Victorian looking "new" radiators

[monmaison2009]

Hi

I am in the process of replacing the radiators in my property (I have some horrible looking "new" radiators) and I would like to get some period looking ones to look in tune with the period features. I was wondering if any of you have purchase something like this recently or have some good advise on where to get them from (and what sort of things I should stay away from!)

Thanks for you help and advise

PS: gas central heating

 

[Moo]

I got our (old, cast iron) radiators from a reclamation yard. The plumber pressure-tested them, then they were shot-blasted and powder-coated.
Can't compare their performance with repro ones, but (12 years on) ours are still doing the job very satisfactorily.
Oh - and we, too, have gas central heating.

 

[88v8]

I put in cast-iron rads 28 years ago. At that time the only way to find them was a small add in the local rag.

You can also get authentic valves for them. I have these Crane valves, which are still in production.
http://www.cranefs.com/products/prodDetail.asp?pc=D201&valveType=7&valveMaterial=&valvePressureRating=&valveSize=&figSearch=&productNameSearch=&searchType=

There are also thermostatic versions (not by Crane) that you''ll find on eBay.

Powder coat is a mixed blessing. It depends who's doing the coating. Some of the rads I painted (with a rad brush) and they're fine, some I had powder coated and it's starting to shell off at the top where of course they are hottest. Could be because some were rusty, in which case perhaps the sand-blasting wasn't up to scratch.

They are of course jolly heavy. A 10-section four-column rad 30" high will weigh about 150lb. But they have the merit of taking up less wall space than their ugly modern counterparts. They do however take longer to heat up, on the other hand they take longer to cool down.
It's still necessary to do the calculations of heat requirement in each room of course, and install the correct sizes.
The best valve configuration is top and bottom opposite ends as it gives the best heat flow, but to look 'right' that needs iron pipe. I used iron tails, connected to the copper system.

Some of our rads are wall-mounted and that's my preference as it makes it easier to fit whatever flooring. Where they're floor-standing I made oak plinths for them so that any carpet could be fitted without removing the rads (fitted carpet not very period, well our house is 1921 and I wasn't so purist in those days).

If you buy old rads, check they're free of scale. If they've been used on a direct system they'll likely be useless. A reputable seller will have checked this. Which brings us back to your original question, where best to buy... sorry, don't know....
But I did notice that even my local plumbers merchant was offering the repros.
http://www.ashfordheating.com/ProductPage.asp?catID=55&subCatID=184

Our next house has no gas. If I go for oil, I shall install cast-iron rads.
Probably from here.
http://www.walcot.com/Category/Radiators

Ivor

 

[MattW]

I recently bought a house full of cast-iron radiators from Jon Bodrell at www.perfect-irony.com. (I'm not in anyway associated with him btw). I chose him as he clearly new about the different types of radiators, including chinese copies and was reasonably priced.

I used a BTU calculator for each room to work out required output, gave him dimensions that I had (i.e. height under window etc) and then visited him near Guildford to actually see samples of his radiators to choose style. TO be honest I could have just ordered online. He then specc'ed the number of segments and heights, shot blasted the segments from his stock and assembled them / pressure tested them before finishing them to my order (polished). They were then delivered to london. My guys subsequently damaged one and he quickly took it back repaired the seals and then brought it back. there have been no problems with the radiators in the past 18 months.

All I can say is that he was one of the best suppliers for me on a complete house restoration in which I must have used over a hundred suppliers small and large. I very rarely give such positive feedback but would use him again without thinking about it.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

After a lot of research I used these guys:

http://www.castrads.com/

They have offers frequently.

The "consumables" (valves,stays, shrouds, etc) will add considerably to the overall cost.

Make sure you do your detailed BTU calcs.

 

[vicky whitworth]

We have rads from Castrads too in a variety of styles and I have been very pleased with them. It does make a difference I think not to have panel radiators. Choose nice valves too as this adds to the look of authenticity. Bloody things weigh a ton though.

 

[Moo]

Bloody things weigh a ton though.

That's a polite version of what our builders said when they had to get four of the things up to the top floor of our house.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Oh, I've got such radiator envy reading this thread. You lucky things, all of you! I'd love to replace our horrid panel radiators but the thought of lifting the boards, cutting new notches, patching the old ones, and then doing all the plumbing, and paying, for new radiators is just too daunting.
And now so many rooms have wallpaper it's too late.

I'll just have to console myself with the thought that the sticky-outy nature of column rads gets in the way of the antiques that need to go in front.

 

[Moo]

You're surely not planning to put antiques in front of radiators, Joce.
If you were watching the Britain's Heritage programme last night (silly question - of course you were!) you must have heard the conservator describing what would have happened to that priceless chippendale bookcase had it been exported to a centrally-heated American apartment.
We don't have any antiques, as such, but even we make a point of keeping our old furniture well away from our radiators.

 

[JoceAndChris]

The shape of the small rooms is very odd here- it isn't possible not to have furniture nearby. I don't have anything really precious next to them though.

 

[monmaison2009]

Thank you all for your sugestions. It is great to know there are some people using the original ones!!
Now, it is time for me to do some homework

 

[rogerh]

I replaced all the radiators in my flat with cast iron ones (seven in total), sourced from reclamation yards (up to £50 each), eBay (got three for about £10 and swopped two of those at a reclamation yard for one of a different size) and one free. If you want to use 15mm valves and piping you can get the bushes at Screwfix or Toolstation. When (if) I have a bit of spare cash I might get them shot-blasted and professionally finished but for now I've hand-painted them, which looks OK if you take the time.

Mine are all the standard four-column design of various widths and heights rather than Victorian; you can, of course, pay quite a bit more for those and for fancy valves or if you want both valves at the base rather than the usual one top and one bottom. Wall-mounted ones are, for some reason, less desirable and you can pick them up fairly cheaply.

I pressure-tested and flushed mine out myself by connecting them to the mains then used Fernox cleaner when I first filled the system. One dealer told me he always offered to replace any he sold that leaked but that he'd never had any returned. I've had my system running for a year (off a new gas combi) with no problems. Worst parts have been the painting (very tedious) and finding volunteers to help carry some downstairs.

 

[Moo]

Wall-mounted ones are, for some reason, less desirable

My reason for insisting on floor-standing ones was that the wall fixings would not only have to take the weight of a very heavy radiator, but also the person who was sitting on it - the lower ones really are tempting perches.

 

[michael]

Might be worth considering some kind of magnetic filtering device in the system if you’re having cast iron radiators installed. For example:-

http://www.magnabooster2.co.uk/

I inherited a heating/hot water system when I moved here comprising of a standard Combi boiler and cast iron column radiators but I’ve always had problems with what looks like iron fillings clogging up the heat exchanger. I believe copper pipework and cast iron rad’s don’t mix too well and cause problems over time without sufficient inhibitors and magnetic devices installed in the system. Some kind of chemical reaction between the two metals as I understand it.