Fitting a Vertical Radiator

Hi all.

My Mam & Dad have bought a 1500mm High by 413mm Wide vertical radiator that they want me to fit for them.

Seems simple enough but after looking online for stuff related to these rads, it seems that it is possible to fit them incorrectly.

The rad is a Reina Neva single and it came with the plug and vent already fitted, so I presume that these will be fitted to the top ? The existing feed/return pipes will be fitted to the bottom of the rad by the way.

Are these rads sensitive to the flow direction, (i.e in and out) or is it simply a case of replacing the old one with the new one ? I have read online that a good way to check top or bottom is to look through the valve connector positions: if you can see through them from one side to the other, that will be the opposite end to the pipework connections, is that a good point ?

I can't seem to find any instructions, apart from a very basic wall-fitting pdf that points to any flow restrictions on connecting the pipework so any help you guys could offer would be gratefully received.

TIA

shaky1105 said:

Seems simple enough but after looking online for stuff related to these rads, it seems that it is possible to fit them incorrectly.

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Possibly because they can be mounted vertically or horizontally but need different brackets and you only get supplied with one version or the other depending on what was ordered! So don't try to fit vertically with the horizontal version bracket!

shaky1105 said:

Are these rads sensitive to the flow direction, (i.e in and out) or is it simply a case of replacing the old one with the new one ?

Click to expand...

Yes they need one in and one out But seriously it should be a simple replacement and yes stick the vent and plug in the top tappings if not already done.

shaky1105 said:

I have read online that a good way to check top or bottom is to look through the valve connector positions: if you can see through them from one side to the other, that will be the opposite end to the pipework connections, is that a good point?

Click to expand...

Seriously doubtful for a rad that can be fitted both vertically and horizontally
Just look through them yourself! - They will be the same! In vertical mode you will likely see straight through, in horizontal mode you won't as the tappings will be vertical.

Your right to be cautious a lot of theses panel vertical rads do have a top and a bottom .
They have a baffle fitted internally at the bottom to disperse the heat properly within them and if fitted upside down then they will not heat all over .
Usually there is a sticker to identify which way up but if yours has come from factory with the bleed and the blank already fitted i would take that as the top

Thanks for the replies guys and sorry for not getting back to you sooner. I'll take it that the fitted plug and vent are the top and install it that way.

One last thing, would you recommend the flow entering the rad at the opposite side to the vent ?

Just something else I've seen written and also I was talking to a plumber onsite yesterday who mentioned the same thing, although he did also say that the rads are usually marked with flow in or out.

Thanks again

yes flow opposite vent is usually the way to go on vertical rads. are there no instructions as flow often has to be on a specific side for rad to work properly

A lot of good advice given, but in the end if the radiator has no specific flow and return connections you should be OK either way. I think because of your concerns you should contact Reina and ask them.

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Thanks again guys for the replies, it's appreciated. Anyway, I've got another problem now The existing pipework to the old rad was made with copper push-fit and seeing as I had the removal tool I thought "no problem" - how wrong I was

The new fittings I've bought are conex from screwfix and the tool removes them no problem but the existing ones that are fitted are a bit chunkier and (unless I'm using the tool incorrectly which is easily possible ) I can't figure out how to remove them. Cutting the pipe isn't very easy, hence why I tried to make the new pipework meet with an existing connector.

Unlike the connectors I've bought, where the steel "tangs" that prevent the fitting from coming off the pipe are easily visible, (like THIS) the ones that are fitted seem to have a solid ring (that turns when the pipe installed in the fitting is turned like THIS and as I said earlier, they are a bit chunkier than the cuprofit ones. I just can't figure out how to remove them.

I'm using the cuprofit release tool like THIS and now I've got home, I'm wondering if you don't actually use the grey plastic inserts on this sort of fitting, unlike the cuprofit ones

Can anybody shed any light please ?

Just find the part or combination that can push the fittings inner part in when you pull the copper out. The tool is designed to deal with various types of push fit.

Not all copper push fit fittings are demountable. I've used a dremmel type tool with a cutting disc in the past to remove them but you need to be careful not to score the pipe as this can cause leaks with the new fitting.

swbjackson said:

Not all copper push fit fittings are demountable. I've used a dremmel type tool with a cutting disc in the past to remove them but you need to be careful not to score the pipe as this can cause leaks with the new fitting.

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It appears that you may be correct with these particular fittings as I had to cut the pipes and fit new runs to the rad, ah well never mind, easy enough done. However........

My mam and dads system is pressurised so I thought to minimise the amount of water spraying all over the place when I cut the pipe I released some water from the drain until the boiler was reading 0.1 bar then fit the rad, re-pressurised and bled all the rads.

Did that all OK and re-pressurised again up to 1.2 bar........boiler wouldn't light and got an F22 error boiler dry I bled the pump OK but I had a look at the pipework around the boiler and couldn't see any obvious bleed points so I've had to leave it.

How would you guys who do this for a living bleed the boiler and surrounding pipework ? The new boiler was fitted by BG about three years ago and they've had several problems with leaks and condensate pipe freezing and also blocking. No wonder they have such a bad press.

Never had this bloody problem with my open vented system but at least my mam n dad have a home cover plan with BG and they're coming out tomorrow to sort it.

Thank god they've still got a gas fire that's all I'll say.

Once again, thanks to all that offered assistance.