Radiator question

abwsco

Silly questions alert:o

Are all double panel rads equal. We're replacing our ancient kitchen one and don't want to buy as cheap as possible if it will be carp. So far quickly looked at screwix and wickes.

Bathroom rad. Again we're replacing that one. As the room is always so flaming cold should we just go for the biggest we can fit in ie double the BTU to whats recommeneded on room size. Looked at the ones on Brooklyn Trading. Are they OK.

Will be a plumber doing them but he works FT for a builder and has left buying the rads up to us. Just told me to get them:o

Thanks

new_owner

You should have them sized (BTU) for the rooms. I am surprised your plumber did not recommend a size.

You should not just go double the size. If there just over the BTU requirements for the room then that would be better than just under...Are you getting trv's?

abwsco

new_owner wrote: »

You should have them sized (BTU) for the rooms. I am surprised your plumber did not recommend a size.

You should not just go double the size. If there just over the BTU requirements for the room then that would be better than just under...Are you getting trv's?

Yes, we are getting TRV's.

Kitchen, we're stuck to a size because of where the rad is. Quality of radiator is my main issue for there.

Bathroom, restricted on width but he said we could go much taller than we have now. If we go as high as I want the BTU would be nearly double what they say for the room. Is that a real problem:o

olly300

Measure the room and then calculate the BTU yourself.

If the screwfix or wickes website don't have how you do the calculation than the B&Q website should do so.

Also if you are getting a towel rail for the bathroom rather than just a radiator make sure it's stainless steel as they don't rust in damp environments.

new_owner

abwsco wrote: »

Yes, we are getting TRV's.

Kitchen, we're stuck to a size because of where the rad is. Quality of radiator is my main issue for there.

Bathroom, restricted on width but he said we could go much taller than we have now. If we go as high as I want the BTU would be nearly double what they say for the room. Is that a real problem:o

As long as your boiler is up to the job then there should not be any issues regardless of size.

There are other options


For the kitchen there are kick board rads. you can get these that plum straight in... and frees up wall space... + some have a electric boost option. Underfloor heating but this might not be an option

If you need to double the recommended output then you should look into insulation/draft-proofing.. where is your heat going?

Not sure if I can link (but someone can remove if not) btu cal at bottom of page...

http://www.trueshopping.co.uk/product/Trueshopping_Traditional_Heated_Bathroom_Towel_Radiator_Rail_940mm_x_635mm/709/51502.html#btucalc

There are hundreds of radiator designs to choose from personally for kitchens I prefer kick board rads as they don't take space away from a wall and some have great output....beware there are elec and wet.

Hope this helps.

abwsco

new_owner wrote: »

As long as your boiler is up to the job then there should not be any issues regardless of size.

There are other options


For the kitchen there are kick board rads. you can get these that plum straight in... and frees up wall space... + some have a electric boost option. Underfloor heating but this might not be an option

If you need to double the recommended output then you should look into insulation/draft-proofing.. where is your heat going?

Not sure if I can link (but someone can remove if not) btu cal at bottom of page...

http://www.trueshopping.co.uk/product/Trueshopping_Traditional_Heated_Bathroom_Towel_Radiator_Rail_940mm_x_635mm/709/51502.html#btucalc

There are hundreds of radiator designs to choose from personally for kitchens I prefer kick board rads as they don't take space away from a wall and some have great output....beware there are elec and wet.

Hope this helps.

Thanks new_owner. Will definately check with plumber that boiler can cope with a big radiator in the bathroom.

Kick board rads sound good and something I'll remember about if we ever decide to fully overhaul the kitchen.

House is all DG, got cavity wall and loft insulation. Just seems to be that living on the coast the side of the house where the kitchen and bathroom are always get the cold wind and then we're cold. Could well be that we're getting old and soft as well as would say it's only these past couple of years that we've really noticed it.:o

abwsco

olly300 wrote: »

Also if you are getting a towel rail for the bathroom rather than just a radiator make sure it's stainless steel as they don't rust in damp environments.

Is it just new white rads that rust. Current one in bathroom is 35+ years old and no signs of rust on it.

A.Penny.Saved

I wouldn't recommend Wickes or their Quinn radiators. The ones I received were terrible quality with very poor paintwork. The Quinn quality control must drink far too much Guinness while on the job IMO if my radiators were passable quality.

Standards have dropped in the last 35 years, you won't be able to purchase anything as well made now.

It would be worth making sure that all your radiator pipework is insulated because that is often missed. Plumbers and heating engineers don't usually pay any attention to it and often make it as difficult as possible to insulate pipes while they are trying to get a job done as quickly as possible.