Vertical radiators as good? Online BTU calcs huge variations

skyhawker · 16 Jan 2018

We are looking to install heating to our 6m X 6m X 2.8h extension. We have an issue with space. 3 exposed walls and approx 16m2 of window (patio doors and roof windows). Walls roof and floor are well insulated. I have tried different online BTU calculators and have come up with wildly different results anything between 13000 to 22000 btu

I have found stelrad vertical radiators 1600h X 600 wide that have an output of 8100btu. We could fit 2 of these.

The plumber says he doesn't think vertical radiators work as well as shorter ones. He couldn't really explain why, just his experience. Builder suggested that the height causes the heat to rise high....

My questions:
Are vertical rads less efficient/ inferior?
Is stelrad a recommended make?
Does the BTU look right for our room size?

Also would installing the two radiators on 2 ends of the same wall throw the heat to the adjacent wall almost 6 metres away, or will we end up with a cold spot?

Any input appreciated.

JCK1 · 16 Jan 2018

I am not a plumber , I installed myself the Stelrad vita compact vertical 1800 x 500 last week (my first time installing a radiator), the quality of the product appeared very good to me. The bracket system is extremely secure . It does take two people to lift the radiator onto the bracket. The radiator was well packed in thick bubble wrap. It all installed without a hitch and is very effective heating a small room , I used the Stelrad stars heat loss calculator.

John D v2.0 · 16 Jan 2018

Vertical is not as good because the heat is all in one place. Ideally you want the heat emitters at the bottom of the walls that are losing heat, then the whole room will heat evenly. However in a well insulated new build the won't be many cold surfaces to help create convection.

John D v2.0 · 16 Jan 2018

We had a similar problem in an approx 6 by 4m space 14m2 of window, we went for triple glazing, a plinth heater to get the heat into the room near one side of the window, and a 800x600 double panel single convector radiator next to the other side.

Terrywookfit · 16 Jan 2018

Fit a De strat fan.

John D v2.0 · 16 Jan 2018

you may laugh but we use an old fan from a scrap cooker hood to get things warm quicker if we've come back to a cold house, works really well! Also useful for drying washing indoors!

motorbiking · 16 Jan 2018

6-7kw seems about right, but it depends on the insulation etc. if this is a current/compliant build, then it should be ok. I would personally try to find some extra locations so that you can have at least 3 (even if they are smaller in output) The most important thing is for the plumber to install them the right way around so that the flow and return goes through the baffle correctly. Otherwise they might not work very well.

There are a few that offer 1.8M high rads. Your ceilings are about a foot higher than normal, so as long as its properly insulated I think it will be fine.

Lower · 16 Jan 2018

I fitted vertical rads in our old house to replace conventional rads of a slightly lower BTU rating.

I regretted it. The vertical rads just didn't heat the room as well as the conventional radiators. I wouldn't do it again.

John D v2.0 · 16 Jan 2018

Lower said:
I fitted vertical rads in our old house to replace conventional rads of a slightly lower BTU rating.

I regretted it. The vertical rads just didn't heat the room as well as the conventional radiators. I wouldn't do it again.

Lower does your house have good insulation though?

Just to reinforce this, we did the opposite in our lounge, changed a double panel radiator at one end of the room that didn't heat the place well with three 300mm high single panel rads spread across the outside wall (poor man's skirting heating?) And it's much better for heating the room.

However the lounge has solid walls so high heat loss.

Lower · 16 Jan 2018

The house in question was a 1920's build semi with solid walls but the room was a lounge which had 3 internal walls and 1 bay window protruding from an external wall. The room was warm enough with the original double panel radiator under the window but cold when the vertical rad was fitted to a section of the external wall. The radiator would get hot but just wasn't anywhere near as good at transmitting that heat to the room at a low enough level that we benefited from it.

John D v2.0 · 16 Jan 2018

Pretty much the same as ours then! Sounds like for solid walls vertical rads are a no go, but for modern new build shouldn't be as much of a problem

motorbiking · 17 Jan 2018

I have a room approx 12m x 10m (though its not square and is 12 x 6 in places). Its toasty warm, 1920s house (though all external walls have been upgraded or are new) the least efficient has 20mm of celotex on 9" solid walls. It has a high vaulted ceiling in places.

I have 2 x half circle column rads 1.8m high - They are quite old and I think their output is somewhere between 1.5 and 3kw.
I have a double row tower rad which is 2kw and a smaller one which is 1kw
We also have a 4kw log stove.

The radiators are easily sufficient to heat the room. as they are spread out around the room

RigidRaider · 17 Jan 2018

I also regret fitting vertical rads in our hall and kitchen.

Firstly, I don't believe the thermal output is as much as it would be if the rad was mounted sideways where a broad band of air could pass through the fins and collect heat.

Secondly, the intense area of heat just above the rad and close to the ceiling has caused the paste to let go of the lining paper on the ceiling, meaning the edges of the sheets have peeled away. I have to keep going up with diluted PVA on a brush and trying to get it under the lining paper, which is making a mess.

I can see where they might be appropriate in a room with no wide area of wall but otherwise I'd stick to wide radiators or better, under-floor heating.

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Vertical radiators as good? Online BTU calcs huge variations

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