Radiators make some of the best installations in modern homes.
They can always be controlled to ambient temperatures.
A vast range of radiators are available today and they all come with unique specifications.
Investing in a proper radiator system is, therefore, one of the coolest decisions you can ever make.
Radiators come in different sizes. Big radiators provide better heating and vice versa.
But while considering size, you should be wary of the space available for it in your rooms.
So, Can A Radiator Be Too Big For A Room To Be Effective?
Yes. Radiators can take up plenty of space in your rooms. You must factor in the radiator size you want for proper placement. It must not encapsulate too much space. There should be a balance while equally maintaining your heating requirements at optimum.
So, in this article, we narrow our focus on the size of the radiator and how you should balance it with the available space for a better life.
Does The Size Of The Radiator Matter?
It goes without saying that the correct size of your radiators is vital to get an appealing balance of things installed in your room.
If your radiator is too big, it will interfere with the day-to-day working in your room and compromise productivity.
Besides, it will consume large quantities of energy which translates to high power charges.
On the other hand, small radiators will not provide optimum heating requirements in your rooms.
So, while radiators should be big enough to meet your heating requirements, they should not be too big to take up large spaces in the rooms.
The purpose of radiators is to provide heating, so you must be keen to just meet your heating requirements while retaining a proper order of the room.
How to Size Radiators for Rooms
For efficiency, radiators must be sized properly to fit the available and designated space in the room.
In this guide, we are going to help you understand exactly how to properly size radiators for your room.
This will also ensure that there is optimum energy use.
A big radiator will occupy a lot of space and will cycle on and off frequently leading to too much energy use.
1. Get The Room Measurements
This is simply the length, width, and height of your room.
To obtain the cubic measurements of the room, multiply all these dimensions. It will give you the footage of space required for your radiator and the appropriate size.
2. For A Radiator In The Dining Room….
…multiply the cubic measurement by 5.
The same applies to the living room. Multiply by 4 for the bedroom, kitchen, and other areas.
3. If Your Room Faces The North…
….multiply the result by 15 percent.
Special cases also include French doors. For these, add 20 percent especially if it has a double-glass on the doors.
This will give a result in BTU (British Thermal Units) produced by the radiator in one hour.
4. Proceed To Convert Your BTUs To Watts.
Conventionally, most radiators are specified in watts to indicate the strength of their healing power.
Watt is a unit measurement for power whereas BTU is a unit for heat.
5. Finally, Divide The BTUs Obtained By 3.41
If, for instance, you had obtained 2898 BTUs, dividing that by 3.41 will give you about 850 watts.
This means you need 850 watts of power to run a 2898 BTUs radiator per hour.
Five Common Mistakes When Selecting and Installing Radiators
Failing to plan is planning to fail. Many people often make mistakes when selecting and placing radiators in their rooms.
Well, while these mistakes are avoidable, most folks still find themselves in trouble.
What are these common mistakes? Read on.
1. Poor Sizing Of The Radiator
People often guess the size of things they want to buy.
This is wrong and might put you in some trouble.
It is not enough to master the measurements of your rooms alone.
There are factors to consider as well.
These include windows, types of ceilings, floorings, and construction of the walls. The list is just endless. All these must be put into account.
It’s paramount to get the radiator size correct.
This will ensure that the space you have designated for the radiator is ideal and can allow for comfortable temperature adjustments whenever it is needed at work.
2. Poor Orientation Of The Radiator
While most radiators can be installed in any orientation, others have to be placed in specific orientations in the room.
Poor-fitting of radiators often leads to overheating, noise, reduced output, and in some extreme cases, the radiator can even become defective.
To avoid executing this mistake, be sure to check all the information regarding the chosen radiator.
Radiators with valves, for instance, must be fitted in a particular orientation, failure to which the system may not function properly. Fitting instructions are invaluable for radiators.
3. Poor Balancing
This has everything to do with setting up the radiators to make sure that the system has an ideal and highly efficient water flow.
Some folks fail to pay attention to this and they end up with frustrations. They simply add the radiator and leave the rest of the system in its state.
Tower rails of the radiator must be checked and set well.
Together with the valves, proper balancing of the rails ensures proper circulation of water in the system and efficient heating.
When adding w radiators to the system, be keen to balance them.
You can slightly close some valves in it to change the path of water then proceed to carry out your fixing.
4. Wrong Choice Of Pipe Sizes
People often use the rule of the thumb method when sizing pipes for a heating system for radiators.
Mistakes are inevitable because every radiator is unique in a way.
A 2KW radiator, for instance, is smaller than a 5kw radiator.
That means the latter will require more water to run the system as compared t the smaller radiator.
If you resort to using the same pipes, the latter will cause a strain in the pipes.
This can even get to an extent where there is a whistling loud noise in the pipes.
So, always make sure that you choose the right sizes of pipes for specific radiators.
Alternatively, you can opt to calculate the individual pipe sizes before installation though it will take some extra cash.
5. Wrong Positioning Of The Radiator
Most people often overlook the positioning of radiators. In most homes, radiators are positioned under the windows.
Radiators should serve as decorating assets in the home, so proper placement is important.
And always keep in mind that the positioning of radiators has everything to do with its functionality.
Convectors, for example, rely on air circulation to function. So, the placement of such radiators must allow some space beneath them for suitable airflow.
When selecting the placement spot for your radiator, consider the purpose the room is going to serve and the furniture to be placed in the room.
Sometimes, this might mean that the current position of the radiator s going to be changed.
Final Words
Size and placement are key when it comes to radiators. While it is important to aim at the best heating conditions, your home should remain neatly and properly organized.
Therefore, a good choice of radiator heating system, correct positioning in the rooms is vital. You can always stick to this guide when executing radiator installation.
If you bump on any problem fixing it, t is no offense getting additional help from an expert.
The guide is important for you since you are the one responsible for any acquisition of the radiator.
