Will new radiators help warm our living room?

iandv

Hi

We have a good size living room which even when the heating is on still feels cold. The current radiator is an older design but does have double fin.

Would installing a new larger convector style radiator make a difference and how much would changing a radiator likely to cost?

Or would we be better installing another radiator in the room?

drummer_666

it might be worth checking if any drafts are coming in from either windows, doors, floors or chimney first

my lounge is cold but has a radiator bigger than necessary. but it has drafts from chimney and window (and it's just a cold house from single brick construction)

ListysDad

Before spending any money on new kit ensure the existing is working to its best first.
Do you have sludge? If so get it cleaned out.
Is the system balanced? If not get it done so each rad gets the water it needs to be effective.
Then and only then look at output.

Jonesya

Google radiator calculators and find a free one online, punch in the details of your room sizing, window types etc and it'll give an estimate for the typical BTU/kw output required.

Then measure your existing radiator and use the radiator details from a DIY retailer like Wickes/Screwfix/Toolstation estimate output from current radiators then you can compare.

It isn't going to be spot on accurate but at least confirms if your existing radiators are around the right size or not.

iandv

There could be a draft from the chimney, at the moment there is an electric style fire in the fireplace.

What is the best way to insulate the chimney to stop drafts coming down?

With our windows its is a double glazed bay window, I know this may seem a silly question but is there a way of checking for drafts?

The house is of cavity wall construction, but the floors are suspended with a good size void underneath - unless this is where the cold air is coming from? Although the room has good quality underlay and carpet which I thought would reduce this

llandyrnog

Draughts dont come down chimneys !. The chimney is drawing air out of the room possibly from the suspended floor. This causes cold air to travel from the source to the chimney which is acting as a big vacuum hoover. It also sucks the warm air out of the room if the chimney is not in use and the central heating is on. I think the figures are that around 70% of heat from an open fire is lost up the chimney. If you are not using the chimney then I think you would notice a difference if you were to seal the opening

jaks101

I had the same problem and replaced my rad with a double fin double rad of a similar size and it made the world of difference.

Just buy one rad first to see if it makes a difference.

Fire_Fox

Consider cavity wall insulation, I was amazed how much difference it made in my aunt's little semi, you might even be able to get a freebie. Consider getting the whole heating system flushed if it has not be done for a few years. Do you have thermal/ blackout linings on the curtains?

Be careful sealing up chimneys or under floor voids, you can end up with damp problems.

olly300

One of my mates told me that when she got her living room redecorated she got new radiators because she couldn't be bothered to strip and paint the old ones. The new radiators were the same size with a more extensive double fin. She noticed the room was much warmer (or her kids had all got more cold tolerant.)

When I got my living room plastered and then painted while having more work done I asked for the plumber to replace the old radiator. He looked at me weirdly as there was nothing wrong the old radiator. The double fin in the new radiator is different i.e. it's more extensive and the radiator is actually shorter. The room is also warmer so I now turn the thermostatic radiator valve down.

My old living room radiator was the same size as the one in my bedroom but my bedroom is smaller.

Both myself and my friend were replacing radiators from the 1970s.

BTW I can't tell you the cost for changing the radiator as I got more plumbing work done at the same time so there was one cost.