Good day,
I want to replace the radiators in my apartment. One of the existing radiators is 2.72 m (9 feet) long, and the distance between the heating pipes is 2.84 m (9 feet 4 inches). A new radiator has a standard size of 0.6 x 2.6 m (2 x 8.5 feet). This means I would need to bridge the larger distance between the individual heating pipes (supply and return) and the radiator connections by about 12 cm (5 inches) using connecting pipes, which doesn’t look very neat.
I was thinking about installing three radiators, each 0.9 m (3 feet) long, in a row to achieve the required total length of 2.7 m (8 feet 10 inches). Would this be practical and even possible to install three radiators in series like that?
Thank you for your answers.
Regards,
Orban
I want to replace the radiators in my apartment. One of the existing radiators is 2.72 m (9 feet) long, and the distance between the heating pipes is 2.84 m (9 feet 4 inches). A new radiator has a standard size of 0.6 x 2.6 m (2 x 8.5 feet). This means I would need to bridge the larger distance between the individual heating pipes (supply and return) and the radiator connections by about 12 cm (5 inches) using connecting pipes, which doesn’t look very neat.
I was thinking about installing three radiators, each 0.9 m (3 feet) long, in a row to achieve the required total length of 2.7 m (8 feet 10 inches). Would this be practical and even possible to install three radiators in series like that?
Thank you for your answers.
Regards,
Orban
N
nordanney2 Jul 2025 16:13It is possible to do. Practical? Well, not really. You have several issues to address.
- Connection layout (simply connecting them one after another doesn’t work, since the first radiator receives hot water, but the second already gets cooler water, and so on). Maybe a Tichelmann piping system?
- Hydraulic balancing
- Number of thermostatic valves – usually just one on the first or last radiator (but the connection layout and potentially new piping must be considered).
- Venting in series
I think proper connections for the 260 mm (10 inches) radiator will look better than having three radiators in a row.
- Connection layout (simply connecting them one after another doesn’t work, since the first radiator receives hot water, but the second already gets cooler water, and so on). Maybe a Tichelmann piping system?
- Hydraulic balancing
- Number of thermostatic valves – usually just one on the first or last radiator (but the connection layout and potentially new piping must be considered).
- Venting in series
I think proper connections for the 260 mm (10 inches) radiator will look better than having three radiators in a row.
Three radiators in a row are not a problem. If I understand correctly, the radiators will then be connected alternately, just like the old radiator.
However, there is another issue: you forgot to include the measurement for the coupling pieces (tees, fittings used to connect the radiators) in the total length.
I would compensate for the 12cm (5 inches) by using two valve extensions, each 6cm (2.5 inches), on both sides.
You can use chrome-plated ones and paint them white, or something like that.
However, there is another issue: you forgot to include the measurement for the coupling pieces (tees, fittings used to connect the radiators) in the total length.
I would compensate for the 12cm (5 inches) by using two valve extensions, each 6cm (2.5 inches), on both sides.
You can use chrome-plated ones and paint them white, or something like that.
N
nordanney3 Jul 2025 18:14Knöpfchen schrieb:
Three radiators in series is not a problem, if I understand correctly, the radiators will then be connected alternately just like the old radiator.But then the second one will already get cooler water, and the third will have to take whatever is left.J
Jesse Custer4 Jul 2025 06:48But this has more to do with physics and less with the number of radiators.
The heat output itself always remains the same overall – just distributed differently, spread across the surface.
And that is what would bother ME... apart from the fact that, in my opinion, it would look extremely silly...
The heat output itself always remains the same overall – just distributed differently, spread across the surface.
And that is what would bother ME... apart from the fact that, in my opinion, it would look extremely silly...
The three radiators are flowed through exactly as if there were only one. This is ensured by the alternating connection: supply to the first radiator, return at the last radiator. If the pipe network had been designed and installed properly, this cross-connection would not even be necessary.
Similar topics