Room temperature never reaches desired thermostat temperature - what else can I do?

ireallycantyodel

chris_n said:

It would be good to understand the total heat going into the house and how the floor areas of the rooms compare. It's also worth thinking about what the aspect of the rooms is, i.e. which rooms face north and which have more than one outside wall.

Does this help? The arrows show where the radiators in question are situated (Sorry if I confused anyone with the word "Bay" window. They are not really bays but the windows are quite big). The windows are north/east facing as shown on the compass. The lounge is marginally bigger than the bedroom. Yet the bedroom is the coldest room. Looking at the picture, the right side is the outside wall and the left side is attached to the neighbouring house - it's a semi-detached

chris_n

Your living room radiator is only capable of 1.8kW, according to a few variables in online calculators it requires between 2.5kW and 3kW. The bedroom will be about the same so again the radiator is underpowered. 
While it is cold you probably should turn the boiler temp up (I know it will be less efficient) or use a supplementary heater. Still worth a tweak on the lockshield though, if it makes no difference put it back to what it was.

ireallycantyodel

chris_n said:

Your living room radiator is only capable of 1.8kW, according to a few variables in online calculators it requires between 2.5kW and 3kW. The bedroom will be about the same so again the radiator is underpowered. 
While it is cold you probably should turn the boiler temp up (I know it will be less efficient) or use a supplementary heater. Still worth a tweak on the lockshield though, if it makes no difference put it back to what it was.

Thank you, I have a really good landlord so I'll let him know. In the meantime I'll just use a low wattage space heater for my desk area

spinspiral

Boat_to_Bolivia said:

Alnat1 said:

I fold the bottom of my curtains so they sit on the window sill when closed and the heat can't get up behind them so much

I was going to say the same thing. Thick curtains certainly make a big difference in my experience.

I found the above helpfull, closed curtains rest behind the adapter so heat projects into room and not into alcove

Scot_39

ireallycantyodel said:

The radiator is right under the window unfortunately - so if I get curtains it will also cover the radiator

I am looking to install a shelf to sit right above the radiator though.

Before we had our single glazed replaced by double glazing - we put a sort of upside down pelmet arrangement on the window sills above a couple of radiators - and so the bottom of curtains sat in that - and the heat went up the room side - and not the window side.

And used thermal liners on curtains.

We also put radiator heat reflectors - behind radiators on external walls - some rubbish it - but didn't cost a lot.

It made a bit of difference - to feel in room - if not bills - but they were so much lower then than now.

ireallycantyodel

I am so sorry for the late reply y'all. So the issue really is that the radiators are too small and the walls are just plain brick. Landlord is looking into bigger radiators - thanks for all your help and advice. I wouldn't have got to the bottom of it without people sending me advice on measuring the room. I bought a infrared heater in the meantime which is quite economical.

EssexHebridean

Thanks for coming back to update - here’s hoping the LL gets things sorted for you! 

Scot_39

ireallycantyodel said:

I am so sorry for the late reply y'all. So the issue really is that the radiators are too small and the walls are just plain brick. Landlord is looking into bigger radiators - thanks for all your help and advice. I wouldn't have got to the bottom of it without people sending me advice on measuring the room. I bought a infrared heater in the meantime which is quite economical.

@ireallycantyodel

It might be better for you (heating bills) and him if he agreed to fit internal or external insulation panels on the exterior walls.

There has been talk of raising the minimum EPC standard from an E to a C for new tenancies for a while - so he may have to do work if he plans to stay a landlord.

See e.g.

https://www.nrla.org.uk/news/epc-rules-for-rented-property-what-you-need-to-know

This article says it's still pending - but there may be more up to date news elsewhere.

And as far as you are concerned - all bigger radiators will do is cost more to heat the room more - to match it's existing losses.

mgfvvc

Our lounge struggled to come up to temperature until I fitted SpeedComfort fans. They are attached magnetically to the radiator, not permanently fixed. The main limitation is to have a power point situated where you can run the cable to the radiator. They are available on Amazon.

ariarnia

would they get hot enough for the stove top fans (that work on temp difference)?