Replacing old radiators

Sin_Chase · 9 Nov 2018 at 18:23

Got a gas fired central heating system and have got some quotes to replace the radiators. They must be 30-40 years old. They still warm up but they resemble radiator cores out of of a car rather than modern panels. They are seemingly single panels of some of description with no convection fins.

I think they were designed to be run 24/7. They look tatty but no real cold spots etc. I'm mindful that efficiencies have increased but the question is - is it wortwhile? The main catalyst is even with brand new double glazing the house is still difficult to warm.

I'm looking to put double panel doubled convector models in. The steel thickness will obviously be less than these old behemoths but that should promote quicker warm up (and cool down).

Online resources are mixed bag with a majority of places stating anything pre 2000 is worth replacing. They've got a vested interest in sales though, being wholesalers / e tailors.

Any opinions or others who have done similar?

Sin_Chase · 9 Nov 2018 at 18:48

They aint vintage column radiators. Does literally look like a HGV radiator painted black.

Sin_Chase · 10 Nov 2018 at 12:58

Already running the boiler slightly above the recommended temperature.

Will work out the house and room kW requirements and then see what radiators I need. Think it's a case of not getting the required out from the existing rads. Should get the IR thermometer out and compare the feed and return temps.

Sin_Chase · 10 Nov 2018 at 13:11

Speccing up TRV4s and will probably oversize the rads. Comparing the prices of double panel/singled convector and double panel / doubled convector.

Sin_Chase · 10 Nov 2018 at 22:14

Did some temp probing tonight. Boiler feed is 62 Deg C and return is 56.6 Deg C. The ambient room temp is around 18-19 Deg C.

Radiators are barely taking any heat out of the feed seemingly. I'm also over the ideal 55 Deg C return for condensing.

Im going to the reduce pump speed from 3 to 2 and see if I can decrease the return temp for the time being.

This is what the existing rads look like :

Sin_Chase · 10 Nov 2018 at 23:10

No real leccy hook ups near the rads. It's not TOO cold yet soo hopefully can get rads with more output installed before it gets proper cold.

The rads are clearly not matched to the boiler. The input temp is as near as damnit the same as the output on each rad. Less than 2 degree variance.

As for the not seeing before, I am in the UK. It wouldn't surprise me if they are French. The flat extension which was built around 30 years ago had a load of mental French wiring and other oddities. The radiators predate when the house came into the family, which was 1986..so at the very youngest 32 years old.

Sin_Chase · 11 Nov 2018 at 11:22

I can't even find something remotely close when Googling to get an idea of what they are. I'll double check what material they are but don't think they are copper.

Edit - Not copper