how do i remove this rad grill?

[tan8856]

hi

i need to paint behind a rad. problem is that the rad has a grill over the top that is screwed to the wall. what we've done with the other rads is lift them off their wall hooks to gain access to the screws, however this one rad wont lift off. what the builder has done is fit the rad and grill to the wall and then join up the piping! so theres no give/movement in the piping to move the rad at all.

how can i get the grill off? is the some special tool that can do it or do i need to get a plumber in to disconnect the rad so we can lift it off and paint? obviously it will then need reconnecting and this will all cost money...

any ideas?

 

[Bahco]

Have you a pic? The grills are just slotted in normally.

 

[GodKnows]

Use a proper radiator brush That would save you money and hassle....

 

[simond]

How else would you fit a rad to a wall? You wouldn't put the pipes in first and then fit the rad afterwards (unless it was a new build).

If the pipes do not have enough movement to lift the rad off, then you must drain it and disconnect.

 

[dextrous]

How else would you fit a rad to a wall? You wouldn't put the pipes in first and then fit the rad afterwards .

I don't - instead I do all the pipework with bends and joints for a room outside and connect it to the radiator in the garden. I then flush out the whole layout. Then I carry the whole lot, still connected, carefully indoors and lift the floorboards and notch joist to suit. With a bit of careful planning, and if there are a few helpers around, you can do a whole floor in one foul swoop

 

[tan8856]

here are the pics of the grill and the connector behind it. the connector is screwed to the wall so it cant be just taken off.

what do you mean by a rad brush? ive got one of those mini rollers but as you can see from the pics there aint anything getting through those grills!

as pp says, looks like i need to disconnect rad then?

Untitled

• tan8856
• 15 Mar 2009
• 1

Untitled

• tan8856
• 15 Mar 2009
• 1

 

[tan8856]

ps simond, it is a new build, well the first floor is and thats where the rad is.

 

[tan8856]

actually the connector is screwed to the rad not the wall.

 

[Bahco]

Can you not remove the sides and top grill off

They normally just slide in. Oo er missus

 

[dextrous]

Bahco - looking at the picture, there are no side bits.

Op - you will have to drain the radiator, and when you disconnect the tails to do so, since they (the right side is anyway from the photo) are connected by speedfit, the arm will be fine to swing away onto the floor for clearance.

 

[kevindgas]

Bahco - looking at the picture, there are no side bits.

as said bahco or stelrad but where are the sides? the top usual just falls off when sides have been removed.

top is put on, sides are clipped onto top, side are then usually held on by plastic clips over the tails

 

[Slugbabydotcom]

How else would you fit a rad to a wall? You wouldn't put the pipes in first and then fit the rad afterwards .

I don't - instead I do all the pipework with bends and joints for a room outside and connect it to the radiator in the garden. I then flush out the whole layout. Then I carry the whole lot, still connected, carefully indoors and lift the floorboards and notch joist to suit. With a bit of careful planning, and if there are a few helpers around, you can do a whole floor in one foul swoop

Thats a clever idea! I bet it doesn't work though. No wonder its cold in antarctica

 

[Bahco]

Looks like a Screwfix rad to me.

I'm gonna do a drain down FAQ!

 

[dextrous]

Thats a clever idea! I bet it doesn't work though. No wonder its cold in antarctica

Certainly does work - in fact you can put everything in place and build the house around it.

First and second fit all in one go, done and dusted.

 

[tan8856]

It does have side panels and they come off easily. The top grill however is screwed to the back of the rad and in order to undo that screw you have to lift the rad off the wall and pull the rad away from the wall far enough to get a screwdriver in. Its worked fine on the other rads as there is some give in the pipework.

I assume its some sort of safety thing to prevent the grill from being easily taken off by kids etc.

Obviously when we re-hang the rads after painting we are not screwing the grills back on to avoid this problem next time we paint!