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Decorating and removing radiators
4 Answers
I want to decorate a room that has been wallpapered - quite some time ago by the looks of it! I notice that the radiator has been fitted after the papering has been done. So to get a good result I am going to have to take the radiator off, decorate, then put it back on again.
How hard is this? Do you have to drain the system or can you just isolate the radiator, empty it and take it off. I plan to get my plumber to do it, but would like to know the extent of the task before asking. Thanks.
How hard is this? Do you have to drain the system or can you just isolate the radiator, empty it and take it off. I plan to get my plumber to do it, but would like to know the extent of the task before asking. Thanks.
Answers
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Turn off hard the lockshield valve (there is usually a cap over the valve)
Turn off inlet valve fully (or TRV turn down to lowest setting)
Slacken connection one end (you will need spanner, and grips or pipewrench to hold valve stationary) .. lowest .. and drain old water into a tray.
Disconnect other when empty. Be very careful not to get the remnant water onto carpet .. it is black iron oxide!
Lift off rad .. etc .. etc.
Turn off inlet valve fully (or TRV turn down to lowest setting)
Slacken connection one end (you will need spanner, and grips or pipewrench to hold valve stationary) .. lowest .. and drain old water into a tray.
Disconnect other when empty. Be very careful not to get the remnant water onto carpet .. it is black iron oxide!
Lift off rad .. etc .. etc.
It's fairly simple, but you do need to watch getting dirty water on the carpet.
As the pipes enter and exit the radiator you should see they go through valves. You tighten both of these up to avoid further water draining out from the system when the radiator has been taken off.
You then use a spanner to loosen the nuts nearest the radiator. If you are luck you may find enough flexibility in the pipes under the floor to only loosen the nuts and then lift the radiator off it's brackets, and turn it 90º and rest it on something without needing to take it right off. If you can you can then tighten the nuts back up again to prevent water seeping out.
If this doesn't prove possible then you continue to unscrew the nuts until you can pull the pipes away from the radiator. It is during this time water will drain out of the radiator so keep a bowl under each inlet/outlet. Preferably remove or cover the carpet. Make sure you bowl is large enough so you can tip the radiator and drain all the water out. Then put the radiator somewhere where any further seepage of dirty water won't be a problem.
Remove brackets from wall, do whatever you want to do to the wall, then reverse the procedure to put it all back.
As the pipes enter and exit the radiator you should see they go through valves. You tighten both of these up to avoid further water draining out from the system when the radiator has been taken off.
You then use a spanner to loosen the nuts nearest the radiator. If you are luck you may find enough flexibility in the pipes under the floor to only loosen the nuts and then lift the radiator off it's brackets, and turn it 90º and rest it on something without needing to take it right off. If you can you can then tighten the nuts back up again to prevent water seeping out.
If this doesn't prove possible then you continue to unscrew the nuts until you can pull the pipes away from the radiator. It is during this time water will drain out of the radiator so keep a bowl under each inlet/outlet. Preferably remove or cover the carpet. Make sure you bowl is large enough so you can tip the radiator and drain all the water out. Then put the radiator somewhere where any further seepage of dirty water won't be a problem.
Remove brackets from wall, do whatever you want to do to the wall, then reverse the procedure to put it all back.
Whenever I take any rads off I take them into the garden and give them a good flushing through with a garden hose to remove the sludge and debris that gathers at the bottom. You must also remember when refitting to open the bleed valve at the top of the rad a little to let out the air when it refills with water.
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