Old radiators with fins (industrial type): what is it worth?

[enka]

Hello,

My house (70s construction) is equipped with water radiators (same year I think): in fact the pipe goes through a kind of fin heat exchanger (see following image, but older ). There is simply a metal plate in front, on the sides and a grid above (which it was possible to close before)

Is there an interest in changing radiators for more efficient models? I don't really know how we can know my radiators are efficient compared to what I consume (propane)

[Gaston]

They are water convectors.

I had some in an old apartment.

Several disadvantages:
- very little radiant heating, all by air convection.
- requires a high water temperature (and therefore often poorer boiler efficiency).
- limited power compared to the volume of "bodywork"

Some advantages:
- cheap
- little pressure drop (possibility of connecting a lot in series)
- almost no possibility of gas bubbles blocked inside
- low volume of water, therefore very little inertia at start-up.

[enka]

So there would be interest in changing for radiation models? With significant inertia (my boiler turns on very often suddenly with these radiators)

Another more general question: I have a thermostat which manages the entire installation, but it is in a large room. In the end, the small rooms are therefore too hot since the thermostat makes the boiler run longer to heat the large room.
what are the solutions? An independent thermostat per room?

The thank you box

[Gaston]

So there would be interest in changing for radiation models? With significant inertia (my boiler turns on very often suddenly with these radiators)

This is not necessarily a problem for a gas boiler.

Radiators "with radiation" can provide better comfort, but not necessarily savings ...

Another more general question: I have a thermostat which manages the entire installation, but it is in a large room. In the end, the small rooms are therefore too hot since the thermostat makes the boiler run longer to heat the large room.
what are the solutions? An independent thermostat per room?

Thermostatic valves on radiators in the hottest rooms

[enka]

Possible even if my radiators are installed in series without bypass?

[Gaston]

Bypass systems must be put in parallel.

It's easy if the radiators have their entry and exit from the same side and less easy otherwise ...

[enka]

me, these are only pipes with fins, so inlet on one side, outlet on the other ...

pity

[swift2540]

Possible even if my radiators are installed in series without bypass?

Without changing everything (which is equivalent to doing a new installation), you have 3 solutions left:

1) restart the grids above in small rooms to avoid heating

2) add convectors in the large room

3) isolate the large room

@+

[Christophe]

All radiators fitted in series? Is this a joke? It is common?

I didn't know there were such lazy plumbers in the 70s.

No kidding: it's a quagmire your case I think .. you cannot replace the radiators properly without changing the entire network: a new radiator ca is fitted with a thermostatic valve!

You just have to get started: I advise you to make the network in PER, much easier to work than copper and even than black iron: it is semi flexible, and without soldering, all the connections are compression, removable (practical for making modifications).

I see that it has to be done to get it right ...