old heating system

lukegriffen

hi,

i have a baxi back boiler and radiators that are probably at least 20 years old.
a lot of the radiator caps are broken & I can't get replacements, i'm told they are for Stella valves.

is it worth getting new valves put on or just get new radiators - I presume new ones are a lot more efficient? Or is there any point in getting new radiators if the boiler is ancient - will i see any savings in my bill just with new rads?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Dtp1979

lukegriffen wrote: »

hi,

i have a baxi back boiler and radiators that are probably at least 20 years old.
a lot of the radiator caps are broken & I can't get replacements, i'm told they are for Stella valves.

is it worth getting new valves put on or just get new radiators - I presume new ones are a lot more efficient? Or is there any point in getting new radiators if the boiler is ancient - will i see any savings in my bill just with new rads?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

If you're looking for savings then get a new A rated Boiler installed.
Get your radiator valves changed to thermostatic valves. And most importantly, get your system powerflushed. This way your radiators will be like new, and you'll have an efficient heat source

PK27

Getting new rads would help a lot. The boiler may be old and uneconomical, but if it's heating the water then it's doing its job.
Efficiency in rads is not about how hot they get, it's about how well they release the heat that the boiler gives them.
I have some old rads and some new in my house, if I let my system heat up and hold my hand over the old rads, I need to be max about 8" above them to feel the heat being released. On the new ones, I can hold my hand 18" + over the rad and I can literally feel the hot air rise. Both rads are being fed from the same heat source so it proves a point.
By the way the new rads are double panels from heat merchants.

Dtp1979

PK27 wrote: »

Getting new rads would help a lot. The boiler may be old and uneconomical, but if it's heating the water then it's doing its job.
Efficiency in rads is not about how hot they get, it's about how well they release the heat that the boiler gives them.
I have some old rads and some new in my house, if I let my system heat up and hold my hand over the old rads, I need to be max about 8" above them to feel the heat being released. On the new ones, I can hold my hand 18" + over the rad and I can literally feel the hot air rise. Both rads are being fed from the same heat source so it proves a point.
By the way the new rads are double panels from heat merchants.

What on earth are you talking about?
Newer rads are a tiny tiny bit more economical. Only because of the convectors. If both rads are clean then it's pointless changing rads. Maybe you need a powerflush.
You can get single panel rads from Heatmerchants too.
As from an economical point of view, most savings will be made from a new boiler. Just because a 20 year old Baxi is working, dosent mean it's doing the same job as a new A rated boiler.
Maybe you should have a chat with your plumber.

DGOBS

attack the post, not the poster please.

Dtp1979

DGOBS wrote: »

attack the post, not the poster please.

Suggesting he chat with his plumber is just friendly advise.