New Radiator Guide
This guide and the radiators and measurements form have been designed to simplify and assist with your radiator pre-planning.
Please use them to help choose your new radiators. You can either take notes on a spare piece of paper or use our radiators and measurements form to keep track of your measurements and installation type.
Once you have chosen your radiators, you can either send us a copy of your updated radiator form or just simply follow our quote wizard that asks three questions per radiator.
Radiator Quote Wizard
Please read through all of our guide to understand our installation types before submitting anything.
Our Installation Types
Where possible we advise replacing radiators with models of similar dimensions (‘like for like’) to keep costs at a minimum and reduce the amount of decorating that needs to be done. If you opt for a different size radiator, or to move it to a different location, this can be done but would likely require pipework adaptions necessitating the lifting of floorboards and possible painting and decorating. If the radiator does not exactly match the dimensions of the current radiator, it is classed as a ‘resize in the same position’.
We have four installation types to choose from, click on the tabs below, and further instructions for each is outlined:
Once you have chosen your radiator(s), drop us an email telling us the number of radiators, and which of the four categories they fall into. One of our heating experts will contact you with a bespoke estimate for the installation.
Your Radiator Install Price in 3 Steps
- Follow our guide
- Take some measurements & notes
- Submit your installation type for each radiator
REPLACEMENT – LIKE FOR LIKE (Most Cost-Effective Option)
If you are happy with the amount of heat you are getting from your existing radiator, and its location in the room, this is the simplest and most cost-effective method of replacing your radiator.
Simply, follow the guide below to get the correct measurements for your replacement like for like radiator. All you will need is a tape measure and somewhere to record the distances (like our ‘Radiators & Measurements Form’). Measurements are traditionally in millimetres in most shops, so it is best to record the distances in these units.
- MEASURING THE HEIGHT
Place your tape measure on the lowest point of the radiator and measure vertically to the highest point. Record the height in mm.
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- MEASURING THE WIDTH
Place the tape measure on the left side of the radiator and measure horizontally to the right side. Record the width in mm. Make sure you only measure the radiator panel and not the adjoining valves and pipes.
- MEASURING THE PIPE CENTRES
Place the tape measure on the centre of left-hand pipe, and measure horizontally to the centre of the right-hand side pipe. Record the value in mm.
💡 Top tip: Sometimes it can be difficult to find radiators of exactly the same width. If you cannot find an exact size match, we recommend finding the closest width down. This will reduce the amount of pipework that would require changing, keeping pipework straight (for aesthetic reasons), as well as keeping costs down. We can add extension pieces to make up the gap.
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- MEASURING THE WALL TO PIPE CENTRES
Place the tape measure on the wall and measure the distance to the centre of the pipe. This will only be a short distance. Record the value in mm. Make sure to measure to the wall and not to include any skirting boards.
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Important:
If you are aiming for a like-for-like replacement to prevent additional work, measurements 2,3, and 4 are vital to get right. Remember to always double-check your measurements!
Provided there is enough available wall space, you are free to increase or decrease the radiator height and this will not affect the installation cost.
You can use your measurements to search any online or store catalogue for radiators of the required size. Radiator styles and catalogues can be found at the end of this guide.
REPLACEMENT – RESIZE IN THE SAME POSITION
Changing the size of a radiator is a slightly more involved installation, as the pipework to the radiator will need to be adjusted to fit. If you want the visible pipework to remain straight, this will normally involve lifting the floorboards or opening up walls depending on the origin of the pipe.
You can choose any style of radiator, just make sure you size it correctly as mentioned below. Radiator styles and catalogues can be found at the end of this guide.
Sizing a New Radiator:
Whenever changing the size of a radiator, you should make sure that the new radiator will provide enough heat for the room. To work this out, you can use a simple online tool like radcalcer.co.uk. You will need to measure the length, width, and height of the room and put in a few other details about your room. A BTU and kW figure will be provided by the tool and can be matched to the new radiator to ensure the correct heat output. All radiators are presented with a BTU and kW figure by their suppliers.
REPLACEMENT – MOVE TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION
Moving a radiator will require the movement/ extension of the existing pipework feeding it. Consequently, the floorboards or the wall will likely need to be opened up to reroute the pipework to the new location.
You can choose any style of radiator, just make sure you size it correctly as mentioned below. Radiator styles and catalogues can be found at the end of this guide.
Sizing a New Radiator:
Whenever changing a radiator, you should make sure that the new radiator will provide enough heat for the room. To work this out, you can use a simple online tool like radcalcer.co.uk. You will need to measure the length, width, and height of the room and put in a few other details about your room. A BTU and kW figure will be provided by the tool and can be matched to the new radiator to ensure the correct heat output. All radiators are presented with a BTU and kW figure by their suppliers.
💡 Top tip: The location of your radiator is important for heat output as well as aesthetic reasons. Despite the name, radiators mainly heat a room using convection. This requires a gap of at least 20cm in front of the radiator so make sure your new radiator location will not be covered by furniture.
ADDITIONAL RADIATOR
Adding a new radiator to the property will require tapping into the existing central heating system. We will need to locate the nearest suitable pipework and extend this to the new radiator location. This will likely require flooring to be lifted from point to point to run the pipe in.
You can choose any style of radiator, just make sure you do the radiator heat output calculation as mentioned earlier. Radiator styles and catalogues can be found at the end of this guide.
RADIATOR VALVES
When a radiator is fitted, radiator valves are also required. The most common type is a TRV (thermostatic radiator valve) which gives you better temperature control of each radiator.
If you are replacing your radiator with a like-for-like model, you may be able to use the existing valves as long as the radiator is in good working order. However, if the radiator is not performing well, we advise changing the radiator valves at the same time.
If you are changing the radiator design you will need to make sure you get valves that are compatible with the system. Most suppliers will tell you which valves are required for the radiator you are purchasing.
When radiator valves are changed, the entire heating system will need to be drained down, rather than just the individual radiator itself. This means that changing a radiator and associated valves is a larger task than simply swapping the radiator with a like-for-like model where the existing valves can be used. If the system needs to be drained; we recommend updating all your radiator valves at the same time. This is likely more cost-effective in the long term as the need for future work is minimised.
SUGGESTED RADIATOR SUPPLIERS
| Stelrad | www.stelrad.com | They are an award-winning industry-leading manufacturer and have a good all-round selection of radiators |
| The Radiator Company | www.theradiatorcompany.co.uk | Premium cast iron and designer radiators |
| Radiators 4u | www.radiators4u.co.uk | A subsidiary of The Radiator Company |
| Cast Iron Radiators 4u | www.castironradiators4u.co.uk | A subsidiary of The Radiator Company |
| Column Radiators 4u | www.columnradiators4u.co.uk | A subsidiary of The Radiator Company |
| Wolseley | Online Radiator Brochure | A national trade supplier – local physical stores and online |
| Screwfix | www.screwfix.com | A national trade supplier – local physical stores and online |
