Best big rads

bazzarob_2

hello
Our house is old and has a massive lounge - we are looking to get some work done to make it more heat efficient for the winter, it was freezing last year. Any tips? We have double glazing already and a wood fire. The room currently only has two radiators, and one is near to a door. Are there any radiators which are well known to be really efficient? Space to accommodate them isn't really an option, just looking for some top tips!
thanks
bazza

anotherbaldrick

What is your lounge floor ? is it boards on joists with a ventilated void below. ? What is the air intake for the wood burner , is it an air bick in the hearth ?
I would recommend getting one of the fantastic Ecofans http://www.swithenbanks.co.uk/shop.php?c1=Eco%20Heating&c2=Eco%20Fans&referrer=google
Theses just stand on top of the stove and are powered solely by the heat conducted through the fan base , no electricity , they pump the heat from the stove and circulate it in the room so it does not all just rise and sit under the ceiling and are totally silent. They are fascinating , you can sit and watch them for hours

bazzarob_2

thanks anotherbaldrick. It's an open fire unfortunately, we really wanted to put in a woodburning stove in its place but have been quoted astronomical prices for the work (lining the flue, other building work etc). I have been into stove places and mooned around looking for bargains but it's not going to happen for us.
As for the floor it is raised, there's about three foot void beneath and yes it's wooden joists. Have looked at insulating but again will be about £5k due to the surface area.

anotherbaldrick

You know what ! a 3 ft space is enough to get under there yourself with a top hat on (I did my heating pipes in 18" space before I got arfuritic).
I would be thinking of something like 12mm Celotex rigid boards and spike them to the U/S of the joists and tape the joints, cost about £4 metre, big lounge will only cost £600 to do. Dirty old job but nothing a shower afterwards will not cure. Still got time to do it before it gets cold !

ValHaller

Site radiators under windows for best effect.

whiskywhisky

Regarding the void in the ground, maybe you look into putting a cheaper DIY type of insulation. Things I can think off are Cellulose, or maybe you can get hold of cheap or even free loads and loads of straw or shreded paper!

anotherbaldrick

whiskywhisky wrote: »

Regarding the void in the ground, maybe you look into putting a cheaper DIY type of insulation. Things I can think off are Cellulose, or maybe you can get hold of cheap or even free loads and loads of straw or shreded paper!

You could put a mousecam down there and watch all the little fellows having a ball, amongst other things