radiators query one or two

[BobbyJoe]

Vokera Easi Heat 25 Combi Boiler (gas)

Hi everyone I would be appreciate advice on central heating radiators. My flat has one radiator in each room, last year the system was flushed and a new boiler installed and even though the heating works fine I think the heat isn't strong enough to warm the room.
So my question is could bigger/thicker radiators solve the issue or would it be a case of having two radiators in one room as currently each room has one radiator?

Lastly how difficult is it to have another radiator installed in a room and what does the work entail?

Any information would be great thanks.

 

[steadyon]

The best cure for inadequate heating is better insulation. But assuming this is as good as it can be, or is not an option, then:
1. The first step is to work out what the heating requirements are for each room. There are various free on-line calculators available. Room by room is better than whole house.
2. Then see if the radiators you have are capable of supplying the heating requirements. If, as is likely, you don't know the heat output of your radiators, measure them, work out what type they are (single panel, single panel with fins, double panel with one set of fins, double panel with two sets of fins etc.) and compare with an equivalent sized, say Myson, radiator. That will get you close enough.
3. If your existing radiators are adequate, then look at the boiler and its heat settings, and at the controls you have in place.
4. Otherwise look at replacing the radiators, all or some.
5. Look for radiators with the same width and height as the existing, but with a better heat output. For example, a double where you have a single.
6. Whether you go for a physically wider or thicker radiator, you will probably need changes made to the pipework, to widen the distance between the valves, or to accommodate the water entry points being further from the wall. The complexity and cost of these changes depends on how your pipes are run, and of course where you live.
7. Installing additional radiators again depends on how you want them done. If the existing pipes are accessible, and you don't mind pipes being run around walls, then it's fairly easy, and shouldn't be too expensive. However you need to be careful with controls - thermostatic valves on two different radiators in the same room may well leave one on and the other off.
8. If you want to take it further I'd suggest you:
8a. Do the heat loss calculation and determine whether you need changed / new radiators.
8b. Come back with some pictures of how your radiators are installed, and an idea of what sort they are.

 

[Murdoch]

This may seem a daft question but where is your room thermostat and what do you have it set to?

 

[rpm]

Just buy a few warm air heaters from argos at £10ea and place one in the cold zones. Summer will soon be here.