Sizing Radiators?

paperclap

Hi all,

I’ve calculated the BTU requirements for each of my rooms.

However, I’ve heard it is best to oversize the rads. Helps future-proof your system, can run at a lower temperature, so on and so forth.

The question is, by how much do you oversize?

I’m currently planning on oversizing by 50%. Not so much with the BTUs in mind. Just, the smaller rads (with lower BTUs) look a little out of place in larger areas

Thanks!

FaceHead

I don't agree that you need to oversize. Rather, I think that most of the calculators online give oversized results, and you don't need to further oversize. After all, they are in the business of selling radiators

I would suggest using a few online calculators as you'll get different results. 

The sizing is usually intended to be able to get the room to 25 degress when it is minus 5 outside, i.e. a 30 degree difference. 

This sounds already-oversized to me - how often do you want your house 30 degrees hotter than outside - during the day when you actually have the heating on? I would be inclined to cut back from the sizing in the calculator if it allows get you down a size - and the crank the temperature up to 75 degrees the next time we get a 2010/11 style cold snap. 

Doozergirl

Future proofing means for heat pumps - you'd double the size!