In our climate zone, the heating season is relatively long. If you want to ensure optimal thermal comfort for yourself and your family regardless of the outside temperature, you need to think about installing an appropriate heating system.
To make the right choice of radiator, you need to correctly select its power. In this article, we advise on how to calculate the radiator power depending on the size of the room. This is very important because the demand for heat can vary significantly in different rooms.
Why is the choice of radiator important?
Each type of room in the house has slightly different heat requirements. The temperature you can achieve depends largely on the type and power of the radiator installed. In our online store Mexen.pl, we offer radiators suitable for use in rooms, as well as models intended for kitchens or bathrooms.
If you want to ensure maximum thermal comfort for yourself, you need to pay attention not only to the tightness of windows and doors but also to properly select radiators in each room. This is particularly important in single-family homes, which may be more exposed to heat loss than multi-family buildings.
It's also worth noting that the heating power of a device doesn't always depend on its size. You can find out by checking the manufacturer's labels on the packaging. Usually, a large radiator provides more heat, but before purchasing, it's worth considering what temperature you actually want to achieve. An oversized radiator may overheat the interior, generating higher costs.
How to choose the power of a radiator for the size of a room?
If we want to correctly choose the power of a radiator, we must first calculate the specific heat demand of a particular room. It will vary depending on the function of individual interiors. For example, a bathroom usually requires more heat than a living room or bedroom.
So, how do you calculate the heat demand depending on the type of room? It's worth using a radiator selection calculator, which is available online.
It's worth knowing that...
...if we want the room temperature to be around 20 degrees Celsius, we should choose a radiator with a power of 70-80 W/m2. If the temperature should be around 24 degrees, the radiators should have a power of 100 to 120 W/m2 of room area.
The size of the room also affects the choice of radiator power, and heat demand can be calculated using a simplified method. It involves multiplying the estimated power per square meter by the area of the room. This calculates the power of the radiator that should be installed in the interior.
What radiator for a 16 m2 room?
As an example, we'll show how to calculate the radiator power to heat a 16 m2 room, taking into account both the area and standard height - usually 2.7 m.
For a proper selection of radiator power, multiply the room's area by the heat demand, which is 70-80 W/m2 for a living room, or even 150 W/m2 for older buildings (including buildings with thermal insulation).
Using the given parameters, we get the following equation:
70-80 W x 16 m2 = 1120/1280 W
Thus, to heat a 16 m2 room to about 20 degrees, a radiator or radiators with a total power of at least 1120 W should be installed.
What radiator for a 12 m2 room?
For a slightly smaller room, perform similar calculations, changing the area:
70-80W x 12 m2 = 840/960W
When calculating radiator power, it's also worth considering heat loss - in poorly insulated old buildings, this can be significant. The greater the heat loss, the more power the installed radiator will need. In Mexen.pl's offer, you'll find a wide selection of radiators with this power.
What radiator for a 30 m2 room?
A large living room needs plenty of light. Therefore, it's one of those rooms where more windows are installed. Modern construction often uses panoramic windows that replace walls. Both solutions contribute to lowering the room temperature. Why? Glass transmits cold from outside. Therefore, selecting the right radiator is crucial. The first thing you should remember is to switch windows to the so-called cold or winter mode, ensuring their tightness. The second is, of course, having the appropriate radiator power.
Using the already known formula, calculate what radiator will work in a 30 m2 room:
70-80W x 30 m2 = 2100/2400 W
If you want your living room to have a temperature no lower than 20 degrees, you need to invest in a radiator with a power of 2100 or 2400 W. In poorly insulated houses or apartments, the radiator's heating power should be higher.
What radiators for gas heating?
Another consideration may be which device to choose for a specific type of heating. On Mexen.pl, you can find, among others, panel room radiators, which work well with gas heating. They use internal fins, which not only increase their heating power but also enhance their appearance.
It's important to note that, as important as the radiator itself is the type of boiler used and the temperature of the heating factor in the installation.
Estimating heat loss in the room
Calculating the radiator power needed for a room should be supplemented by estimating heat loss. This loss occurs due to heat penetration through poorly insulated walls or gaps in door frames.
To estimate heat loss, it's worth using online calculators available on the internet. You need to provide the dimensions of individual rooms, the type of building material, as well as the outside temperature.
The calculator will show how much heat “escapes” from the room. This way, it's easier to adjust the previously calculated heat demand. This, in turn, allows for better estimation of radiator power.
How to choose a radiator for a room? Summary
If you want to buy the right radiator that provides thermal comfort in a room, you need to consider several important factors, including the interior's volume but also the building's overall insulation level.
To make accurate calculations, you need to:
- precisely measure the chosen room,
- calculate radiator power depending on the temperature you want to achieve in the room,
- refer to the so-called power table, which takes into account boiler power parameters and correction factors - these tables are usually available on the manufacturer's website.
The second step is deciding what type of radiator will be installed in the room. On Mexen.pl, you'll find the right type of radiator. You can choose from room radiators of various sizes, as well as heating devices for bathrooms or kitchens.