Wanting to change my radiator and put a towel rail heater up

McBain · 11 Sep 2012

Hi,

Is there anyone out here what can help me with some advice. I have a central heating radiator in my bathroom but want to change it to w towel rail Heater one. How do I go about doing this? Do I have to drain the system or not? I there a quick way for doing this?

Many thanks paul.

stem · 11 Sep 2012

My advice would be not to do it. Towel warmers emit a fraction of the heat that a radiator of the same size does and this is reduced even further when covered with fluffy insulating towels. You could well end up with warm towels and a cold bathroom. Keep the radiator, and if you must have one, install the towel warmer elsewhere.

You will notice that many manufacturers now usually refer to them more correctly as "towel warmers" rather than "towel radiators" for this reason.

McBain · 11 Sep 2012

Yeah, it's a en-suit bathroom massive heater in the bedroom and the heater is not on much a tall, just to warm up the towel. The bathroom is roasting all the time with the heat of the bedroom. So won't have that problem. Plus there is no space for both like you said. Thanks for that bit of infO tho buddy.

Still not surr how to swap them over tho

Thanks Paul.

stem · 11 Sep 2012

Depending on the sizes of the new rail and existing radiator, it is most likely that you will have to reposition at least one of the pipes, which will involve removing the existing radiator valves, so yes you will have to drain the system, or at least part of it. If the bathroom is upstairs then there will no need to drain the downstairs portion.

For a neat job so that the pipes run vertically straight up and into the towel rail, if the pipes are under the floor, you will need to lift the floorboards.

When refilling don't forget to top up the corrosion inhibitor.

It's not possible to give more detailed advice as much will depend upon the design / layout of your system. Where the drain off has been installed, whether you have a "system boiler" or have a F&E tank in the loft etc.,

McBain · 11 Sep 2012

Thanks for that bit of help there,

Just another couple of wee questions. So if the towel rail is the same size is it just a cause of undoing the bolts on each side of the heater (ob the heater side of the valve) with the control valve on off and undo the bolts? Which means with the heater valve on off this will stop the liquid coming out of the pipe? And I take it the other valve thing which just looks like a bend elbo once I undo that that will be Ok? Is this because it's a one way valve?

It's a bungalow as well. Thanks for your help. Paul.

Armo74 · 12 Sep 2012

You will more than likely have to change the valves anyway to straight ones instead of angled ones.

stem · 12 Sep 2012

McBain said:
is it just a cause of undoing the bolts on each side of the heater (ob the heater side of the valve) with the control valve on off and undo the bolts? Which means with the heater valve on off this will stop the liquid coming out of the pipe?

It will stop the water coming out of the pipe, but the radiator itself will still be full. Close both valves and then open the bleed screw at the top of the radiator. Other than maybe one or two drips, no water should come out this shows that the valves have shut off the water OK.

Now open one of the big nuts connecting one valve to the radiator slowly with something underneath to catch the water that comes out. Depending on the size of the rad, you may get a bucket full. When the flow stops, undo the nut connecting both valves to the radiator and remove it.

you will still have to drain the system to carry out any alterations to the valves or pipes.

McBain · 12 Sep 2012

Ok thanks for all help guys. I will have to see how to drain the system and found out how much anti-freeze stuff to put in. I know a mate how deal in this stuff but he is always away working.

Thanks anyway. Paul.

warmadmax · 13 Sep 2012

anti freeze ????

do you mean corrosive inhibitor ?

stem · 13 Sep 2012

warmadmax said:
anti freeze ????

do you mean corrosive inhibitor ?

Do you mean corrosion inhibitor?

McBain · 13 Sep 2012

Yes guys that's what I mean. Just used on working on cars!! Lol.

martyn88 · 13 Sep 2012

McBain said:
Yes guys that's what I mean. Just used on working on cars!! Lol.

get someone who KNOWS what they are doing to do it, you clearly have very little/no knowledge of how to do this so you'll end up doing more harm than good sorry

McBain · 14 Sep 2012

martyn88 said:
McBain said:

Yes guys that's what I mean. Just used on working on cars!! Lol.

Click to expand...

get someone who KNOWS what they are doing to do it, you clearly have very little/no knowledge of how to do this so you'll end up doing more harm than good sorry

Eh yes I have knowledge of plumbing just not to much when it comes to central heating but am teaching myself. I have re plumbed my whole house just to let you know!! So you shouldn't just come on these forums and start saying stuff like that. Un like "stem" he has been helpful and learnt a bit of him.

Just because I work on cats doesn't mean I font know about other thing.

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Wanting to change my radiator and put a towel rail heater up

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