Fit radiator - what order

[Peter2222]

Hi all,

We need to get a radiator fitted in the space in picture attached. As it’s a stud wall we’ve been told we have to have a free standing one as others would be too heavy on the wall.

We are also getting a new carpet in that location.

So my question is what order would you do things for the smoothest ride? New carpet first then have to pull it up a bit to sort new pipe work? Or radiator install first and then remove it to fit the new carpet? Can’t work out what’s better

Thanks in advance

 

[Madrab]

As it’s a stud wall we’ve been told we have to have a free standing one as others would be too heavy on the wall.

Rubbish - though dependent on what type and size of radiator is to be fitted will dictate what needs to happen to the wall in preparation. I fit rads to stud walls all the time.

Or radiator install first and then remove it to fit the new carpet?

If the rads on the wall then no need to wait to fit the carpet.

 

[Peter2222]

Rubbish - though dependent on what type and size of radiator is to be fitted will dictate what needs to happen to the wall in preparation. I fit rads to stud walls all the time.

If the rads on the wall then no need to wait to fit the carpet.

Thanks for the response. It was in relation to quite a heavy column radiator that the plumber told us wouldn’t work. But maybe the easiest thing would be to just get a lighter weight one to go on the wall. We just haven’t seen a column style which seemed light enough

 

[Peter2222]

Rubbish - though dependent on what type and size of radiator is to be fitted will dictate what needs to happen to the wall in preparation. I fit rads to stud walls all the time.

If the rads on the wall then no need to wait to fit the carpet.

Just a follow-up question too @Madrab .. as you can see from the pic we have these micropipes. What’s the most straightforward approach - to find valves which are suitable to fit with the micropipes? Or to get normal valves and the plumber adapts the pipes into them?

We did the latter for the rest of our radiators but not sure if there was an easier way (that doesn’t involve sawing floorboards. Thanks in advance

 

[Madrab]

Microbore will accept solder 15mm reducers or 10mm>15mm compression reducers.

You can set the wall to accept any size of rad. To take an 1800mm column, then it would just be to find the batons in the wall, cut a section of the plasterboard out and then replace it with 12mm ply well secured to the studs. As long as the stud work is correct and solid, that will hold a column no bother. If the guys you are talking to don't know that then you need to find new installers.

Please also consider why you are putting in a designed tubular column, if that's what you are considering. They will not replace a like for like output similar standard convecting radiator, they don't work the same way when it comes to heating the space.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

As it’s a stud wall we’ve been told we have to have a free standing one as others would be too heavy on the wall.

Nonsense, a normal radiator can be fitted to a stud wall, providing it's brackets, are fixed to the timber studs - or if not possible, a suitable horizontal batten is added, to span the studs.

 

[trojanhawrs]

As madrab says you may need a larger radiator if you want to go column meaning the pipes would need moved. Personally, if you're changing the carpet anyway I'd have the drops upgraded to 15mm purely for aesthetics.

 

[Madrab]

The other thing I'd point out, modern tubular column rads really need adequate flow to ensure they warm up properly. Whilst microbore can feed a column rad they tend to be slower to warm up as the reduced diameter of the pipe slows the flow down quite significantly. That and whether it is 10mm or 8mm microbore, if it is the latter I'd be concerned that it wouldn't be able to feed a reasonably large rad adequately.