Help understanding radiator measurements

[denso13]

f it is only a 10mm difference in the length of the radiator you can get extension nuts with one male and one female end

The new rad is wider, not narrower.

 

[Milleniumaire]

Are you sure theory won't just move slightly if you make the hole in the chipboard wider? 10mm isn't much.

I tried this last night and was able to make the hole slightly larger to allow movement away from the wall as the pipes appear to run parallel with the wall so there's more give. Unfortunately, this means it is less likely I can move the pipes further from each other. One is restricted by a piece of fitted furniture, so I can only move one of them them and that one is resisting. I can't be sure until I have the radiator and have fitted the tails that it won't fit, but planning for the worst scenario.

 

[Milleniumaire]

The new rad is wider, not narrower.

I did look at the version of the rad that was 80cm shorter, but the BTU rating of that one is much lower, so that would be a big trade off for me.

I've decided the BTU is more important than ensuring it will fit as I know I will regret not doing the job properly at a later date.

At the moment, all the fitted furniture has been removed and the carpet is up, while redecorating, so there's never been a better time to replace this radiator. It's sod's law it will turn into a bigger, more complicated job than I originally anticipated, but that seems to be the case with the sizes of these old radiators and the fact they've been fitted so close to the wall, using the narrow side of the bracket.

 

[denso13]

I've decided the BTU is more important than ensuring it will fit as I know I will regret not doing the job properly at a later date.

Agreed, do it once and do it right.

 

[Milleniumaire]

By the way, I used 3 different BTU calculators and all give very different heat requirements for this room:

6088, 5217 and 3788!!!

I believe the current radiator is similar to the Stelrad K1 (Type 11), which has an output of 3009, much too low for the room.

The one I'm looking is the MHS Decoral 97 Aluminium horizontal radiator and has a BTU of 5394, so that should be an improvement.

 

[ETAF]

if they are now able to moved forward a bit - then maybe a T22

what is the rad you have now a T11, 21, 22 ????

I got loads of different btus from sites = right or wrong i kept to the https://www.bestheating.com/btu-calculator
it they have been really good , maybe they are over the needs of the room , but I prefer that

 

[Milleniumaire]

if they are now able to moved forward a bit - then maybe a T22

what is the rad you have now a T11, 21, 22 ????

I got loads of different btus from sites = right or wrong i kept to the https://www.bestheating.com/btu-calculator
it they have been really good , maybe they are over the needs of the room , but I prefer that

My existing radiator looks like a T11 (a Stelrad K1). I was hoping to replace it with a double, but I don't believe this would be possible due to the wall to centres distances, without altering the pipes.

I did use the bestheating btu calculator and that's the one that gave me the lowest reading of 3788.