'Designer' radiators - worth the money?

'Designer' radiators - worth the money?

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Zippee

Original Poster:

13,704 posts

247 months

Friday 5th November 2010
quotequote all
We want to move a radiator in a house we're buying and replace with a floor to ceiling designer rad - ideally one of the fan shaped ones that fit into a corner wall. Are these any good? Presumably the heat output is just as good as a long horizontal rad.

Any recommendations on where to get a good one from as well thats not ridiculously priced?

Simpo Two

88,603 posts

278 months

Friday 5th November 2010
quotequote all
Have a poke round www.theradiatorcompany.co.uk - their brochure is very good and has all the prices and specs at the back. If you ask at your local plumbing place you can probably get a discount too.

Zippee said:
We want to move a radiator in a house we're buying and replace with a floor to ceiling designer rad - ideally one of the fan shaped ones that fit into a corner wall. Are these any good? Presumably the heat output is just as good as a long horizontal rad.

Any recommendations on where to get a good one from as well thats not ridiculously priced?
Heat output will be as stated. As for value, well it's up to you. Some are only 2x a boggo radiator; others are just bonkers.

Edited by Simpo Two on Friday 5th November 15:39

Busamav

2,954 posts

221 months

Friday 5th November 2010
quotequote all
Incredibly , B & Q do these corner vertical rads at an excellent price.

I tried going direct to the importer , only to be given a higher price than the store .

Heat output is great , made better by the fact it is vertical .

Had 2 in the last house and now have 3 1/2 round units in this one .

Simpo Two

88,603 posts

278 months

Friday 5th November 2010
quotequote all
NB: Pay attention to where the valves are and which way they point, eg down or sideways. My tall radiator had an option to have valves top and bottom; if you want both at the bottom you have to add a blanking piece, so keep your wits about you.

s3fella

10,524 posts

200 months

Friday 5th November 2010
quotequote all
In my (current) experience, they are potentially a right pain in the arse!

Depends on design, but some very expensive flat panel style ones, just dont flipping well work. The manifolds are very narrow and easily get blocked up with splatter during the weld process, meaning flow around the rad is poor.

I've sent 2 out of three I bought for the bedroom back this very day. One I "need" to have a vertical for, so am stuck with the designer style, but for the horizontal ones, I have junked the designer ones and am going for screwfix finest stock convector rads.

And you dont necessarily get what you pay for. I have returned a £500 1200x500 designer rad today, yet the £94 chrome towel rail I got from screwfix works a treat!

If you want something interesting, how about the glass radiators you can get, (leccy) and in hydraulic, have a look at the "rad art" glass radiators. Simple idea but look ace IMO

Edited by s3fella on Friday 5th November 16:17

Zippee

Original Poster:

13,704 posts

247 months

Friday 5th November 2010
quotequote all
Thanks all - we're looking at this one from B&Q http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?action=detai...

Obviously it's more expensive than a boggo rad so we want to ensure it is indeed going to work properly and not just look nice.


s1962a

6,229 posts

175 months

Friday 5th November 2010
quotequote all
Zippee said:
Thanks all - we're looking at this one from B&Q http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?action=detai...

Obviously it's more expensive than a boggo rad so we want to ensure it is indeed going to work properly and not just look nice.
We've got this one in the dark grey. Good radiator and makes good use of a corner space - we had to shell out extra for the thermostatic valve that comes with it.

Busamav

2,954 posts

221 months

Friday 5th November 2010
quotequote all
Thats the one. You will not be disapointed wink

That looks like the 1/2 round , the maufacturers also do a 1/4 for true corner fit.

Dont forget to tag on to a coffin dodger for the 10% wednesday discount


Gingerbread Man

9,173 posts

226 months

Friday 5th November 2010
quotequote all
Designer rads don't normally have a very good BTU output. Efficiency isn't their first design step.

4mo

1,175 posts

188 months

Friday 5th November 2010
quotequote all
Zippee said:
Thanks all - we're looking at this one from B&Q http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?action=detai...

Obviously it's more expensive than a boggo rad so we want to ensure it is indeed going to work properly and not just look nice.
Have had a very similar flat version of this, again from B&Q, for the last 5 years. Very happy with it good heat output and never had any problems.

s3fella

10,524 posts

200 months

Friday 5th November 2010
quotequote all
Zippee said:
Thanks all - we're looking at this one from B&Q http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?action=detai...

Obviously it's more expensive than a boggo rad so we want to ensure it is indeed going to work properly and not just look nice.
On ebay, there is a place that sells B and Q designer rads, all customer returns. It is based on some farm up near Tamworth. The guy is very knowledgeable, has the stock there to go and view, and most if it is minor cosmetic issues, easily fixable. And generally about 70% of the B and Q price, plus no waiting.

Worth looking them up if you are local.