Are Old Radiators Efficient?
Customers often ask if their old radiators are efficient. Are the old radiators any good? Heating a home can be costly, and usually costs more than it needs to. There are two factors with any property, heat loss, and the ability of the system to heat the space, or output.
New Radiators
Radiators over 25 years old are heavier than modern radiators. Another difference is that the radiator doesn’t have the zigzag metal on the back surface which is the convector. A convector increases the surface area, output, and shortens the time it takes to heat the room. Another key difference is that modern radiators are manufactured using thinner metal. The radiator wastes less time heating metal and can start heating the space sooner, which saves gas.
Old Radiators
Old radiators may feel hot to the touch, but have a lower output. Meaning they heat themselves but not the room that they occupy. Every time I’ve replaced an older radiator with a modern radiator, the increase in performance has been immediate. A smaller radiator will often do the job of the older, larger radiator, giving a much-needed space benefit to the homeowner.
Spend Wisely
Imagine if the whole house had new radiators? If you’ve got one to change, and the room is vital in the house, say the hallway or a living room, it is worth changing the radiator and saving some money in the long run. If the radiator is downstairs, there is often black sludge in the bottom known as magnetite. By replacing the radiator you are also removing any magnetite that the radiator may contain.
Radiators are a vital part of a heating system. A super-efficient boiler may perform much better than an older boiler, but the radiators also need to be efficient. They need to be correctly sized, relatively modern, contain clean water, use thermostatic valves and ideally utilise intelligent heating controls.
Don’t forget the radiators are just as important as the boiler in a heating system.
