New vs Old Radiators

Zither

Hello,

I've been reading about radiators. According to 'the internet', new radiators are 'much more efficient' than radiators manufactured pre-2000.

Is this true? Do new radiators put out more/the same heat using the same/less amount of energy?

Have any of you had old radiators replaced, and noticed an appreciable difference?

If so, I'm thinking about replacing some radiators from pre-1996. Worth it?

Thanks!

Z

ic

I think they mean that you get more heat from a smaller unit, and will find the heat up time is quicker.
You can't get more heat, if you're pumping the same amount in from the boiler.

I've replaced all the radiators in my house which were from around 1997. Only two are located in the same position as their predecessors, and I only replaced them because I'd replaced and re-sited the rest. I can't say they're any different - but one thing for certain was the old ones were much heavier, so contained a lot more steel.

matty2767

We have new radiators and the pipe run has a very small diameter. There is hardly any water in the system, so less water to heat and higher pressure to force it round. Overall system is more efficient because of this. Are you thinking to replace the whole system or just the rads?

Zither

Hi ic and thanks,

Tbh, not sure what I mean - just the internet seems to suggest that 'newer are better'. However, I thought the same - hot water is hot water and it can only get so hot. However, I guess that the boiler will need to heat less water to generate the same heat output so accrue a saving?

So you didn't notice much impact to how warm your house is, or how much it cost to heat your house? I'm wondering if it's cheaper to just 'keep the heating on' rather than spend the money on more efficient radiators?

TY,

Z

Zither

matty2767 wrote: »

We have new radiators and the pipe run has a very small diameter. There is hardly any water in the system, so less water to heat and higher pressure to force it round. Overall system is more efficient because of this. Are you thinking to replace the whole system or just the rads?

Hi matty and thanks,

The boiler needed replacing about 3 years ago so we replaced it then - so not looking to replace the boiler again. Have you noticed any savings/more warmth (from having the heating on less) because of newer radiators??

TY,

Z

Owain_Moneysaver

Newer radiators tend to be sized larger for lower return temperatures, which is beneficial for working with condensing boilers.

matty2767

Hi zither

Would like to answer your question but we cannot compare with old style install because we have always had the newer flavour and that was the condensing boiler, sealed system, learning thermostat, new style rads etc. Our beatings bills are low though.

I might be wrong, and others can correct me, but I think you only see real benefit if you combine most of the individual upgrades.

Wookey

All radiators heat rooms by convection, older rads will have no fins on them making there convection ability a lot less efficient than more modern ones, a smaller modern rad will suffice in place of a much larger old style one.

The one problem (if you can call it that) is that new rads are made from a lot thinner steel and this will rust thru in a very short space of time, it is imperative that you use a decent rust inhibitor and ensure that it is kept to a decent level, even taking a rad of to decorate and leaving it exposed to the air for a few weeks can cause problems and mean a new rad and always top up with inhibitor after any water is drained.

longwalks1

We've still got the old boiler we inherited when we moved in, think its maybe 13 or 14 yars old. We've replaced each old radiator as we've decorated each room, replaced 8 i think now, they look a lot better and seem to warm up a lot faster, so we are happy with them. Some rooms we've gone for the standard white ones from local Screwfix/suppliers, but in a couple of rooms weve gone for slightly more modern looking, to tie in with the decor. Overall, very impressed with them

Alexd52

Heat transfer can be reduced if scale builds up inside the radiator. We renewed an old one in the kitchen recently, and have noticed an improvement in temperature in the room. (smaller radiator now as well)

EmmyLou30

We replaced the boiler first with a new combi and had that for 2 winters with 1992 radiators (all but 2 had the fins on the back) and standard lockshield valves on all of them. Result - a wave of heat that hit you half way up the stairs as upstairs got too hot and the utility room that has the back door/garage door/kitchen door/window never really got warm.
Next year we replaced all the rads, fitted TRV's but left the 8mm microbore pipework as it was sound (hardly any sludge in the system and the rads were pretty clean when we removed them, hardly any black at all). Result - nice even heat all over the house and the rads warm up quicker (thinner metal I imagine) and the utility gets warm now as if the rad is kicking out heat better. All the rads were a like for like replacement size wise.
So I think from a visual point of view it's nice to have new ones if yours are old and chipped, and definitely worth fitting TRV's if you don't have them.