Removing radiators...

[feebal]

I'm having my walls skimmed on saturday and would like to skim behind the radiator. How do I remove the radiators safely and without flooding the whole house?

[maggie01]

Best to get a plumber. My hubby often gets called out where someone has tried to diy and it ends ups costing more.

[vehelpfulguy]

First make a note of which radiator goes where (easy to mix up if they are all removed).

Nect you need to isolate the radiator. You do this by closing the valves both ends. Ensure it is turned off on the two pipes attached to the radiator, not on the actual radiator itself. If it has a thermostat one end turn that to the full off position.

Now start to unscrew the nuts both ends of the radiator. There will be some water in the radiator so let that drip into a saucepan or something.

If the water starts to gush out you have probably not fully turned off the valves.

When fully unscrewed pull the pipes away from the holes in the radiator and cover each hole in the radiator with a plastic bag. Wrap something round the bag to hold it on tight (sellotape or whatever).

Lift the radiator off the wall and turn the radiator upside down (so the holes are at the top and the water does not run out).

Carry the radiator outside and drain all the water out of it.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO REMOVE THE METAL BRACKETS FROM THE WALL MAKE A NOTE OF WHICH ONE WENT WHERE AND WHAT WAY UP THEY WENT.

Remember if the wall is skimmed any marks you make on the wall will be lost, so write carefully on the metal brackets "top" and "bottom" and which one is which.

If the wall is going to be skimmed they may skim over the holes for the screws so stick something in the holes (drinking straw, match stick, piece of wood) so you know where they are).

Put the radiators back on, ensure nuts fully done up, allow water back in, then bleed the radiator to remove any air from the radiator.

Good luck

[feebal]

Thanks vehelpfulguy. That's very helpful :)

[BillyNoMates]

Brilliant answer above. But if you are planning to remove all of the radiators it would be easier to drain the whole system.