Replacing a radiator

[winker watson]

What is the best and quickest way to replace a bathroom radiator without draining the water out of the system? The boiler is an RD2 Fan Flued Gas combi boiler by British Gas.

 

[scatmanjohn]

Turn off the valves on each side of the radiator,
Drain water from radiator.
Replace radiator with same size replacement.

 

[scatmanjohn]

The BG RD2 wasn't a combi boiler the last time i looked.

A rebadged Ideal Classic i think.

 

[winker watson]

sorry - you're right. - I thought combi meant it heated your hot water and your heating. thick aren't i? Anyhow - it's not as simple as that. The old rad was large and the replacement is a towel warmer - much narrower with different fittings. The old rad is off and resizing the pipe work is a job I am happy to underake easily enough. It's just the thought of draining the whole system which is a full day job is making me feel depressed. Is their an easier way? What do people mean by freezing? if so how easy? why didn't I move into a new-build ??

 

[bster]

...because new builds are sh*t.

 

[winker watson]

thanks. dead helpful.

 

[JohnD]

Buy a pair of conical rubber bungs which you will find in the plumbing tools section.

You should find the instructions easy to follow.

Take care to only have one pipe end open at a time.

 

[bster]

if you gonna use 'witches hats', you will have to use mechanical fittings as soldering them will be difficult (due to water).

what size is the pipework?

 

[winker watson]

i think it's about 15mm diam

 

[bster]

right then if you plug the tank (the heating header tank only!!!) then open one of the existing rad valves until the water stops running, cut the pipe with a slice and then fit a compression ballofix valve and turn it off. Repeat procedure on tyhe other valve. remove bungs and bleed the water through the ballofixes if you are to use the heating prior to connection to new rad.

this method now allows you to redo pipe work to new rad, once complete simply turn on ballofix valves and bleed rad. if you have a leak on the new pipework you can simply isolate your new pipework through the ballofix valves until it is all sound.


..i still wouldnt buy a new build

 

[winker watson]

cheers guys

interesting advise. I will now go and research these products.!