Central Heating Radiator sizes

Nightglow · 14 Oct 2012 at 16:04

Got a old,very old 1300x590mm double panel radiator non finned radiator, any plumbers here got any idea as to it's heat output.

Looking to replace it with a Type 22 double panel doubled finned Radiator 1600x500mm (2445watts), but could I get away with using 1200x500mm(1834watts) or 1400x500mm(2139watts) Type 22 version.
Using several online radiator calculators, they quote 1556watts for my room size, but how much additional heat output should you allow for when it's colder in your calculations when sizing a radiator.

St0rmer66 · 14 Oct 2012 at 22:32

If it's not got any fins then its output will definitely be lower than an equivalent sized finned one. The 1200x500 would be approx the same at a guess but might be worth going to at least the 1400x500 to be sure (better to oversize than undersize).

Uhtred · 14 Oct 2012 at 23:45

Nightglow said:
Got a old,very old 1300x590mm double panel radiator non finned radiator, any plumbers here got any idea as to it's heat output.

Something like 1400 if this page is to be believed - http://www.simplifydiy.com/plumbing-and-heating/radiators/power

Nightglow · 15 Oct 2012 at 07:49

Uhtred: Thank you, my Google skills failed me yesterday.

St0rmer66: Will save me a few pounds dropping from 1600 down to 1400.

a1ex2001 · 15 Oct 2012 at 09:30

Nightglow said:
Uhtred: Thank you, my Google skills failed me yesterday.

St0rmer66: Will save me a few pounds dropping from 1600 down to 1400.

I would always oversize radiators it will get your room up to temperature on those cold days much faster. It's hardly worth saving a couple of pounds on the purchase price.

Street · 15 Oct 2012 at 09:40

a1ex2001 said:
I would always oversize radiators it will get your room up to temperature on those cold days much faster. It's hardly worth saving a couple of pounds on the purchase price.

This! The idiots who refurbed my house before I bought it put woefully underspecced radiators in most of the rooms. They took ages to get the rooms up to temperature! I ended up swapping the main ones out for larger ones. Better to have too much and turn the heating down than not have enough and be cold.

Nightglow · 15 Oct 2012 at 09:56

Just checked Screwfix, only a £9 difference between the 1400 & 1600 radiators.