Adding an extra radiator in living room

Hi, Personal opinion here, but I'd replace that single panel with a "K2" type new rad. K2 is a double with fins on the inside for added heat dissipation. It can be physically smaller than the original, and as it's double-walled with good convection, you don't need to be so concerned about having the couch up against it.

You would first need to roughly 'size' the heating demand in the room using a tool:

That will give you a heat output in watts, and then you can pick a rad to fit the watt requirement from any of the builder's suppliers, or have the plumber supply and fit it.

Works such as these are tricky to cost as we don't know all of the details such as the complexity of the piping and flooring, but I'd hazard a guess that it's between the range of 400 to 550 EUR for labour alone.

Not exactly answering your question but you mentioned a fireplace that is not used - is it still open or sealed off ? If open it will draw the heated air from the rad out of the room and it will be almost impossible to heat the room properly.

Regarding the rad, replace your existing one with a modern twin panel rad and fit under window to allow maximum circulation or air - plumber will run pipes along skirting board.

Great points. More options for the OP.

As long as the new rad is sized, it should heat the room sufficiently I'd be willing to bet that the original rad is undersized by about 50%.

Have you considered putting in a small multi fuel type stove or inset stove in that fireplace? That will control the draft up it. But also can be lit of colder evenings - we have a Waterford Shire stove I think it's called for many years, runs off a smidgeon of fuel and great heat out of it.

I too have an open fire in my sitting room which I do use, got a quote few weeks ago to put in insert stove which included removing cast iron effect bit, putting in black granite to match existing base bit (cant remember proper name for it!) and putting back existing fire surround. 9kw stove 3.5k, bit cheaper for 7kw, way too much for me for the value I'd get out of it!

I actually asked about the free standing but was advised I would have to bring the hearth (remembered the word!) out further into the room as the stove couldn't sit back into existing fireplace, not big enough. Now as my room is smallish anyway I didn't want a bigger hearth.

The second one is not far off the price I was quoted, only 1,100 of the 3,500 was for the actual 9kw stove, the rest was the granite surround, flue, fitting, vent etc. So while I can buy that second one for that price I'll still have to get it fitted and do the other bits, I understand it's probably cheaper to hire someone else to do that and buy the stove myself but I didn't want the hassle and just wanted someone to come in and do the job. It would want to be a lot cheaper to make it worth it to me even at that.

Yea, that's a tricky one. Ideally the new floors etc. are fitted after all plumbing work is completed. Have a chat with your plumber, it may be possible to drop the rad pipes down from the attic and box them in, otherwise the new skirting has to be fitted before plumber fits pipes. You could protect new floors with old carpet but holes thru walls etc. have to be filled in & painted etc. Another option is to run pipes on wall above skirting board, when painted the same colour as wall you'll hardly notice them.

Did we ever find out whether the floor is concrete or raised wooden joists?

Install a double panel radiator in place of the old one, no point putting one else where in the room.

You probably have a huge losses up an open chimney. Definitely fit a chimney balloon to seal it off as it is leaking air 24/7.