Replacement Radiators

Jeepers_Creepers

Or, 'dogleg' the pipes inwards as they come up to the rad so they connect to normal 'angled' rad valves - use two suitable elbows with a piece of pipe in between if needed (or slip a 'socket' elbow into a normal one if they provide enough offset as they are); https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=15mm+dogleg+elbow+copper&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwik-NewtPTtAhUIUcAKHTWuC1wQ_AUoAnoECBAQBA&biw=1920&bih=938

You may think there isn't enough distance between the floor and the rad for this, but if you are going to fit a taller column rad, then it'll likely be further from the floor to begin with so's it looks more balanced - my column rads are at least 200mm off the floor.

missile

Hi,
This radiator is in my kitchen / diner.
My white TVRs are looking their age and I was considering replacing them all with anthracite to match the new radiators. Replacing the inlet corner valve with a bend and inline valve should work a treat.
Thanks guys for your very prompt and helpful responses.

*j*

Radiator valve extensions...

https://www.screwfix.com/c/heating-plumbing/radiator-parts-accessories/cat10420002?producttype=telescopic_trv_extension_piece|rigid_trv_extension_piece|radiator_compression_valve_tail|radiator_union_valve_tail

If you type "radiator valve extensions" into the screwfix search box you get a bigger range of options!

Jeepers_Creepers

If you worry that the exposed pipes might look untidy, what I did was to have a test pot of Anthracite RAL 7016 made up at a Dulux decorating centre and used this on the bits of exposed copper pipe, along with Anth plastic pipe collars (cheap on eBay) for where they disappeared through the wall.

nofoollikeold

If you use extensions, don't use the telescopic ones, they usually leak in the end.

missile

Many thanks for your comments 

mrmmhf

We recently upgraded our rads to Stelrad K3s. They have been a game changer. Stelrad also some really stylish rads, so you should check them out. I have a 10% discount code for their Vita & Softline Compact K3 radiators, which I can share if you’re interested.

mrmmhf

Elmer_BeFuddled said:

tacpot12 said:

...... You won't be able to buy a new gas boiler after 2025, so you need to be sizing your radiators with having a heatpump as the source in mind.

Is that for real? So if a boiler packs up and need to have a heatpump as its replacement, does that mean major disruptions to all the pipework(s) in my kitchen? Do I get to keep all the (now) unused copper piping for the scrappie? 

We retrofitted an ASHP to replace an oil boiler and it didn’t affect the pipework running to rads or UFH.

Jeepers_Creepers

mrmmhf said:

We retrofitted an ASHP to replace an oil boiler and it didn’t affect the pipework running to rads or UFH.

UFH is the ideal heating system to use with A&GSHP since it naturally runs at a low temp, which is what Heat Pumps are best at.

In fact I understand that, when used with conventional boilers which give out HW at ~70oC, a thermostatic blender is part of the UFH manifold, and this effectively reduces the temp of water circulating around the UHF to around the mid-20's?

So, A&GSHPs are perfect for use with UFH. Where it is not as effective is when it's asked to supply conventional rads which are designed to be run at much higher temps - ~70oC-ish. If they cannot manage this, then they need a back-up heat source to tweak up the water temp to suit - which is clearly a complex and poor system.

Two 'solutions' to using A&GSHPs with conventional rads - one is to either accept cooler rads and have an alternative heat source available for the colder months, or the other is to increase the size of the rads (or add extras) so they output the same heat as before, but working at this lower HP temp.

That's my understanding.

It's a blunt tool, but I'd suggest to anyone who needs to replace any rads to seriously consider going 'large'! Eg, add an extra panel or convection fins. Consider UFH. Possibly even - for the main living areas, for example - think about locations for additional rads, perhaps even column or designer types so they fit in, and even run the pipes there if not actually installing them - yet.

Even with gas boilers, the cooler you can run them, the better - more efficient, and less strain. So consider 'larger' even if fitting just a new gas boiler.

Not worth swapping rads just to oversize them, but anyone already having to replace rads should seriously consider the replacement's size.

FaceHead

mrmmhf said:

We recently upgraded our rads to Stelrad K3s. They have been a game changer. Stelrad also some really stylish rads, so you should check them out. I have a 10% discount code for their Vita & Softline Compact K3 radiators, which I can share if you’re interested.

I got the softline silhouette ones - at between £54 and £115 each for the various sizes my plumber said I needed in each room I thought they were a good buy. They look decent and keep me warm, without breaking the bank.