Radiator Sizes

[Davie_GLA]

Evening PH housey types...

My daughters room is freezing. Constantly. Even with the heating on all night it's still cold in the morning.

To me the radiator seems tiny against the size of the room. It's a new build, only 3 years old so i'm assuming that all guidelines were followed but I just want to find out if there is any 'rules' that have to be adhered to when considering the size of a radiator against the size of a room.

And, this is one i've never understood, why are radiators always under widows. Doesn't the heat instantly be killed by the cold windows?

Apologies if any of the above should be common sense.

David.

[james12345]

Is the radiator heating up properly, ie, all the way to the top and doesn't need bleeding? Sounds more likely that either the radiator's not getting enough hot water to it, or that there's another problem. Perhaps a quick trip up to the loft to make sure there's not a big gaping hole in the insulation might be in order. I would have thought that in a room with a closed window that even a smaller than suitable radiator would have warmed it up eventually.

[Davie_GLA]

Haven't checked if it needs bleeding actually, will do that when i go home. I'll also check the roof.

If the insulation was missing though, wouldn't all the upstairs rooms be cold?

[herewego]

There must be something wrong with the insulation or draftproofing if you need heat on at night.

[Simpo Two]

Davie_GLA said:

And, this is one i've never understood, why are radiators always under widows. Doesn't the heat instantly be killed by the cold windows?

Two reasons - it helps to stop the downdraught from the window, and it frees up more useable wallspace elsewhere.

[Ferg]

Bear in mind that most radiators are designed to shift a certain amount of heat with a flow temperature of 80. If the boiler isn't producing 80, you aren't going to achieve the heat-loss for the room.

[Davie_GLA]

Thanks all.

Last night was a particularly bad night with driving rain and high winds. I had the 'stat in the house set to 24. The whole house was roasting apart from my daughters room.

We have a baby monitor that gives a temp. reading and this said 21 through the night.

There are little vents at the top of the windows, with a little mesh in them which I presume is for bugs, and last night I noticed that the blinds were moving in the wind, and on further inspection these don't really seem to be sealing properly. In fact some of them are quite draughty. So I expect this is the problem.

I'm not sure if the builders will want anything to do with it, and they take ages to get anything done anyway so I guess it's down to me. Can I modify these to fit? Or should I just replace them?

David.

[Simpo Two]

Don't you think you may be worrying unduly? You do want this child to develop an immune system don't you?

Edited by Simpo Two on Tuesday 2nd November 09:56

[Davie_GLA]

I'm more worried that there is something wrong with the house.

Her immune system is coming on fine, and i am of the same opinion of you - a sterile, perfect environment is not a good thing for a child going forward.

But i've slept in the room with her on various occasions and it's uncomfortably cold at times.

David.

[JM]

Davie_GLA said:

But i've slept in the room with her on various occasions and it's uncomfortably cold at times.

21 Deg C isn't cold.

Did you check the radiator is getting hot all over?
Is there insulation above the ceiling?

[Zeek]

Call a priest, not a plumber. The room is haunted!

[Davie_GLA]

JM - i checked the radiator last night, it's warm all over. The blind shouldn't be moving under high winds, shirley?

David.

[Simpo Two]

Davie_GLA said:

JM - i checked the radiator last night, it's warm all over. The blind shouldn't be moving under high winds, shirley?

I agree with you on that one - when it's doing it, raise the blind and slowly pass the back of your hand around the edges of the window to find where the draft is coming from. Then go to B&Q and by the appropriate kind of draught excluder.

How did we ever manage this without forums?!

[Davie_GLA]

We would have called someone that would charge us for the pleasure.

[Busamav]

The trickle vents should be able to be closed .

[DeputyDawg]

Davie_GLA said:

JM - i checked the radiator last night, it's warm all over. The blind shouldn't be moving under high winds, shirley?

David.

Warm as is in the same temperature of all the other radiators? I would expect it to be hot to the touch if you set your stat to 24. Does the radiator have its own thermostat valve and have you checked that is fully open?

[Davie_GLA]

Busa - they are 'closed' but they aren't sealing correctly.

DD - Yes they're hot and the dial on the radiator is fully open.

As far as i can see i don't have a temp gauge on the boiler, how do i see if it's maintaining 80?

[russ_a]

Our little lads room is the same we need to heating on all night set at 20 deg to keep his room warm (above 18). The roof is insulated, decent double glazing installed. The problem is that the radiator is too small for the room.

There are loads of BTU calculators that will help you buy the correct size rad.

http://www.heatbusters.com/heating/heating-calcula...

[Davie_GLA]

Thanks - i'll work that out later. but i guess i need to sort the draught out before replacing radiators.

[Ferg]

Davie_GLA said:

JM - i checked the radiator last night, it's warm all over. The blind shouldn't be moving under high winds, shirley?

David.

Warm? Or hot?
You need 80 degrees C through it to reach the temperature it's designed for.