Installing radiators, rough costs ??

Snow-Munki · 29 Oct 2014 at 21:50

hi,

Looking to get all of our upstairs radiators changed, 6 in total.

Looking to get column radiators which I will probably supply. So far only got one quote and he said it be £150 per radiator ! :eek:

bit more than I expected. He said it would be about 2 days work.

The new ones will be slight smaller as they will be more efficient than my current 1970's ones so would mean lifting up a few of the floorboards and moving the copper pipes. Does that quote seem about right ?

Going to try and get a few more quotes,

Thanks,

Lisapete · 29 Oct 2014 at 22:01

Not up for doing your own? £150 is a lot.

He could just run the copper along the top, no need to open up the floor

B&Q also have them on offer

SPArton · 29 Oct 2014 at 22:01

£150 per radiator for just labour seems way too high!

I would expect the cost to be £150 for about 5 radiators.

Just to let you know - to do this job you don't have to get a Gas safe plumber, just a regular plumber or even odd job guy can do it as the boiler is not being touched.

justalex81 · 29 Oct 2014 at 22:05

who will be supplying the rad valves and other materials?

£100 per rad would be reasonable. don't forget he's got to drain down the system and re fill it and put inhibitor in.

Snow-Munki · 29 Oct 2014 at 22:10

He said :

£150.00 each radiator including materials (you supply valves).

I would give it a go but the daunting bit is moving the copper pipes. Something I have never done. I'll get a few more quote, maybe it's a lot as he didn't really fancy the job.

At least I got a rough idea now.

Participant · 29 Oct 2014 at 22:15

Lisapete said:
Not up for doing your own? £150 is a lot.

He could just run the copper along the top, no need to open up the floor

Yeah, cause that would look smart!

It's a big job if all the pipes need redoing. £900 seems slightly high, but not ridiculous.

NickK · 29 Oct 2014 at 22:16

Rads very wildly: http://www.screwfix.com/c/heating-p...rUwhUR_Hq9Zy9vOgyYunawvho7HthUsQfbhoCVHLw_wcB

Fernox inhibitor: http://www.screwfix.com/p/fernox-mb-1-protector-4ltr/97287
Probably worth flushing the system, then changing the rads. If the rad pipe in/out points are the same - then it could be a straight swap.

I had to reposition the pipes under the floor - I took a while to cut out the floor (interlocking sheets), solder the pipes, test and fix a leak etc. MAPP/Pro is going to cost you a bit with a good torch head.

dholdi · 29 Oct 2014 at 22:20

Participant said:
Yeah, cause that would look smart!

Absolutely, that would bug me forever more.

Mickie · 29 Oct 2014 at 23:28

I'm a heating engineer and i'd do it for £400 but suspect i live no-where near you..

Lopéz · 30 Oct 2014 at 07:07

If you want to have a go yourself but are worried about soldering etc you can always use Cuprofit copper push fit joins. Phenomenally easy to use and reliable.

Tesla · 30 Oct 2014 at 08:49

How much narrower are these new rads?

Snow-Munki · 30 Oct 2014 at 09:11

Mickie said:
I'm a heating engineer and i'd do it for £400 but suspect i live no-where near you..

Cheltenham, Gloucestershire if that is of any help.

Haven't done exact measurements but not a huge amount probably a few cm's from either side at a rough guess ?

mattyg · 30 Oct 2014 at 10:10

Is there a reason your not replacing with the same overall size

Makhaira · 30 Oct 2014 at 12:43

By far the cheapest option would be to get something with the same spacing. Failing that, why not do some of the labour yourself, and say you'll have the boards lifted, and the system drained for when they arrive. Will save an hour or two of time which should save you some pennies...

Trifid · 30 Oct 2014 at 18:07

I'd keep to the same size and either run the TRVs lower, run the system at a lower water temperature (more efficient) or enjoy the house heating up faster.

Participant · 30 Oct 2014 at 18:34

Is replacing like-for-like that simple if we're talking 1970s radiators? Surely what was 33" is now 90cm, etc...

Agree with copper pushfit comment, it's hilariously easy and very solid. Yorkshire techtite and cuprofit are both very good. Literally a child could make a plumbing connection with these things.

NoNameNoNumber · 30 Oct 2014 at 18:39

Sorry to hijack but... Would you always recommend new TRV's?
Worth spending £25 ea. on Drayton TRV4's?

Participant · 30 Oct 2014 at 18:41

NoNameNoNumber said:
Sorry to hijack but... Would you always recommend new TRV's?
Worth spending £25 ea. on Drayton TRV4's?

Depends on your overall situation really. If you have say ten radiators and only 10cm of insulation in your attic, that £250 would be better served topping up the insulation and having cavity wall insulation done.

NickK · 30 Oct 2014 at 20:11

NoNameNoNumber said:
Sorry to hijack but... Would you always recommend new TRV's?
Worth spending £25 ea. on Drayton TRV4's?

You don't need them everywhere.. also if your system design - some designs you should not have TRVs on all the radiators.

I have TRV4s on the large towel rad in the bathroom and underfloor heating.

Everywhere else I have normal valves and balanced system with a single thermostat.

NoNameNoNumber · 30 Oct 2014 at 20:13

OK thanks... I've got a friend coming to look at fitting a boiler next week, I ripped the CH out a few months ago so starting from scratch. I've ran all of the pipework upstairs in Speedfit with copper tails through the flooring to the rads... Hope I've done it right!

Not sure if it'll be balanced or not but I'm sure he'll put me straight