Renting - requesting new radiators?

rmills55

I assume the plumber will flush it. Hoping that will sort it

I'm happy to pay for it, I never intended for the landlord to pay for it! I didn't make that clear 

Also it's Wales not england, whatever difference that makes

rmills55

According to the landlord, the system was last flushed (to his knowledge) in 2008 when it had a new boiler. Hoping it's just that 

canaldumidi

Bleeding won't help if the rads are cold at the bottom. That's sludge (probably). Plumber will either remove the rad, flush it, and replace, or flush the whole system.

I'd wait and see what difference it makes.

By all means ask for new double rads. Whether LL agrees depends on your relationship with him, his finances, his general attitude..... but you have no right to insist.

If he says no, offering to share the cost or pay for it all is the next option.

I assume you have a gas safety report, and your LL is registered with 'Rent Smart Wales'?

theartfullodger

If things aren't fixed you are perfectly entitled to request council do a HHSRS survey of property, mainly regarding safety, but does check on heating.  

Google landlord guide HHSRS and see details.  

Good luck!

Artful, landlord since 2000

Jenni_D

The micro-bore feed/return pipes (8 mm) likely won't be helping things, and the rads will probably sludge up again. The system probably needs flushed (properly) and then a filter fitted to minimise the sludge build-up.

rmills55

Again thanks all for replys

Registered rent smart, I've the gas safety certificate in a draw, all paperwork is there!
I agree on waiting to see how it goes, and I'm in no way going to insist they be installed. The system is originally 1983 or something and only really had boiler upgades. Also the LL said this is not a hard water area so microbore should be fine (so I'm told)

I'll wait and see what happens with plumber and then go from there, thanks for help all

FreeBear

By "unvented/no fins", I'm assuming these are Type 10 flat panel radiators. Replacing them with similar sized Type 11 (single panel, single row of fins) or Type 21 (double panel, single row of fins) will increase the amount of heat kicked out - Wouldn't recommend Type 22 *double panel, double row of fins) as they stick a long way out of the wall.

BUT before the radiators are replaced, the room dimensions (and other info) needs to be fed in to a calculator to check the sizing is optimum for each room. Then the boiler capacity needs to be assessed to make sure it is up to providing the extra heat. Once that has been done, then by all means ask the LL if he is willing to fund replacement radiators. But before you do that, hang some heavy thermal curtains over the windows & sliding doors - You'll be losing quite a bit of heat through them at night.

Should also point out that if the place is draughty, even with new radiators, it will be a pig to keep warm. So radiators need to be added in conjunction with other energy saving measures.

Murphybear

It sounds like you have a good landlord there

I agree with the others, a larger radiator may not make that much difference.  If you would be happier with one then offer to buy it yourself.  He may even say he’d be happy to buy it.  

rmills55

Yes I wasn't actually thinking doubles nessasrily, I was just thinking ones which have better heat output similar to the one in kitchen with fins. 

I have big, thick, heavy, curtains over the sliding door, that is the warmer side of the room. The front has curtains (not as thick), but the radiator sits so far under the window sill and about 1cm below it, it's hard to tuck them behind it, but I have a insulated blind in that window to try and help, but this is the rad that basically does nothing! 

[Deleted User]

Powerflush might sort it.