Plumbing - replacing a radiator

[Maz]

Hi

The radiator in the bathroom needs replacing [not leaking, but old, rusty and a bit manky]. I believe it's a relatively straightforward job, but i was wondering if i should replace the on/off/temp valve and the lockshield valve as a matter of course, or just leave them.

Does anyone have experience of replacing radiators? thanks.

 

[numbnuts]

If the valves are working why change them, “if it ain't bust, don't fix it”
turn valves off undo rad fit new bleed system

 

[vernon]

There's plenty of tutorials on the Internet. I used one of them when I changed a radiator. There's no need to change any of the valves. They are usually robust.

 

[slowmotion]

If the valves are working why change them, “if it ain't bust, don't fix it”
turn valves off undo rad fit new bleed system

Absolutely.

Turn off the valves and remove the old radiator, having drained it. Measure the exact horizontal distance between the faces that take the valves and find a new radiator that matches this dimension. Otherwise you will have to jig about with the pipework. You may have to replace the wall mounting brackets if you can't find exactly the same model as the original.

Good luck.

 

[Maz]

Thanks for the replies.

I have removed radiators a few times before when i was doing some wallpapering once.
I think i'll leave the valves as is.

 

[Davidc]

If the valves are working why change them, “if it ain't bust, don't fix it”
turn valves off undo rad fit new bleed system

Yeah. takes at least 5 minutes, no more than 10.

Just beware - there's more water in a radiator than you'd think and it doesn't all come out until you're carrying the thing across a nearly new carpet on the way to the door. Always carry them with the pipe fixing holes up and the bleed hole closed.

(Guess how I know that. Hint: It isn't in the book on how to mend things that I use)

 

[Maz]

Yeah. takes at least 5 minutes, no more than 10.

Just beware - there's more water in a radiator than you'd think and it doesn't all come out until you're carrying the thing across a nearly new carpet on the way to the door. Always carry them with the pipe fixing holes up and the bleed hole closed.

Thanks for the hint. Luckily mine's a small radiator and the bathtub's right next to it - handy for draining.

 

[slowmotion]

Always carry them with the pipe fixing holes up and the bleed hole closed.

Blooming heck! I'ts blindingly obvious now that you mention it. Top tip.

 

[Maz]

Blooming heck! I'ts blindingly obvious now that you mention it. Top tip.

And that's what you need to do. Tip the top and hold it upside-down!

 

[Melonfish]

oh and wear gloves!
they put chemicals in closed systems nowdays to stop rust and whatnot which are mildly caustic to us mere hoomanz.
and yeah stoppers to stop it pi**ing black stuff onto your wifes new carpet are indeed much help

 

[Globalti]

Fernox isn't caustic, it's an antioxidant.

Buy a reel of PTFE tape with your new rad, you will need it for fitting the valves.

 

[Zoiders]

While you are at it I would take the oportunity to at least replace the TRV at the same time if not the gate valve as well.

Also take into account if you are replacing it with a double or single radiator as a double could stand further out and make the TRV and rad more difficult to connect up with out resorting to a flexable coupling.

 

[sunnyjim]

No *need* to replace valves ..But- if it's an old radiator, they may not be the same thread as a new one. The oldest (somewhere between 1937 when the house was built & 1960-ish, when I believe the boiler and some iron pipes were replaced) radiators in my house have 1/2" pipes, but a much finer thread than the common 1/2" BSP.