Radiators Changes

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SPG

SPG

SPG

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Looking to replace all my radiators, they are all the old single panel (no fins) throughout the house, is there really any difference in buying them from screwfix for example or higher brand like Stelrad ?

Will probably for type 22 all over, as I can afford the room.
 
Massive difference and if you look around you'll get stelrads for near the same price as the kudox rubbish in screwfix.

I've fitted 3 kudox rads around 2 years ago and they already look a little tatty whereas the stelrads I fitted a few month later are as new. Much more substantial rads too,
 
Make sure you work out the btu you need and buy the rad appropriate.

It's really tempting to buy the same size rads so you don't have to mess around too much with pipework but then you run the risk of having rads too big and the system working inefficiently.

Especially frustrating under windows where you might have to bring both ends of pipe work in so you maintain a central rad.
 
All the current RADS are old and not the convenient sizes we have now so i am afraid its a not a direct swap out and no easy option.

Boiler is 24kw which is 88k Btu, Total BTU of the new set is 65btu so a nice safety margin to upgrade and pump out some heat for a change and actually get the thermostat to actually switch off for a change.
 
Maccapacca said:
It's really tempting to buy the same size rads so you don't have to mess around too much with pipework but then you run the risk of having rads too big and the system working inefficiently.
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I thought the problem now is that all the radiators are too small for the new condensing boilers which need a lower return temp to work efficiently?
 
No idea, have a cold water tank and hot water cylinder with a massive pump for a power shower :)

None of this combi nonsense where it takes 3hrs to fill a bath.
 
No such thing as too big in a modern system. Bigger the better.

When doing your calculations remember that the radiator specs will be for a Delta 50c which is really too high for a modern condensing boiler, in my house in aiming for a Delta 35c. Should easily keep the boiler in condensing mode and help have the boiler on for longer at lower temperatures.
 
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SPG said:
No idea, have a cold water tank and hot water cylinder with a massive pump for a power shower :)

None of this combi nonsense where it takes 3hrs to fill a bath.
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My combi is more powerful than my old system boiler ever was, the flow rate on my overhead shower even increased and I don't have to worry about the 1.8 bar pump running dry should it empty the tanks in the loft. Then again the mains water pressure on my street always seem a little high.
 
I've just done the same in my house as all the old radiators were horrible and yellow and filled with crap. I replaced them all with Stelrads. After shopping around online, the price for Stelrads wasn't much different to the price from ScrewFix.

Luckily for me, most of the pipe work had a little bit of flex and I could get metric radiators that weren't far off the imperial size. For two however, I had to get the pipe work redone. Bit of a ball ache but worth it in the end!
 
I'm replacing the whole lot in ours, all the old pipework, radiators, tanks and boiler are all going. In with new everything, its a lot easier than i expected to be honest.
 
Street said:
I've just done the same in my house as all the old radiators were horrible and yellow and filled with crap. I replaced them all with Stelrads. After shopping around online, the price for Stelrads wasn't much different to the price from ScrewFix.

Luckily for me, most of the pipe work had a little bit of flex and I could get metric radiators that weren't far off the imperial size. For two however, I had to get the pipe work redone. Bit of a ball ache but worth it in the end!
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Any shop in particular ?
 
I replaced seven old crappy radiators myself, and the difference was massive. Plus using TRVs the heat distributes perfectly around the house. Just remember to use cleaner and inhibitor when you are done. I used X400 and X100 and happy with the results so far.

ps - That's the kind of job you want to do before winter :p
 
Mahonyy said:
ps - That's the kind of job you want to do before winter :p
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Haha definitely! That's why I was annoyed when our plastered messed us around meaning I couldn't get on and get the heating sorted before winter hit. I had to spend Christmas week with no heating or hot water last year when we moved in.. Never again!


SPG said:
Any shop in particular ?
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I used Plumbase for all my radiators. They had an offer on for Drayton TRV4s at the time as well so I replaced those too. They were shocking for delivery though. Missed two scheduled days and didn't know their arse from their elbow when I phoned them up.
 
SPG said:
Boiler is 24kw which is 88k Btu
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Are you able to explain how you know this? I tried googling around and couldn't find much information.

I decided to use the calculator posted above to work out how many BTU's of radiators I need. I've added it up to only around 20k or so :confused:

Either my house is really small or my boiler is massively overpowered.
 
kinobestew123 said:
Are you able to explain how you know this? I tried googling around and couldn't find much information.

I decided to use the calculator posted above to work out how many BTU's of radiators I need. I've added it up to only around 20k or so :confused:

Either my house is really small or my boiler is massively overpowered.
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That number on your boiler is more the hot water, central heating uses less.

Hope your all converting the manufacturers specs as well or your either going to be running your boiler too high or having a cold room.
 
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