Heater for child's room recommendations

[lucyanntrevelyan]

The radiator in my DS's room (new house) doesn't come on at all. I know I need a new boiler ( as it is over 20 years old) and presumably to replace this radiator, but would rather coax the boiler through this winter and sort out new in the Spring when there is less urgency - it took me 4 weeks to get a plumber round to look at a tap.
Most of the rest of the house heats up enough that we will be fine for this winter. Is there some sort of plug in radiator I can use to heat the bedroom? - it would just need to be on while he gets up and then while he goes to bed. I have seen fan heaters and oil-filled radiators but don't know which is best?

[ogredownstairs]

I'd go for an oil-filled radiator with a timer - the nearest thing to central heating. Avoid fanheaters - they eat money and are very noisy.

[SpecialHandsMummy]

We have two DeLongi oil-filled heaters. One's called Bambino (little) and the other's called Dragon 2 (bigger). I like both of them but the Dragon 2 has low, medium and high heat settings as well as a thermostat. It also has a built-in timer. They are very quiet and effective.

[PigletJohn]

if the radiator doesn't come on at all, has it got a Thermostatic Radiator Valve? If so it is probably jammed. It can be unjammed or replaced at modest cost.

If no TRV, perhaps the valve at one or both ends has been turned off. What happens when you bleed it?

Post a pic if you can.

[lucyanntrevelyan]

Thanks for radiator recommendations, will research!

PigletJohn - it does have a v old looking TRV on it (the same one as the other 2 radiators that don't work). I don't think the TRV is turning anything so yes think probably jammed. However I have just moved house and don't know any plumbers round here. The 4th plumber I called is the only one who has actually come round to my house and he says to change a TRV requires draining and flushing the whole system and he only fits one sort of TRV which is pricey. We decided it would be better to get the whole system drained and flushed just the once when we get a new boiler fitted rather than pay for that twice - I think he was suggesting £3-400 to fix the 3 radiators.

[Graciescotland]

I have bambinos in both boys bedrooms, I don't heat the house at night so have them on low to keep the chill off. Bought them off amazon for 49 quid each.

[wowfudge]

Have you already told the plumber you are looking to change the boiler? Sounds to me that he would rather do the bigger job when you are ready than change the TRVs now. Having to drain and flush the whole system just to change the valves doesn't sound right to me. The TRVs cost less than 20 each

[PigletJohn]

"to change a TRV requires draining and flushing the whole system and he only fits one sort of TRV"

'mmmm

Perhaps he has a large family to support.

Post a photo of your TRV if you can. Say what words and numbers you can see on it. Do you have an identical TRV on any other radiators in the house, in good working order?

[lucyanntrevelyan]

I don't know if I told the plumber we were going to get a new boiler or he told me - I was clear there was no question of doing the bigger job at the moment! I thought it seemed like a big job for radiators not working...

Have tried posting photos of TRV. There are 3 like this in the house and none of the radiators they are on work. 1 fell off and there was a pin sticking out the radiator that is apparently supposed to push in easily and I couldn't get it to move easily. I haven't taken the TRV off the radiator in DS room as I am worried about the sludgy water the plumber said would come out of the radiator (but now not sure how much to believe the plumber!) The one that fell off a neighbour forced back on and it doesn't work. It says Danfoss Thermostat on it.

[PigletJohn]

Danfoss is a good brand.
Whenever you fit or remove a thermostatic head, wind the head up to its fullest extent so it is not pressing hard on the pin. The head is not a water part, there will be no leak when you take the head off.

Ask around friends and neighbours for recommendations of a competent and honest plumber. He does not need to be a gas engineer if he is not working on the boiler. If you call one, ask if he knows how to Bung an open-vented heating system to change a valve. If he says no, put the phone down.

1. get a soupspoon, put the bowl in the palm of your hand and push the pin vertically down, see if it springs up. You can put half a drop of WD40 on the tip of the pin and let it run down if you want. The reason for the soupspoon is that it spreads the pressure over your hand, and the pin is less likely to bend sideways than if you press or hit it with a hammer. If you can get the pin to slide up and down, the TRV will probably start working.
   
   
2. Email Danfoss with your photos and ask if they can give you instructions for removal and fitting of the thermostatic head, and if it is possible to buy a replacement head.