Do you need a radiator in the boiler room? When it is necessary to install it?

An effective heating system is essential for keeping your house warm and comfortable during the winter. One question that comes up frequently is whether your boiler room needs radiators or not. The answer isn’t always clear-cut because it depends on a number of variables, including your heating preferences, the size of your home, and the type of boiler you have.

Usually, boiler rooms are made to hold the boiler itself and any additional equipment required to heat your house. Radiators have historically been placed in boiler rooms to help disperse extra heat produced by the boiler and to keep the space comfortably heated. However, the layout and design of your heating system will determine whether or not you need a radiator in your boiler room.

You might not need a radiator if your boiler room has sufficient ventilation and insulation. Contemporary boilers are frequently made with increased efficiency in mind, which results in less surplus heat that needs to be released. In these situations, adding a radiator might not be necessary and might even make the space overheat.

However, there are other circumstances in which it is advantageous to install a radiator in the boiler room. A radiator can help control the temperature and keep the pipes from freezing in the winter, for instance, if your boiler produces a lot of heat that needs to be distributed or if the boiler room is situated in an exceptionally cold area of your house.

Types and features of boilers

The kind of boiler rooms determines the amount of heat transfer (heat generators).

• with a closed combustion chamber (the air for gas combustion is taken from the street, it does not need additional heating);
• with an open combustion chamber (wall-mounted or floor-mounted; the chimney goes into a shaft, gases are removed by natural draught, the air for gas combustion is taken from the boiler room itself). If the cold air masses come from the street, from the supply damper, their volume must be taken into account in the heat losses and heated up.

Let’s look at both kinds in terms of particular figures.

Calculations for boiler rooms of the first type

Closed combustion chamber: in this case, only three air exchanges are needed in an hour (if 15 m 3 of cold air enters the space). It is not a fact, though, as it is impossible to regulate the incoming air volumes. Generally speaking, it ends up being less in practice.

Consequently, the installation of underfloor heating in the boiler room, along with the partial release of heat from the equipment (manifolds, hydronic shooter, pipes, expansion tank, boiler), plus transit pipes, all contribute to the overall heating of the boiler room. Based on statistical data, boiler rooms of this type do not require radiators.

We must determine and compute the ideal temperatures in order to design the heating. Let’s use a projecti calculation program to accomplish this. The video at the bottom of the article provides a detailed breakdown of the calculations.

It is -25 degrees on the coldest street. The boiler and other heating appliances have a maximum temperature of 75 degrees. The temperature in the room is set to 22 degrees for comfort, 18 degrees for economy, and 5 degrees for freeze protection. 45 m 3 /h of ventilation (airing).

Losses 40 W through the floor and 277 W through the wall. That is, 98 is needed when accounting for heat losses and air inflow. 1560 W with an open chamber and 5 W with a closed chamber are used to heat the boiler room. In the first scenario, 551 W is insufficient even though statistically there is enough heat for heating at such values—the program precisely demonstrates this—if we add floor heating (434 W). This is because we specified a volume of air supply that is too large, as the ideal volume is thought to be approximately 30 m 3 /h.

335 W is insufficient, calculations show, even with such indices. Is it essential? No, because all boiler room equipment generates heat and makes up for the lack of heat, the missing heat will be obtained by transit pipes, hydrostrels, boilers, etc. As a result, the boiler room remains comfortably warm without the need for a radiator. Furthermore, the boiler’s ability to operate is unaffected by the reduction in air supply.

You don’t need a separate room for the boiler room because these boilers are small and don’t take up much room. The primary drawback is that they require electricity to function.

Calculations for a second type of boiler room

If the boiler room is equipped with an open combustion chamber wall-mounted or floor standing boiler, then to this threefold air exchange (to 45 m3) we need to add the air needed for gas combustion in the gas boiler. On average, if it is a boiler up to 30 kW, it takes about 40 m3 / h of air for gas combustion, respectively – the total will be 85 m3. That is 85 m3 of cold air will come from the street and it is this air that needs to be heated. Statistics show that if radiators are not installed, the temperature in the boiler room can remain cooler – the heat from the floor heating is not enough. Therefore, if the boiler has an open combustion chamber and the supply air comes into the boiler room directly from the street, it is better to install a radiator.

It makes no difference what kind of boiler you have installed—wall or floor mounted, with an open or closed combustion chamber—if the air to the boiler room is supplied for ventilation and combustion from the air that is not from the street but from another room (for instance, the door goes out into the house and from the warm room air enters the boiler room through a gap or a grate in the door). In this scenario, the air does not need to be heated further. According to statistics, underfloor heating in this instance is adequate to heat the space further, negating the need for additional radiator installation.

The primary risk associated with such a boiler is ventilation-related, as it may result in an oxygen shortage or even poisoning.

Let’s establish the subsequent parameters:

The "Comfort" mode has a temperature of eighteen degrees, the "Economy" mode ten, and the "Freeze protection" mode five. 85 m 3 of ventilation per hour.

In this case, it is impossible to significantly reduce the inflow, as this type of boilers constantly consumes this air from the street. Through the wall losses 277 W, through the floor – 60 W. And, taking into account the air inflow, heat loss through the walls and floor, it takes 1560 W for heating. If you add underfloor heating, which emits 434 watts, the heat loss will not be significantly reduced and will amount to 1126 watts – that is, there will not be enough heat for heating, despite the heat output from the rest of the equipment. Accordingly, the installation of a radiator in the boiler room here is not only desirable, but also a necessary measure, which is confirmed by our calculations.

Another scenario that comes to mind is when the room’s supply air is sufficient and does not require heating. The supply air volume is then totally eliminated and set to zero in the computations. Calculations show that in this scenario, warm floors will be more than sufficient to heat the room (heat loss will be +97 W).

Naturally, the area can also have an impact on our calculations because the equipment needs a specific amount of heat output based on its temperature characteristics. For instance, the lowest temperature in Moscow is -25 degrees, while in Yakutsk it is already -52 degrees. In light of this, we require 1056 W for heating from a boiler with a closed chamber and 1994 W from a boiler with an open chamber. Regardless of the boiler type, installing a radiator in these scenarios is advised, if only as a small extra.

The decision of whether or not to install a radiator in the boiler room is frequently made. In heating systems, radiators are essential components that distribute heat throughout a structure. Nevertheless, a number of variables determine whether a radiator is required in the boiler room.

First things first: think about your boiler room’s dimensions and insulation. Your boiler room might not need a radiator if it’s small and well-insulated. In these circumstances, the heat produced by the boiler may be adequate to keep the temperature at a comfortable level.

The local weather and climate are additional factors to take into account. In regions with lower temperatures, such as the boiler room, the presence of a radiator can aid in preventing pipe freezing. The heating system’s overall efficiency may benefit from this additional warmth.

Moreover, adding a radiator can help avoid moisture buildup and potential damage to stored goods or equipment in your boiler room if it serves as a utility or storage area. The radiator’s steady warmth can assist in reducing problems like condensation.

Installing a radiator in the boiler room is ultimately a matter of personal preference and circumstances. It may not always be required, but there are advantages in terms of comfort, effectiveness, and upkeep. You can decide if a radiator is the right choice for your space and heating system by evaluating their individual requirements.

When it comes to heating and insulating your home, the question of whether you need a radiator in the boiler room is a common one. The answer depends on a few factors. Firstly, if your boiler room is located within the main living space of your home, installing a radiator can help regulate the temperature and ensure efficient heating throughout the house. Additionally, if your boiler room is prone to cold temperatures or lacks sufficient insulation, a radiator can prevent pipes from freezing during colder months, thus protecting your heating system. However, if your boiler room is well-insulated and not frequently accessed, installing a radiator may not be necessary and could even be a waste of energy. Ultimately, the decision to install a radiator in the boiler room depends on your specific circumstances and heating needs.

Video on the topic

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