Paint or replace old bathroom radiator?

[DIY10291]

Will be decorating the bathroom, so figured I should take the radiator off. And it's an eyesore (paint is flaking all over, and some areas of rust), so shouldn't just put it back as is.

It's an old central heating system with a back boiler, and don't think rads have ever been changed, or at least not for a long time (20-30+ years?) The bathroom one is in the worst condition because of the shower presumably. Should I replace it or paint it? If replace, will this be difficult given it's around 64cm (or 25 inches and I mismeasured maybe?) wide - would probably be doing it myself with one of those extension pieces. If paint, can I just sand the flaking bits a little and use some Ronseal radiator paint or something?

Not sure whether to paint or replace because the rads are old and the system is dirty so they may need replacing, but then I've heard the old ones last a lot longer. TIA

 

[gas112]

change it not that expensive and not worth the hassle scrapping and painting ,, and it wont be the shower try improving your aim

 

[nitro23456]

You'll do well to replace that without modifying the pipework.

 

[gas112]

You'll do well to replace that without modifying the pipework.

which is why he said he would use extensions

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Not sure whether to paint or replace because the rads are old and the system is dirty so they may need replacing, but then I've heard the old ones last a lot longer. TIA

The very same radiators as my own. It's not rusted, it's not leaking, why replace?

If it's been looked after internally, not choked with crude. just take it off, flush it out, strip the old flaking paint off and repaint with a water based paint.

 

[DIY10291]

The very same radiators as my own. It's not rusted, it's not leaking, why replace?

If it's been looked after internally, not choked with crude. just take it off, flush it out, strip the old flaking paint off and repaint with a water based paint.

Just because if it's similar effort to paint or replace, if it needs replacing in a few years I'll have done double the work! Depending on the quality of a very old radiator compared to a new one.
Do you know if a replacement of the same size is available anywhere, or would I need an extension piece to fit it myself?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Just because if it's similar effort to paint or replace, if it needs replacing in a few years I'll have done double the work! Depending on the quality of a very old radiator compared to a new one.

I don't follow that argument. Older radiators tended to have greater thickness and weight of metal, therefore given similar treatment, the original might well outlast a replacement. Mine are 40 years old, looked after by me and I have absolutely no plans to replace them anytime soon.

The effort to flush, depaint and repaint is minimal. The effort involved in replacing with new and painting is likewise minimal, but will cost much more. Why ask for opinions, if you had already made your mind up?

 

[pcaouolte]

The effort to flush, depaint and repaint is minimal.

What is the best way to remove the old paint?

 

[fixitflav]

Just because if it's similar effort to paint or replace, if it needs replacing in a few years I'll have done double the work! Depending on the quality of a very old radiator compared to a new one.
Do you know if a replacement of the same size is available anywhere, or would I need an extension piece to fit it myself?

No doubt you have other rads which are as likely (or not) to need replacing in a few years. I would do a bright wire nail test to check the inhibitor strength and repaint the existing. As HB says, there's a good chance it will last longer than a replacement.

 

[Diyisfun]

I have repainted a few of my rads over the last 4 years.
I scrapped the rust off, used wet & dry to rub down & repainted with Hammerite rad paint.
I have used cheaper paint but after 1 year its yellow, Hammerite still white after 2 years.

 

[Exedon]

Looking at picture of rad I would say that's a stelrad k1 or similar so made to same spec as current rads.
Bathroom rads are well known for rusting especially when next to WC!
Say £40 ish for new rad hrs work max, plus you will never ever achieve the finish of a new rad painting a old one.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I have repainted a few of my rads over the last 4 years.
I scrapped the rust off, used wet & dry to rub down & repainted with Hammerite rad paint.
I have used cheaper paint but after 1 year its yellow, Hammerite still white after 2 years.

Oil based paint always yellows, especially if used on hot surfaces. Water based paints for wood surfaces doesn't do that and dries very quickly with no smell.

 

[Madrab]

Would need to change the valves too. Haven't seen any old brass union extension tails for those old wheel valves, seen the newer ones that use seals but they don't seem to fit those old valves too well and I've tried a few.

I'd whip it off, wire brush it, scotch pad it and paint it and see how it goes.

 

[opps]

The very same radiators as my own. It's not rusted, it's not leaking, why replace?

If it's been looked after internally, not choked with crude. just take it off, flush it out, strip the old flaking paint off and repaint with a water based paint.

I used to have that type of rad in my hallway. After about 20 years a small rust hole at the lower part of the back sprung a leak.

Annoyingly it was 3 weeks after we had a new vinyl strip floor fitted. I had to use a heat gun to lift the flooring and cut through the ply so that I could move the tails to accommodate the new smaller metric rad.

 

[opps]

I would do a bright wire nail test to check the inhibitor strength and repaint the existing.

What is that?