Best radiators?

Mark M · 13 Jan 2017 at 10:40

Are there any radiators that are the go to style or make? I need to change the one in the kitchen that is massively under specced! Id like it to be as "powerful" as possible if that makes sense. Space isnt an issue so doesnt need to be a slimline one or anything.

Kingdom34 · 13 Jan 2017 at 11:02

Have a look at the vertical ones on screwfix....think theyre called Milano...we have them in our kitchen and they generate a lot of heat...i think its btu ratings you need to check :-)

robj20 · 13 Jan 2017 at 11:24

Kingdom34 said:
Have a look at the vertical ones on screwfix....think theyre called Milano...we have them in our kitchen and they generate a lot of heat...i think its btu ratings you need to check

Only old people use BTUs these days, KWs now.

A triple panel is probably your best bet.

R.O.S.S.I · 13 Jan 2017 at 13:20

I thought BTU's was the correct measurement. So is KW the way to go nowadays?

Sorry to hijack thread but say you are replacing a radiator - a single panel with a triple panel how do you know if your boiler can cope with the added BTU's? Am I right in thinking boilers will only be able to feed up to a certain total BTU (across all your rads)? I've got a sinlge that I wouldnt mind changing for a double or even triple but the BTU jump is nearly double for the double and nearly triple for the triple panel (who'd have thought!!!).....

robj20 · 13 Jan 2017 at 13:49

What sort of boiler?

There are plenty of online calculators to help you figure out the heating required. Do it for each room then add them up.

Kingdom34 · 16 Jan 2017 at 16:12

robj20 said:
Only old people use BTUs these days, KWs now.

A triple panel is probably your best bet.

I do apologise!!!!!!
Surely its still a relevant measurement or have we been lied to for long periods of time.

Vanilla · 16 Jan 2017 at 17:30

Personally I just went for style over brand. Vertical flat radiators in some rooms, flat horizonal radiators in other rooms.

Biggest rad is in the living room as it's the largest room and most populated.

I just searched on ibathuk, cheapsuites, etc. You could spend thousands on radiators, it gets a bit silly.

robj20 · 16 Jan 2017 at 17:36

Kingdom34 said:
I do apologise!!!!!!
Surely its still a relevant measurement or have we been lied to for long periods of time.

Radiators are sold at kW, ratings as are boilers. Would seem wasteful to work everything out in BTUs only to need to convert it to KWs.

GSXRMovistar · 16 Jan 2017 at 21:16

robj20 said:
Radiators are sold at kW, ratings as are boilers. Would seem wasteful to work everything out in BTUs only to need to convert it to KWs.

Hmm looking at a large amount of retailers it would seem that they all quote BTUs as the primary rating (also including wattage), and those that only quote one figure are in BTU so would seem it is still a very relevant rating.

SPG · 16 Jan 2017 at 21:54

Stelrad.

Ignore the cheap ones from screwfix.

robj20 · 17 Jan 2017 at 01:22

GSXRMovistar said:
Hmm looking at a large amount of retailers it would seem that they all quote BTUs as the primary rating (also including wattage), and those that only quote one figure are in BTU so would seem it is still a very relevant rating.

But like I said your going to all the trouble of calculating everything in BTUs to then convert to KWs for your boiler. Will you also be measuring in feet and inches then converting to metric. I know you can still get some imperial rads but the vast majority are metric now.

AHarvey · 17 Jan 2017 at 01:52

SPG said:
Stelrad.

Ignore the cheap ones from screwfix.

I bought a Barlo round top type 21 double panel rad 600 x 900mm from screwfix, £50 and came with a free £20 TRV. Kicks out 4485 BTUs of heat, on max my daughters room is warm in minutes.

And that was suggested by a mate who is a gas fitter by trade.

Rest of the house will be done with screwfix ones as well. cheap and work great!

Superficial · 17 Jan 2017 at 02:50

robj20 said:
But like I said your going to all the trouble of calculating everything in BTUs to then convert to KWs for your boiler. Will you also be measuring in feet and inches then converting to metric. I know you can still get some imperial rads but the vast majority are metric now.

British Thermal Units are specifically a measurement of heat output. For me at least that is the primary consideration.

https://www.britannica.com/science/British-thermal-unit

There is always a caveat when discussing BTU to Watt conversion - it's not perfect. The actual metric counterpart is Joules.

We want to know the heat output I would say. That is why all websites use BTU's as the principle measurement for determining your radiator requirements - for example:

http://www.diy.com/help-advice/btu-radiator-calculator/Dev_npcart_100006.art

there is no reason to think BTU's are obsolete.

Brozart · 17 Jan 2017 at 10:32

SPG said:
Stelrad.

Ignore the cheap ones from screwfix.

X2, I went with Stelrad Softline.

Pulsedriver · 18 Jan 2017 at 09:49

AHarvey said:
I bought a Barlo round top type 21 double panel rad 600 x 900mm from screwfix, £50 and came with a free £20 TRV. Kicks out 4485 BTUs of heat, on max my daughters room is warm in minutes.

And that was suggested by a mate who is a gas fitter by trade.

Rest of the house will be done with screwfix ones as well. cheap and work great!

I also bought a Barlo round top 500 x 600, single panel for a small conservatory, I personally think the round top ones look nicer than the newer style, but more importantly, this one kicks out some heat!

Barlo are a decent brand, so I will be going with them for the other radiators as and when they need replacing.

BigT · 18 Jan 2017 at 21:52

I don't know what style you're going for, but if traditional this refurbished old school radiator we got can heat a 30' x 20' room on its own no problem and it is no where near the biggest size they do.

They make them to order any size,you want: http://www.theoldradiatorcompany.co.uk