How do I replace old inefficient radiators?
I habe radiators that are recessed in the wall and they are extremely old. How do I go about finding another alternative to these pieces of junk?
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Nicholas, first of all what type of fuel does your radiator use? Is it a hydronic system with a gas fired boiler? Electric? Oil filled?
you could probably use some infared quartz ones they are electric so would need wiring here's info https://www.totalhomesupply.com/prestyl-flat-panel-infrared-heater/p/PRESTYL-FLATPANEL?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjOrK9ZuA4AIVFx6tBh3wfAipEAQYCSABEgJ72vD_BwE they make these really nice looking flat panel radiators https://www.google.com/search?q=flat+panel+radiators&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS750US750&oq=flat+panel+radiators&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.10337j1j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Could be hot water or steam. Oil fired I assume steam. Best heat there is. I would clean them and paint them. To replace them you would need a heating contractor to determine what to replace them with, a heat loss calculation would need to be done for every room and the radiators themselves. If they are steam nothing can be done except removing the whole system, boiler...piping....and radiators. If hot water the radiators can be removed and cast iron base board installed. One thing to consider. The amount of baseboard heat can be triple the amount equal to one radiator. Same goes for electric heat. The amount of electric units can be double the amount to equal one radiator. And that's if there is enough wall space.
The cheapest remedy would be to clean them up and paint the outside cover to match your wall. I have both baseboard and those in-wall units (hot water system) and the in-wall units keep the rooms they are in much warmer than the baseboards do, and the in-walls take up much less room. Consider also that if they're old, they're probably a lot more substantial and durable than most products on the market today. You can't buy those radiators any more, and there are people who salvage and refinish them for exactly that reason.
Why not visit a plumbing and heating supply store, taking pictures of what you have, and ask what the modern version is? There are flat-panel European style heaters that can be installed, but they're pricey, and since your radiators are in-wall, you would have to re-do the wall.
Your other option is, as William said, to have a heating contractor give you an estimate. You're looking at a pretty big price tag. Perhaps you can re-do the radiators that bother you the most, looks-wise.