You can save a lot of money by sorting out your home heating system personally. Even if you leave the actual installation of your new radiators and boiler to a professional there are many tasks you can take care of yourself. You can save a lot of money by sorting out your home heating system personally. Even if you leave the actual installation of your new radiators and boiler to a professional there are many tasks you can take care of yourself. Tools such as a radiator calculator can help you prepare the way for your new heating system.

Preparation

If you are on a tight budget then it makes sense to get more involved in home renovation products such as new heating systems. It is much more cost effective if you take care of the preparation work yourself. This is relatively easy to do and will mean you only have to spend money on professional labour for a small part of the job.

If you want a traditional cast iron heating system then one of the main tasks you can take care of yourself is sourcing and buying the radiators. Most plumbers will be able to get trade rates on conventional radiators but not for the more expensive cast iron options. If you spend a bit of time researching the specialist suppliers you could get some significant savings on your cast iron radiators. This will reduce the overall budget for your project and also ensure you get the radiators you want.

Radiator Calculator

One very useful tool to help you plan your new heating systems is a radiator calculator. This will provide you with an easy way to work out how many radiators you need to heat your home effectively. It is important to work this out before you go shopping for new radiators. The correct amount of radiators is essential to the efficiency of your heating system. If you have too few radiators (or they are too small for your rooms) then it will be very difficult to achieve a comfortable temperature for your home. If you have too many radiators then you will just be wasting money that could be put to better use on other projects.

You can find a radiator calculator online. These are easy to use and provide a straightforward calculation process to make sure you get the right amount of radiators to heat your home. Don’t forget there are a number of factors that can affect heat distribution in your home. This includes:

* Floors – heat rises so the upper levels of your home may not need as many radiators as the downstairs. Also take into consideration the fact that sleeping areas do not really need to be as hot as living areas. An online radiator calculator can help you work out how many radiators you really need for each floor of your home.

* Thermal Loss – heat loss is a big factor in calculating heating systems for your home. Heat loss is caused by a number of factors such as windows, cavity spaces and drafts. Check around your rooms carefully and look for potential heat loss problems. You could make your heating system more efficient by protecting your home from heat loss with double glazing and cavity insulation.