Should the radiator be replaced

[J417]

Hi
It is an old radiator, not sure how old, at least 20+ years? Look like wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php/Replace_a_radiator

As energy price keep rising
We are asking for a quote of replacing thermostatic valve for 6, and it is a hundred pounds each so thinking might get the radiator replaced as well

Does it worth?
J

A new radiator won't be any cheaper to run. They can't be made more efficient or use less energy. If the old one isn't leaking then I would just paint it and leave as it is. The valves are a good idea but only because they can turn the radiator off when the room reaches the right temp so you aren't overheating rooms
. It's annoying that you can't get ones with timer switches too.

Sorry to barge in on your thread, but does anyone know how much it costs to replace a radiator? I have one that's about 5' long that is no longer working.

I would go into the plumbing supply merchants and ask there. They should know about heat produced by different models I would think.

I wonder is there any independent study that show comparison between new vs old radiator is cheaper to run

Any difference will be due to different design, surface area etc. A radiator is just a metal tank that fills with hot water.

Depends on the style. Look on screwfix etc and they start fairly cheap. We're replacing ours with column style ones which start around £150-200 each, but you can get cheaper styles. You need to calculate the correct size for the room, lots of calculators online.

By the way, if it helps, they are steel radiator

1 thin pane

If it's no loner working, it may just need flushing out. You can do this yourself (see You Tube ) or get someone in

Like @Dannexe said Radiators are all the same. They are mostly all steel (some are cast iron). They fill up with water and heat comes out into the air. Ones with a larger surface area will heat the room more quickly but the water retuning to the boiler will be colder and so the boiler will fire more. You can't save any money on heating by buying a new radiator. Painting it might make it take slightly longer to heat the room as there is more "insulation" for the heat to pass through but it won't make much difference and will protect the radiator from rusting.

@hannahcolobus you are confusing the output of a radiator with whether it will be more efficient. Newer, less painted or larger radiators will have a higher output and will get the room to temperature more quickly but they will not save any money in terms of gas/ electric as it will always take the same amount of gas or electric to heat the room to the final temp. Better heat transfer from a newer radiator means the returning water is colder and will need to be heated more by the boiler before it is sent round the heating circuit again.

blimey - claws out on the radiator thread. Who’d have thought it

@hannahcolobus obviously you know what you are talking about in terms of radiators. yep, I will admit there are lots of internet sites out there about efficient radiators and I am sure that they are quicker at heating spaces up. However I stick by my original point which was that it is scientifically impossible for them to be actually able to heat a house for less energy input from the boiler.

I wonder if @Pigletjohn could act as an independent adjudicator to resolve our disagreement and help the OP to make a decision. I suspect we are probably both a bit right and I am not explaining my side of it very well.

Is pigletjohn a man. Do we know that? I’m not sure it’s ever been confirmed (I know it was once mooted that it’s Sarah Beeny)

Ooo, no, Sarah Beeny is quite snarky on Twitter to anyone who dares comment unfavourable on her latest tv programme marketing her latest business venture.