Move radiator without draining system

chilscout · 23 Jan 2020

I'm a DIYer - reasonably competent.

I want to replace a radiator with a heated towel rail, possibly moving position, so valves need to be removed.

I have a sealed CH/HW system.

Can I do this without having to drain the entire heating system, and how?

terryplumb · 23 Jan 2020

No. Drain the system.

Madrab · 23 Jan 2020

Erm ..... yes.

If it's a sealed system then shut off all the rads at their valves, drain the rad you want to change. Using that rads valves, release the pressure from the system and the water should then stop.

Worst case is if you have to change the pipework then you may have to drain a little more out of the main pipework but the majority of the water will still be left in the other rads.

stem · 23 Jan 2020

Just to bear in mind, that a 'towel rail' is designed just to warm towels, and not to heat a room. As a rule of thumb, a towel warmer will emit about one third of the heat emitted by a single radiator of the same size, and that's before its output is reduced further by covering it in fluffy insulating towels. So unless your room is particularly warm naturally and doesn't need much additional heat, you may find you still need to keep the central heating radiator as well.

terryplumb · 23 Jan 2020

Diyer ,asking if they can do it that way......asking for trouble !!
I once advised the brother in law , a not so competent diy' er , to do it without draining down . Took 3 days for the electrics to dry out !!
Never again !!

algas · 23 Jan 2020

Yes with an electric pipe freezer

HERTS P&D · 23 Jan 2020

algas said:
Yes with an electric pipe freezer

Diy + electric pipe freezer = flooding!

As mentioned, just drain it down.

Andy

chilscout · 23 Jan 2020

Thanks to all for your comments. Draining the system doesn't worry me, so I'll probably opt for that.

Madrab · 23 Jan 2020

Absolutely no need to IMO, as long as the other rad valves shut down properly and even then.

Don't forget the inhibitor

durhamplumber · 24 Jan 2020

Madrab said:
Absolutely no need to IMO, as long as the other rad valves shut down properly and even then.

Don't forget the inhibitor

As long as none of the trv s pass.if fitted..asking for a shed full of trouble not draining

Madrab · 26 Jan 2020

Never had any issue just draining what's needed, all valves shut and the boiler isolated then never had a problem, of course now that I've said that I'll be extra careful the next time I need to do it in case I've jinxed it

I'm not suggesting that draining down isn't a belt and braces approach and removes the risk, I just don't believe it's necessary.

diynot

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Move radiator without draining system

durhamplumber

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