Radiator advice

[Jazzer]

I am looking for some advice. I live in a 4 bed sandstone Victorian semi-detached house built in 1900. The house has steel panel radiators and a Vokera combi boiler. I am looking to replace the rads to something a bit more in keeping with the character of it and also to move them to under the windows. I have looked at both cast iron and steel column rads. Both look the part but obviously the casts are more expensive. What are you good people's thoughts? Any advice will be greatly appreciated as I am currently bamboozled with all the various types of rads.

Regards,

Jazzer

 

[Gasmk1]

it depends on your budget and taste cast iron look the business but cost a lot steel tube rads look nice and can be found at reasonable prices i have changed all my panel rads to the acova tube rads from screw fix just make sure you size the radiators properly for output

 

[Best]

I personally like the steel column radiators that closely resemble cast iron radiators.
Lighter to deal with, wall mounted, good heat outputs and greatly cheaper.
I can't remember the name, but Quinn rads make them.

 

[Best]

Quinn Forza is the name. Had to look it up.
Available in 2 column, or more (deeper and extra output the more columns they have)
Here is a link to give you an idea of what they look like.

Buy Quinn Forza 3 Column Horizontal Radiator, 600mm High x 552mm Wide, White Online

 

[Jazzer]

Thanks for the quick replies. I was looking at steel columns from Victorian Plumbing which look nice and are reasonably priced. I'm just not sure which option is best for this type of house as from what I've read some people say casts are better while others prefer steel columns. Plus under the windows in my house is mostly wood panelling so wasn't sure about mounting rads on there.

 

[Best]

Cast iron rads, although they have feet to sit on the floor, they still need fixings to fix them to the walls. Can be a couple of bolts.
The disadvantages of cast rads - they have a lot of water content, which is not good. They are slow to heat up fully, (but will hold the heat long after the boiler is off).

 

[Jazzer]

From looking cast irons seem to produce more btu's than a similar sized steel column. The steels are nice but I wonder if they would actually be any better than what I currently have.

 

[Jazzer]

Has anyone bought any of the "Keswick" range of steel columns from Victorian plumbing? They appear to produce more heat than the equivalent sized rad from the Acova range.

 

[Jazzer]

What's the best for supporting the column rads mounted to the wall? Still can't decide what to do in terms of steel vs cast iron rads. But the house is really cold so need to do something quick!

 

[townfanjon]

Jazzer , not just my opinion but I wouldnt buy a tap washer off victoria plumbing

 

[Jazzer]

Could you elloborate on the last point please?

 

[rpm]

Could you elloborate on the last point please?

Difficult to deal with re problems or parts missing, tend to be imported stuff sometimes of poor quality are some points others have found are I believe behind Jon`s reasoning.

 

[Jazzer]

What about Acova rads? Anyone bought from cast iron radiator centre?

 

[Gasmk1]

as i said in my post i have acova rads and i could get them cheaper from screwfix than my usual suppliers

 

[SimonG]

Screwfix for acova. Another vote.

 

[townfanjon]

Could you elloborate on the last point please?

I refuse to fit anything from them anymore.
But TBF to them I have never fitted a radiator but if they are anything like all the other pi@@ poor quality stuff they sell I never will. Try your local plumbers merchants

 

[Jazzer]

Thanks for all the replies. Think I've finally decided to go for cast iron rads from cast iron radiator centre. Ultimately the columns would've needed foot supports as I require large rads and by the time you add them and the other bits n bobs they were working out not that much cheaper than the casts. Hopefully I've made the right call!

 

[Stoney Ground]

Thanks for all the replies. Think I've finally decided to go for cast iron rads from cast iron radiator centre. Ultimately the columns would've needed foot supports as I require large rads and by the time you add them and the other bits n bobs they were working out not that much cheaper than the casts. Hopefully I've made the right call!

Post pics when fitted.

 

[Jazzer]

After all that I've decided to order steel columns with supporting feet from trade radiators. I just couldn't justify the cost of the casts given that the btu outputs of both are almost identical.