Lifespan of radiators
 

What's the expected life of normal flat panels rads with A) inhibitor in the
system and B) without?
--
Dave Baker
www.pumaracing.co.uk


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Lifespan of radiators
 

On Mon, 27 Feb 2006 21:15:13 +0000, Dave Baker wrote:

What's the expected life of normal flat panels rads with A) inhibitor in the
system and B) without?

A) Indefinite. More likely to go out of fashion, or the technology
over-taken or receive too many coats of paint.

B) Depends on the corrosion regimen. Anything from 10 years upwards.
With a normal header tank, no inhibitor and correct plumbing I'd guess at
least 25 years.



--
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at http://www.diyfaq.org.uk
Gas fitting FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html
Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html
Choosing a Boiler FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/BoilerChoice.html

Lifespan of radiators
 

Ed Sirett wrote in message
n.co.uk...
On Mon, 27 Feb 2006 21:15:13 +0000, Dave Baker wrote:

What's the expected life of normal flat panels rads with A) inhibitor in
the
system and B) without?

A) Indefinite. More likely to go out of fashion, or the technology
over-taken or receive too many coats of paint.

B) Depends on the corrosion regimen. Anything from 10 years upwards.
With a normal header tank, no inhibitor and correct plumbing I'd guess at
least 25 years.

Thanks. That pretty much squares with what's happening her just now. The
rads were installed an unknown number of years before I bought the place 19
years ago and no inhibitor in the system for 19 years because there's always
been that one drip somewhere I need to fix before adding it. Result, one rad
rusted through a few years ago and another just gone today. I think I'd have
been well advised to have fixed the leaks and added the inhibitor but you
never seem to get a roundtuit when you need one. Chances are that all the
other rads are now paper thin so lack of inhibitor has probably cost me a
grand or so. C'est la vie.
--
Dave Baker
www.pumaracing.co.uk


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Lifespan of radiators
 

"Ed Sirett" wrote in message
n.co.uk...
On Mon, 27 Feb 2006 21:15:13 +0000, Dave Baker wrote:

What's the expected life of normal flat panels rads with A) inhibitor in
the
system and B) without?

A) Indefinite. More likely to go out of fashion, or the technology
over-taken or receive too many coats of paint.

B) Depends on the corrosion regimen. Anything from 10 years upwards.

I have seen them go after 10 years in London with no inhibitor from new.

Lifespan of radiators
 

On Mon, 27 Feb 2006 21:15:13 -0000, "Dave Baker" Dave
wrote:

What's the expected life of normal flat panels rads with A) inhibitor in the
system and B) without?


Experience of A) is at 20 years with no sign of deterioration at all.

I am told that B) can be a lot less depending on aggressiveness of
water and if you have regular oxygenation through sucking down or
pumping over.

Once one radiator fails, it would be prudent to budget to replace the
lot since there is nothing to suggest that one of the same type would
fail before another.


--

..andy

Lifespan of radiators
 

In article ,
Dave Baker Dave wrote:
What's the expected life of normal flat panels rads with A) inhibitor in
the system and B) without?

I've got Thermapanels here which I'd been told don't have a long life due
to being made of thin stuff so they warm up quickly. So have used
inhibitor since day one. About 30 years ago. Still fine.

Elder brother with a BG installed system at about the same time with
'standard' pressed steel rads but no inhibitor had the first one start
leaking at about 10 years old. And others later. But he had a 5 star
service contract so that was ok. ;-) Not all of his have been replaced,
but most.

--
*Gravity is a myth, the earth sucks *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Lifespan of radiators
 

With no inhibitor, it depends when they were purchased.
If they're over 40 years old, they'll last pretty much forever.
At 35-40 years old, they seem to last about 25 years.
As they get more recent (and thinner), radiators purchased
10 years ago lasted only 5 years.

This is based on my parents' 50 year old system which has been
extended a number of times over the years, and never had any
inhibitor until just recently. None of the original panel
raditors have shown any sign of starting to leak (their only
problem is they look rather ugly compared with the more recent
ones).

--
Andrew Gabriel

Lifespan of radiators
 

I didn't realise how cheap rads were from Screwfix. I could replace every
one in the house for under 300 quid. Seems like the lack of inhibitor is not
such a financial disaster after all :)
--
Dave Baker
www.pumaracing.co.uk


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Lifespan of radiators
 

On Tue, 28 Feb 2006 08:37:40 -0000, "Dave Baker" Dave
wrote:

I didn't realise how cheap rads were from Screwfix. I could replace every
one in the house for under 300 quid. Seems like the lack of inhibitor is not
such a financial disaster after all :)

Bearing Andrew's point in mind, longevity of more recent products is
not what it was in those of old.

Secondly, Screwfix, or rather their delivery arrangements have a known
bad reputation in terms of delivering radiators in good condition and
not bent.

A better source may well be a local branch of one of the national
chains like TP or Plumbcenter. Another way is to order on line from
someone like Discounted Heating. For large items ( and possibly
smaller ones), they act like a reseller. In other words will use
volume purchase discounts that they get from the national firms and
then arrange them to deliver. At least these firms with own delivery
have some clue about bending stuff, as opposed to the monkies employed
by the generic delivery outfits.


--

..andy

Lifespan of radiators
 

On Mon, 27 Feb 2006 21:15:13 -0000, "Dave Baker" Dave
wrote:

What's the expected life of normal flat panels rads with A) inhibitor in the
system and B) without?

Are we talking old radiators (Thicker steel) or new radiators (Thinner
steel)?

Old radiators are good for 30-40 years, newer ones 15 years+.


sponix

Lifespan of radiators
 

Andy Hall wrote:
On Tue, 28 Feb 2006 08:37:40 -0000, "Dave Baker" Dave
wrote:

I didn't realise how cheap rads were from Screwfix. I could replace every
one in the house for under 300 quid. Seems like the lack of inhibitor is not
such a financial disaster after all :)

Bearing Andrew's point in mind, longevity of more recent products is
not what it was in those of old.

Secondly, Screwfix, or rather their delivery arrangements have a known
bad reputation in terms of delivering radiators in good condition and
not bent.

Wah! Don't tell me that - I've just ordered one :(

A better source may well be a local branch of one of the national
chains like TP or Plumbcenter. Another way is to order on line from
someone like Discounted Heating. For large items ( and possibly
smaller ones), they act like a reseller. In other words will use
volume purchase discounts that they get from the national firms and
then arrange them to deliver. At least these firms with own delivery
have some clue about bending stuff, as opposed to the monkies employed
by the generic delivery outfits.

Lifespan of radiators
 

"Dave Baker" Dave wrote in message
m...
I didn't realise how cheap rads were from Screwfix. I could replace every
one in the house for under 300 quid. Seems like the lack of inhibitor is
not
such a financial disaster after all :)

All you have to do is spend £10-15 on a 1 litre can and pour it in the
header tanks every 4 years. Then no probs whatsoever. Any dope can do
that, and it far less than £300 and you also have to buy rads valves too.
Buy cheap and nasty valves is false economy.

Lifespan of radiators
 

"Andy Hall" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 28 Feb 2006 08:37:40 -0000, "Dave Baker" Dave
wrote:

I didn't realise how cheap rads were from Screwfix. I could replace every
one in the house for under 300 quid. Seems like the lack of inhibitor is
not
such a financial disaster after all :)

Bearing Andrew's point in mind, longevity of more recent products is
not what it was in those of old.

Secondly, Screwfix, or rather their delivery arrangements have a known
bad reputation in terms of delivering radiators in good condition and
not bent.

A better source may well be a local branch of one of the national
chains like TP or Plumbcenter.

Wickes rads a good and cheap and you can inspect before taking home. The
range is a little limited.

Lifespan of radiators
 

On Tue, 28 Feb 2006 09:49:21 +0000, Richard Conway
wrote:

Andy Hall wrote:
On Tue, 28 Feb 2006 08:37:40 -0000, "Dave Baker" Dave
wrote:

I didn't realise how cheap rads were from Screwfix. I could replace every
one in the house for under 300 quid. Seems like the lack of inhibitor is not
such a financial disaster after all :)

Bearing Andrew's point in mind, longevity of more recent products is
not what it was in those of old.

Secondly, Screwfix, or rather their delivery arrangements have a known
bad reputation in terms of delivering radiators in good condition and
not bent.

Wah! Don't tell me that - I've just ordered one :(


It seems from previous posts that most of the mishaps happen to single
panel ones rather than the doubles if that's any help.


--

..andy

Lifespan of radiators
 

Andy Hall wrote:
On Tue, 28 Feb 2006 09:49:21 +0000, Richard Conway
wrote:

Andy Hall wrote:
On Tue, 28 Feb 2006 08:37:40 -0000, "Dave Baker" Dave
wrote:

I didn't realise how cheap rads were from Screwfix. I could replace every
one in the house for under 300 quid. Seems like the lack of inhibitor is not
such a financial disaster after all :)
Bearing Andrew's point in mind, longevity of more recent products is
not what it was in those of old.

Secondly, Screwfix, or rather their delivery arrangements have a known
bad reputation in terms of delivering radiators in good condition and
not bent.
Wah! Don't tell me that - I've just ordered one :(


It seems from previous posts that most of the mishaps happen to single
panel ones rather than the doubles if that's any help.

None at all - I'll have to start a new thread on unbending single panel
radiators methinks :)

Lifespan of radiators
 

On Tue, 28 Feb 2006 09:59:34 +0000, Richard Conway
wrote:

Andy Hall wrote:
On Tue, 28 Feb 2006 09:49:21 +0000, Richard Conway
wrote:

Andy Hall wrote:
On Tue, 28 Feb 2006 08:37:40 -0000, "Dave Baker" Dave
wrote:

I didn't realise how cheap rads were from Screwfix. I could replace every
one in the house for under 300 quid. Seems like the lack of inhibitor is not
such a financial disaster after all :)
Bearing Andrew's point in mind, longevity of more recent products is
not what it was in those of old.

Secondly, Screwfix, or rather their delivery arrangements have a known
bad reputation in terms of delivering radiators in good condition and
not bent.
Wah! Don't tell me that - I've just ordered one :(


It seems from previous posts that most of the mishaps happen to single
panel ones rather than the doubles if that's any help.

None at all - I'll have to start a new thread on unbending single panel
radiators methinks :)


Oh dear. Well hopefully you'll be the exception...... :-)


--

..andy

Lifespan of radiators
 

Andy Hall wrote:
On Tue, 28 Feb 2006 09:59:34 +0000, Richard Conway
wrote:

Andy Hall wrote:
On Tue, 28 Feb 2006 09:49:21 +0000, Richard Conway
wrote:

Andy Hall wrote:
On Tue, 28 Feb 2006 08:37:40 -0000, "Dave Baker" Dave
wrote:

I didn't realise how cheap rads were from Screwfix. I could replace every
one in the house for under 300 quid. Seems like the lack of inhibitor is not
such a financial disaster after all :)
Bearing Andrew's point in mind, longevity of more recent products is
not what it was in those of old.

Secondly, Screwfix, or rather their delivery arrangements have a known
bad reputation in terms of delivering radiators in good condition and
not bent.
Wah! Don't tell me that - I've just ordered one :(

It seems from previous posts that most of the mishaps happen to single
panel ones rather than the doubles if that's any help.
None at all - I'll have to start a new thread on unbending single panel
radiators methinks :)


Oh dear. Well hopefully you'll be the exception...... :-)

Maybe I could turn it into a feature or something :)

Lifespan of radiators
 

On Tue, 28 Feb 2006 09:50:17 -0000, "Doctor Drivel"
wrote:


"Dave Baker" Dave wrote in message
om...
I didn't realise how cheap rads were from Screwfix. I could replace every
one in the house for under 300 quid. Seems like the lack of inhibitor is
not
such a financial disaster after all :)

All you have to do is spend £10-15 on a 1 litre can and pour it in the
header tanks every 4 years. Then no probs whatsoever. Any dope can do
that, and it far less than £300 and you also have to buy rads valves too.
Buy cheap and nasty valves is false economy.

Even less than that. Inhibitor is a tenner in Wickes..£7 from Screwfix
iirc so there really is no excuse.

sponix

Lifespan of radiators
 

On Tue, 28 Feb 2006 10:17:58 +0000, Richard Conway
wrote:

Andy Hall wrote:

It seems from previous posts that most of the mishaps happen to single
panel ones rather than the doubles if that's any help.
None at all - I'll have to start a new thread on unbending single panel
radiators methinks :)


Oh dear. Well hopefully you'll be the exception...... :-)

Maybe I could turn it into a feature or something :)

Possibly. I suppose it would depend on the "customisation".


--

..andy

Lifespan of radiators
 

Andy Hall wrote:
On Tue, 28 Feb 2006 10:17:58 +0000, Richard Conway
wrote:

Andy Hall wrote:

It seems from previous posts that most of the mishaps happen to single
panel ones rather than the doubles if that's any help.
None at all - I'll have to start a new thread on unbending single panel
radiators methinks :)

Oh dear. Well hopefully you'll be the exception...... :-)
Maybe I could turn it into a feature or something :)

Possibly. I suppose it would depend on the "customisation".


I'll check eBay for some pimped up radiator covers :)

Lifespan of radiators
 

Richard Conway wrote:
Andy Hall wrote:
On Tue, 28 Feb 2006 10:17:58 +0000, Richard Conway
wrote:

Andy Hall wrote:

It seems from previous posts that most of the mishaps happen to
single
panel ones rather than the doubles if that's any help.
None at all - I'll have to start a new thread on unbending single
panel radiators methinks :)

Oh dear. Well hopefully you'll be the exception...... :-)
Maybe I could turn it into a feature or something :)

Possibly. I suppose it would depend on the "customisation".


I'll check eBay for some pimped up radiator covers :)
You dont happen to have a curved wall do you?? :-)

Lifespan of radiators
 

Cuprager wrote:
Richard Conway wrote:
Andy Hall wrote:
On Tue, 28 Feb 2006 10:17:58 +0000, Richard Conway
wrote:

Andy Hall wrote:

It seems from previous posts that most of the mishaps happen to
single
panel ones rather than the doubles if that's any help.
None at all - I'll have to start a new thread on unbending single
panel radiators methinks :)

Oh dear. Well hopefully you'll be the exception...... :-)
Maybe I could turn it into a feature or something :)

Possibly. I suppose it would depend on the "customisation".


I'll check eBay for some pimped up radiator covers :)
You dont happen to have a curved wall do you?? :-)

If I did, what would the chances be that the delivery chaps would bend
it in the right direction?

Lifespan of radiators
 

Sponix wrote in message
...
On Tue, 28 Feb 2006 09:50:17 -0000, "Doctor Drivel"
wrote:


"Dave Baker" Dave wrote in message
om...
I didn't realise how cheap rads were from Screwfix. I could replace
every
one in the house for under 300 quid. Seems like the lack of inhibitor
is
not
such a financial disaster after all :)

All you have to do is spend £10-15 on a 1 litre can and pour it in the
header tanks every 4 years. Then no probs whatsoever. Any dope can do
that, and it far less than £300 and you also have to buy rads valves too.
Buy cheap and nasty valves is false economy.

Even less than that. Inhibitor is a tenner in Wickes..£7 from Screwfix
iirc so there really is no excuse.

As I said in the original post. There's always been one leak somewhere or
other that needed fixing before it was worth putting the inhibitor in. I
actually bought a gallon of inhibitor shortly after I bought the house and
it's been sitting in the garage for 19 years waiting to go in the tank. Then
a TRV started to drip. Drained down and fixed that then another one went
followed by a couple of rad valves. Then the immersion tank sprank a leak.
Soldered that as a temporary fix but realised a couple of stop valves in the
system no longer closed water tight when everything was drained down so
thought it best to replace those when I got a roundtuit before using
inhibitor as again it would all have to be drained down.

Then I came home one day to find a nice man in a van had left me a new
immersion tank with the next door neighbours and a note through my door. Who
it was actually meant for I have no idea but it was most timely and saved me
a bundle. They never came back for it anyway. Fitted that with a mate after
some rearrangement of the piping to suit the different tank and every bloody
compression joint we had to work on ****ed out water when I filled the
system back up. No amount of tape, gloop or silicone sealant made a scrap of
difference. Even the cap on the tank where the immersion coil goes leaked
water despite firstly just using the gasket it came with and secondly trying
that plus sealant. Maybe we're just cack handed but I've never struggled
with a compression joint before and he's just installed a complete heating
system in his own house with no problems. Fortunately the water in this area
is so hard it headbuts you if you try to drink it so the limescale
eventually blocks minor leaks if you're prepared to wait a while :)

Anyway. In the meantime the three 2 way zone valves which the previous owner
had installed to be able to control upstairs heat, downstairs heat and hot
water separately had one by one either jammed or started leaking or both. I
took the motors off them, replaced one with a stop valve and handle the
system manually now with a screwdriver and an adjustable spanner. It'll do
until the immersion tank gets moved as part of the renovations and I fit a
new zoning arrangement.

Then there's Bessie the boiler which sprank a leak from the steam vent at
the back a few years ago, again last year because the washer I'd been
supplied with to fix it was the wrong size and now having got that right
she's dribbling incontinently from a side cover.

So that's my sorry story of a central heating system which has usually
worked but generally leaked and never been quite right enough to not need
draining down at some point in the near future. I suppose with hindsight it
might have been better to just keep putting new inhibitor in every time I
had to fix something but never do today what you can put off until tomorrow
I reckon.

On the bright side it's probably quicker and easier to whack new rads in at
£30 a pop than try and flush them, sand them down, paint them and put them
back again. They're all pretty manky now, even the ones that don't leak.
--
Dave Baker
www.pumaracing.co.uk


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