DIY Doctor

WELCOME TO OUR REMOVING A RADIATOR PROJECT

This project is presented by www.livinghouse.co.uk

Summary: Removing a Radiator. Taking off a radiator for decorating


Living House Radiators Living House Radiators Living House Radiators

There are a number of occasions when removing the radiator would make life very easy indeed. Decorating, replacing the floor or skirting boards, flushing the central heating out.

Its not a hard job, and providing you take adequate precautions, not a messy one either. If you want to take this opportunity to change radiators or insert a towel rail then go to www.livinghouse.co.uk for a great range

Every radiator has two valves, one to let the water in and one to let out again. Mostly the valves will be as shown below. One valve will be operational in that it actually turns the spindle to open or shut the valve. This one is called the wheelhead valve. The other is generally a white, cone shaped cover which simply pulls off to reveal the spindle underneath. This one is called the lockshield.

A third variety is getting more and more common now and that is the thermostatic valve. The principle is the same. If the valves are off, no water can come from the pipes, so the first thing to do is isolate the radiator

LOCKSHIELD VALVE

WHEELHEAD VALVE

Pull off the locksheild head (sometimes there is a little grub screw holding it on) and, using a small adjustable spanner, turn it as far, clockwise, as it will go. This will close the valve. Now do the same with the wheelhead valve, just by turning the handle clockwise. There is no need to remove anything from this one.

Between each valve and the radiator there is nut. This nut is part of the radiator and not the valves. The left hand nut will undo by turning the nut toward you, the right hand one will undo by turning it away from you. The nuts will stay on the radiators as there is a small lip on the radiator entry point which will hold them on.

The most important thing to remember when undoing the nuts, and later, when tightening them, is to hold the valve solid with another spanner. We use two adjustable spanners, one to hold the valve and one to undo the nut. It is very important the pipes are not allowed to bend as if they kink they may leak. 

The picture above shows the right hand valve and the nut will open away from you. The valve must be held steady. Introduce some rags around the base of the pipes and under the valves at this point. There will be some spillage from the radiator as it will be full off water.

Undo both the nuts until they are just loose (you will need some help here). Now undo them all the way and pull the valve gently away from the rad. Get your finger or thumb over the hole as soon as you can to reduce spillage. When you have both holes blocked you will be able to lift the radiator straight up from its bracket. You may have to pull it forward slightly as well as upward. The brackets are shaped as below, left, so you can see how the radiator will lift off.

Having lifted the rad off, take it outside and either turn it sideways to empty the dirty water out, or turn it completely upside down and set it on the ground. This way is easier if it is a large radiator and it will give you time to catch your breath before you get round to emptying it.

 

Replacing the radiator is exactly the reverse procedure.

See also our project on: Radiators, calculating size and BTU values




Much more construction information is available in our bookstore. All the tools and fittings you need in the toolstore.


Forums


Plumbing
Post new topic
 Topics   Replies   Author   Views   Last Post 
No new posts Water pressure problem (Mira shower)
4 lindylou_ 751  
chris_on_ View latest post
No new posts Combi Boiler help please!!!!!!!!!
0 hooligan6 13  
hooligan6 View latest post
No new posts Sourcing replacement wc.
3 TerryH 56  
TerryH View latest post
No new posts switching on hot water also switches on central heating
1 Georges 38  
htg engin View latest post
No new posts Roca Close Couple toilet wont fill up
4 solorize 126  
Freeman View latest post
No new posts Bathrrom suites
1 Newps 60  
TerryH View latest post
No new posts burying external water pipe
1 Kevschofi 61  
htg engin View latest post
No new posts Push button toilet - slow refill
1 illingd 66  
gardnico1 View latest post
No new posts Problem with push button toilet cistern
4 squarefro 315  
diy-tim View latest post
No new posts Hydrolux 900mm Quadrant Shower Enclosure with Architeckt Avu
0 hooligan6 51  
hooligan6 View latest post
No new posts immersion heater thermostat
0 homermcsi 67  
homermcsi View latest post
No new posts shower pumps
2 jlbpasty 175  
jlbpasty View latest post
No new posts grhetherm wireless shower
1 martyn720 309  
scanpark View latest post
No new posts Replacement pipe to tap pipe
6 squarefro 182  
Steve the View latest post
No new posts toilet not flushing.
2 safetyman 228  
htg engin View latest post
No new posts Pipes Humming Very Loudly
2 Cell01 173  
htg engin View latest post
No new posts immersion heater lenght
1 terry01 141  
pb1 View latest post
No new posts Cistern push button toilets
0 colton 105  
pb1 View latest post
No new posts Do I have an air lock?
2 Golden_Ux 288  
Golden_Ux View latest post
No new posts electric showers
2 iaintuula 230  
iaintuula View latest post
No new posts Overflow pipe dripping ONLY when we come back from holiday..
1 Zajko 228  
htg engin View latest post
No new posts NO water coming out of shower head
3 baileyboo 248  
von View latest post
No new posts kitchen sink
1 vickivc 139  
htg engin View latest post
No new posts Shower Tray-Leak & Re-Boxing In
4 ronnoc 233  
chris_on_ View latest post
No new posts Few questions concerning central heating installation
7 brucephip 616  
brucephip View latest post
No new posts old lead pipe
1 chrisrobe 146  
nitro2345 View latest post
No new posts shower waste/concrete floor
2 mog 229  
mog View latest post
No new posts Aqualisa mixer shower taps
0 mr.smith 123  
mr.smith View latest post
No new posts loose tap cover
5 stronach 213  
stronach View latest post
No new posts Moving toilet waste soil pipe- how?
2 eden$ 245  
bobplum View latest post
No new posts Yet another shower leak
1 GeorgeSW 214  
htg engin View latest post
No new posts HANDLE TO SIPHON BROKEN
3 DOUSE45 203  
DOUSE45 View latest post
No new posts easyplumb shower tray waste
2 chrisrobe 247  
Steve the View latest post
No new posts Mystery Leak
6 paulr 989  
GeorgeSW View latest post
No new posts Fitting an electric shower
2 Stillia 242  
nitro2345 View latest post
No new posts Pan Connector Conundrum
6 Heeber 428  
MrBlobbo View latest post
No new posts waste connection
1 bazza 217  
htg engin View latest post
No new posts problem with boiler
1 burno122 186  
htg engin View latest post
No new posts Cold water pressure
1 LES EATON 297  
Steve the View latest post
No new posts Problem with hot water downstairs shower mixer left on cold
0 treeballe 157  
treeballe View latest post
No new posts Toilet problem - Torbeck Valve in tank
2 wazza 357  
wazza View latest post
No new posts Head of Water
7 Phil33 435  
Steve the View latest post
No new posts Opinions please - Plumbers
11 Mac-the-W 1316  
Skids View latest post
No new posts cold water cistern replacement
1 1234 228  
bobplum View latest post
No new posts Basin Mixer Tap dripping and creaking
0 Shafty 249  
Shafty View latest post
No new posts Toilet Overflow Pipe!
2 rappo 247  
htg engin View latest post
No new posts Push-button toilet flush.
1 ant1 345  
EyeTry View latest post
No new posts low hot water pressure
4 gilly120 491  
EyeTry View latest post
No new posts Cold Water Storage Tank very slow to fill
2 hulldj 258  
bobplum View latest post
No new posts REPLACING THE PLASTIC FEET UNDER THE TOILET SEAT
1 andysuth 212  
EyeTry View latest post
Display topics from previous:  
Post new topic     -> Plumbing
Jump to:  
     
     
  
Search Diy Doctor



Related projects
#



Berkshire School of Plumbing
© Copyright Diydoctor Ltd 2008  Developed by Boson Media  Hosted by Rackspace