Replacing a radiator

Liquid_Entity

Liquid_Entity

Liquid_Entity

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Hi,

We're having our hallway decorated in May and I want to remove the existing radiator and get the wall behind it done to a nice finish whilst they're doing the rest of the work.

Can a radiator be removed and left removed until the job is done as in the pipes can be stopped or is it a job that has to be done when the original radiator comes off?

It's only a small thing to replace an ageing old one. Also anyone know how much it will be to fit (not by the decorator I presume)

 
You'll need to either drain down your heating system or isolate the supply to the radiator (your existing rad may have values to allow this). Once the water is out of the rad or isolated so can take it off and put something on the end (a cap or an isolation valve switched to off) so that when you fill the heating system back up water doesn't go everywhere.

It's a common and easy job but depends on how comfortable you are with your heating system.

Generally if no pipes need moving and it's a straight swap you'd probably expect to pay a plumber between £60 and £120 to replace a radiator (less if the old rad is already off, more if pipes need moving on either side).
 
Close the valves and remove the rad to decorate. Sometimes it is good idea to cap TRV valves as well as they have been known to open when they shouldn't. If the new rad needs the pipes altering it will be a good idea to do this before decorating so any holes can be made good.
 
It depends. If it's a modernish radiator with a TRV, then it's pretty simple to remove. Close the valve either side of the radiator to isolate it from the rest of the system, then release the pressure via the valve at the top.

You can then loosen he connectors to the radiator. Start with one side, and have a bowl underneath to capture the water from the radiator.
 
Thanks all, I wouldn't be doing any of this removal myself. I'd rather pay a pro to do it cos if it messes up I got some come back.

My current radiator is 600mm wide too so think the pipes would/could remain the same.
 
Local 'odd job' man may be your best bet. I wouldn't pay more than £50-£80 to cap off and remove.
 
We had our hallway decorated last October and I just followed this YouTube video:


I am absolutely useless at DIY but I found it really straightforward. Personally, I'd begrudge paying more than £20 or so to drain, remove and cap it as its so easy.
 
Don't disturb the pipes holding the valve when you loosen the radiator off it because it can cause the pipe to weep around the olive or at least it did in my case, had to cut the existing olive and pipe back and fit a new one. That was my first time removing a rad as well.

So basically be prepared for the unexpected. :p
 
A radiator has two valves. One each side. Usually only one is adjustable, you close that one then pull off the plastic knob, move it to the other side, and close that valve. Then the radiator can be removed. Bear in mind it is full of water so you need to carefully undo the radiator allowing the water to drain in to a bowl. If you have a nice carpet then tons of covering is required to protect it. Usually the radiator brackets on the wall are in the wrong place so you need to fit the ones supplied with the new radiator. These need extremely careful measurement to ensure the radiator fits at exactly the right height for the existing valves.
Because the new radiator usually needs a new wall bracket this is best done BEFORE you decorate. Once the new radiator is fitted it can be removed again for decoration.
Sometimes the old valves leak while the radiator is off, but mostly you find a bowl underneath is enough to capture any drips. If it's really bad the system needs to be drained and the valve replaced. Bear in mind that you can also often leave the radiator connected but on the floor ( if that makes any sense ) which bypasses the need to replace the valve.
 
I'm literally terrible at DIY, to the point where I wish I had never started, however, even I was able to replace radiators without any drama.
 
One of my first DIY jobs.

Massive adjustable spanner and some grips (not sure what they are called)

One issue I had even with the grips one nut was so stiff the connection to the wall pipe started to drip! Eek! I just tightened it even more and lucky it fixed!

But yeah, main issue is how much force you'll need to get those nuts off
 
413x said:
One of my first DIY jobs.

Massive adjustable spanner and some grips (not sure what they are called)

One issue I had even with the grips one nut was so stiff the connection to the wall pipe started to drip! Eek! I just tightened it even more and lucky it fixed!

But yeah, main issue is how much force you'll need to get those nuts off
Click to expand...

You can also tap the spanner with a hammer to get it initially loosened.
 
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