Vertical Radiators versus Horizontal Radiators for Effective Heat

Leodogger

coffeehound said:

ComicGeek said:

Don't forget that you can get up to 30% of heat output via radiation, so putting them behind a sofa would mean losing that, plus the radiant heating effect which is more pleasant. 

Also, given that the OP's ceilings are pretty high, there's more opportunity for warm air to pool at the ceiling, so the more heat delivered as radiant, the better

Given the lack of wall space and what there is available is just one strip of wall max radiator it will take is 420mm wide, all other wall space has double electrical sockets at the base, I see no alternative to having a horizontal radiator though I will agree it is not the perfect solution and I don't like radiators behind sofas for obvious reasons which have been said, you lose the heat through the sofa.

Jeepers_Creepers

Sockets can be moved quite easily.

Anyhoo, I think you've had all the options outlined, so it really comes down to what is best for you.

Leodogger

Jeepers_Creepers said:

Sockets can be moved quite easily.

Anyhoo, I think you've had all the options outlined, so it really comes down to what is best for you.

Still considering vertical ones, as I say I don't like radiators behind the sofa, and think I could get another 420mm wide one the other end of the wall but it will cost us 3 x the price of a horizontal (to get the BTU output we need) so have to consider whether the extra cost is worth it.   The plumber said he can do it, it is just down to us what we want.

silvercar

We had one large radiator behind a sofa. The room never felt warm. We replaced it with 2 vertical radiators on opposite walls, as well as gaining a foot of space behind the sofa, the room became warmer. Our plumber said the same as yours, that vertical radiators don't heat as well, so we went with 2 rather than 1. 

Leodogger

silvercar said:

We had one large radiator behind a sofa. The room never felt warm. We replaced it with 2 vertical radiators on opposite walls, as well as gaining a foot of space behind the sofa, the room became warmer. Our plumber said the same as yours, that vertical radiators don't heat as well, so we went with 2 rather than 1. 

I think you are right, we have had one radiator before behind the sofa and could never feel the heat.   Plus we have an expensive suite which we don't want to damage with a heat source directly behind it.    We would also lose one foot of the room to accommodate the rad which is inconvenient as we have a wall unit on the adjoining wall and it would obstruct access to two doors at the bottom to get it opened.   I think it will cost us more but will be more heat effective to have two vertical ones.

Rosa_Damascena

Jeepers_Creepers said:

Sockets can be moved quite easily.

Anyhoo, I think you've had all the options outlined, so it really comes down to what is best for you.

BUT if you have them caved into the wall rather than trailed and pinned back there is a lot of hassle with dust, plus the cost of re-plastering will have to be factored in.

Leodogger

Rosa_Damascena said:

Jeepers_Creepers said:

Sockets can be moved quite easily.

Anyhoo, I think you've had all the options outlined, so it really comes down to what is best for you.

BUT if you have them caved into the wall rather than trailed and pinned back there is a lot of hassle with dust, plus the cost of re-plastering will have to be factored in.

I am hoping that the sockets will remain untouched but they are not "caved into the walls" but are surface mounted on top of the skirting boards.   I am hoping that the vertical radiators can be mounted above the sockets since the fixings can be done either side of the wiring (unless someone knows to the contrary?).    As the pipes can be boxed in behind the sofa, it is not like they will be on show.

Jeepers_Creepers

Leodogger said:

Rosa_Damascena said:

Jeepers_Creepers said:

Sockets can be moved quite easily.

Anyhoo, I think you've had all the options outlined, so it really comes down to what is best for you.

BUT if you have them caved into the wall rather than trailed and pinned back there is a lot of hassle with dust, plus the cost of re-plastering will have to be factored in.

I am hoping that the sockets will remain untouched but they are not "caved into the walls" but are surface mounted on top of the skirting boards.   I am hoping that the vertical radiators can be mounted above the sockets since the fixings can be done either side of the wiring (unless someone knows to the contrary?).    As the pipes can be boxed in behind the sofa, it is not like they will be on show.

That sounds doable.

Of course, having a water container above a mains socket ain't ideal, but I don't think there's any rools against it.

On the other hand, if you are having a fair amount of work done to your room - as it sounds you are - and this includes chasing into your concrete floor to some degree, might it not be worth moving these sockets to sunken positions on the wall above the skirtings? They must be very low if on the skirting boards, I suspect quite unsightly, and also prone to being knocked - this could be the time to add extra sockets and fit them where they should be?

Leodogger

Jeepers_Creepers said:

Leodogger said:

Rosa_Damascena said:

Jeepers_Creepers said:

Sockets can be moved quite easily.

Anyhoo, I think you've had all the options outlined, so it really comes down to what is best for you.

BUT if you have them caved into the wall rather than trailed and pinned back there is a lot of hassle with dust, plus the cost of re-plastering will have to be factored in.

I am hoping that the sockets will remain untouched but they are not "caved into the walls" but are surface mounted on top of the skirting boards.   I am hoping that the vertical radiators can be mounted above the sockets since the fixings can be done either side of the wiring (unless someone knows to the contrary?).    As the pipes can be boxed in behind the sofa, it is not like they will be on show.

That sounds doable.

Of course, having a water container above a mains socket ain't ideal, but I don't think there's any rools against it.

On the other hand, if you are having a fair amount of work done to your room - as it sounds you are - and this includes chasing into your concrete floor to some degree, might it not be worth moving these sockets to sunken positions on the wall above the skirtings? They must be very low if on the skirting boards, I suspect quite unsightly, and also prone to being knocked - this could be the time to add extra sockets and fit them where they should be?

Actually, we have 4 sets of double sockets in our lounge, nearly all surface mounted as the extras were added but that wall where the rads will go is the one wall that is not having work done on it and as we are in our 70's we are not looking to redecorate the whole room anyway with wallpaper.    We have a spare roll of the existing paper to repair the damage done putting the french doors and side windows in and then we will paint all the walls but we don't want to create any more work than necessary.    We will see what the plumber says about mounting the rads above the sockets.   It may be that he will suggest they are mounted either side of them.