Weird skirting radiators from the 70’s - a bit like ones you see in USA

[Jack built]

Does anyone know anything about these types of radiators ? I am moving into a very dated house that I need to live in for about 2 years before I can properly renovate. I need a new boiler and water tank but was wondering wether I could get away with keeping these ? Or is it easy just to fit radiators ? There only seems to be one large pipe running through the fins so not sure if I can just cut off and add normal rads? much appreciated

 

[KenGMac]

Worth a look?


https://www.diynot.com/diy/threads/skirting-board-heating.219652/

Seen quite a lot of them fitted in [old] offices,

Ken

 

[Jack built]

Thanks for the response much appreciated. I was advised that they will give out slow consistent heat so a bit like underfloor heating in that we should keep them on overnight too. Do you know if it’s easy to convert to normal rads ? Large diameter single pipe going through so might need a full replacement which I don’t want to do for budget reasons as doing loads of work in about 2 years - not even sure if they work !!

 

[KenGMac]

The installations I recall, a long, long time ago were a part of an MI system [malleable iron pipework]

I used to quite like watching the pipe fitters using specialised clamps and screw cutting machines mounted on legs with foot operated switches to start and stop the threading cutters.

What "feeds" this [ancient] system? is it copper od iron?

Ken.

 

[Jack built]

Not a clue ? That’s sounds hysterical ha ha !! Looks like copper under a fitted cupboard ?

 

[Eccles]

Had one in the kitchen of our last house which was under the kitchen units and automatically fan assisted. It was still doing well when we left and well over 25 yrs not sure what it was rated at but it kept our large kitchen warm in winter. Ours was definitely copper as the man said so no rust problems. If it was mine, I would keep it and vacuum the fins occasionly. If yours is fan assisted you might find that the fan doesn't run when hot water is running as I did until a plumber I know told me the solution:- Apparently the fan bearings tend to dry out after a few years so just put some light oil on them and give the fan a spin to get it all working again.

 

[Jack built]

Ah thanks - much appreciated

 

[jeff the gasman]

You can still buy it and will work. Clean the fins, they get clogged with dust.
https://www.heatandplumb.com/acatalog/smiths-sureline-2000-skirting-level-sureline-2-0

 

[Jack built]

Had a great guy come to look at it and yep - will work !! Ugly as sin but for a couple of years it will do. Thanks for the response

 

[Nige F]

I fitted it once in one " custom built " house - early 70's copper piped from a wallflame oil boiler when I was apprenticed. The firm did a block of 12 ? flats -all MI ( as Ken says) but just us 2 apprentices and hand dies and hacksaws - 1/2 " to the rads and 1+1/2" off the boiler The trained plumber just measured and shouted to us .