in order of heat output for a radiator of the same dimensions. The convectors are metal fins connected to the water containing panels and they conduct heat from the panel and then air causes convection of that heat into the room. The more panels and the more convectors there are the greater the heat output.

If it's not sufficient, preferably with some headroom for extreme conditions then it will not be able to heat the room sufficiently.

What heat output does your radiator have? It is usually a number and usually followed by BTU but can also be Watts.

Enter your room details into the following calculator and find out what it recommends for a radiators heat output. Make sure that you fill it in as accurately as you can because it will affect the heat required. Brick cavity walls are the most common and sometimes they are insulated. If it's an upstairs room and a roof is above then you will need to select whether the roof space is insulated or not. If it's a downstairs room and there is an upstairs then select accordingly. Try and be as accurate as possible to give the closest result to what you need.

See what it recommends and then compare to the figure quoted on your radiator. Your radiator heat output needs to be at least as big, preferably with some extra for severe weather conditions, remember -19C?
http://www.homesupply.co.uk/radiator_output_calculator.php

The person who gave you the quote might just want him to supply the rad because he will make some money on that as well.

It doesn't need a heating engineer to change a radiator! A plumber can legally do it providing he does not work on your boiler unless he is qualified to do so.

It's not a big job and can be done fairly easily. Even if pipework needs to be changed. The heating system might need to be drained and new radiator protector added afterwards. Some copper pipe if pipework is altered, two radiator valves, possibly thermostatic radiator valves(TRV) and a few minor extras. Supplying and fitting a radiator shouldn't cost more than £200 IMO. It could be done for less than that, £150 or so is fairly reasonable if the radiator isn't too big, 1.2m x 50 cm DPDC.

If you supply the radiator then the person who fits it has less to make any money on because they will get the radiator at trade prices and so would make money on that.

When asking for quotes, it might be worth getting a relative or neighbour to come round for when the person visits. It would help if the person, preferably a man, knew a little about it so they could spot a dodgy quote. Remember that the person will be working on your home so the last thing you need is a botched job made of it.

jkgray

Last week I had supply and fit of a new gas tray with coals fitted ('engine of gas fire') for £220 (broken down as fire £145 & labour £75) and 900mm x 600 mm single rad for £89 (radiator and labour rolled into one).

martyn05

Here in Derbyshire the county council run the Trusted Trader scheme. Speak to your local council and see if they run something similar.

georgiesmum

T_T wrote: »

I couldn't figure out from the OP's comments if he was saying the rad he bought was the same width but higher or if he was referring to a rad that the installer was going to get hold of. If the latter is true then perhaps the rad that the OP has sourced himself would be giving out insufficient BTUs. Could also be that the one the OP sourced is a double panel with single/zero fins and the installer is proposing a double panel double fin rad.

It was a 600x 1200 double radiator. I needed a valve. The one we have in is 1200 long but only about 300 high, a small chunky old fashioned thing. Been in for about 30 years. He gave no indication of why it was no good. I got it from e bay a while ago after asking my neighbour to check it for me. He is a bit of a handyman but to ill now to do anything much.
Anyway, i got another quote from a friend of a friend ( Cash in hand ) and he has quoted £85, to put it in and said the radiator is fine. Hopefully it will be installed this week.:D
Thats what our cold weather payment is going for this year, which is why i cringed at £300. The government won't give me that much. lol