How to remove radiator for plastering...

spada01 · 15 Dec 2009

What's the best way of getting the radiator moved/pivoted out of the way enough to allow the plasterer access behind it. I could drain down the system and then loosen up the valves, but I suspect I'll have to replace the olives on them and risk creating a leak.

What do you folks find is the easiest way to do this?

roughcaster · 15 Dec 2009

A plumber would remove the radiator for you in a couple of minutes. They normally close the valves at each end of the rad,, un-couple it from the pipework, lift it off and empty it, and thats it. They also screw on a blank at the flow end pipework. I normally get them to leave on the brackets, and i'll take them off when i plaster the wall, and put them back into the original position when the walls finished. The plumber will then put the radiator back on the wall when the plastering/decoratin's finished.

Roughcaster.

dextrous · 15 Dec 2009

Turn off the valves - if one is a TRV then remove the head and fit a decorators cap instead. Loosen the nut from the radiator, and have towels-a-plenty and plastic containers and a bucket nearby. Drain the water out (if you loosen the bleed nipple, it will drain a bit quicker). Undo the nut on the other side.

Once it is empty (or pretty close), shove a rag into one or both sides and remove the rad. Pour it into the bucket, turn upside down, carry to garden and flush it through with a hose.

It is worth fitting a couple of blanks over the exposed radiator valves to stop any drips and to protect it from inexorable plaster than plasterers seem to have a natural ability to drop onto it (you could even stick a sandwich bag over it to make it more of a challenge for the plasterer to mess it up - but don't worry, they will find a way, they always do

sarahw · 15 Dec 2009

Be warned though - when you come to connect up the radiator again, you'll have a nightmare with the joints you've undone leaking. I'd geta plumber in - it's a small cost to pay to avoid a tricky and complex task that you may need to geta plumber in to repair your work for anyway!

spada01 · 17 Dec 2009

Thanks folks - seems pretty straight forward although a bitworried about Sarahs talks of leaks! My only worry is leaks on refitting. Should I just use PTFE tape on the threads when refitting (presumably betweent the valves and the radiator there are no olives)

Richard C · 17 Dec 2009

There shouldn’t be any nightmares unless someone has previously abused & murdered the valve fittings. All the rads I’ve removed have a conical seating on the rad side where it connects to the radiator; turn the valves off (isolation cap needed for TRV’s) & drain the rad gradually into an old baking tin. When you come to re-fit, clean any residual crap from the mating surfaces, apply a little Boss White sealer & tighten them up; don’t use PTFE tape on conical fittings, only on threads. Use 2 spanners, one to support the valve while you tighten with the other & don’t over tighten them.

transitboy · 17 Dec 2009

Just a little point are you guys insured for touching water as my liabilty does not cover me

TonyV · 19 Dec 2009

transitboy said:
Just a little point are you guys insured for touching water as my liabilty does not cover me

Hi Transitboy,

Don't think OP needed to cover as it DIY job.

Probably job all done and dusted by now. But some advice.

Only add to all above replies - best to take rad off. It will make plasterers job easier & yours when you redec. I would not think about replacing olives (you will not get them off of pipes easiliy and will probably damage pipe - no need to they can be reused), just use some boss white on old olives to reseal, as Richard C advised and method of loosening / tightening.

TonyV

Hipokondriak · 1 Jan 2010

Have fun, after all it's DIY

Just don't do it like me....

Think to myself, it's a radiator, with black ish liquid dripping out of it - I'll put it ouside my back door and lean it against the wall. I'll wash it down later and give it a lick of paint this afternoon.

Continue to do this, and carry on washing the walls down in preparation for decorating.

Go outside a few hours later to start cleaning said radiator, and you can guess where it was no more.....

Over 150 quid later after a trip to B&Q to get a new one...

A valuable lesson learnt.... Now where was that size 12 boot to kick myself with

jondecs · 1 Jan 2010

TonyV said:
transitboy said:

Just a little point are you guys insured for touching water as my liabilty does not cover me

Click to expand...

Hi Transitboy,

Don't think OP needed to cover as it DIY job.

Probably job all done and dusted by now. But some advice.

Only add to all above replies - best to take rad off. It will make plasterers job easier & yours when you redec. I would not think about replacing olives (you will not get them off of pipes easiliy and will probably damage pipe - no need to they can be reused), just use some boss white on old olives to reseal,

TonyV

Erm I hope O/P don't get to the olives unless system is drained!!!! Best advice from tony there is to follow Richards advice. Maybe a look ere might help

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p61w6B7D2C8&feature=related

Happy new year all

diynot

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How to remove radiator for plastering...

dextrous

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