Are you thinking about painting the wall a different colour or upgrading your timeworn radiator? Click on this article to learn how to remove a radiator!
Whether it’s for maintenance or home prettification, one day, the radiator in your house will have to be removed.
The good news is that this is a task that doesn’t need any extra-special skills, so you don’t have to phone a professional and spend a pretty penny on a task you can get done by your lonesome.
In this brief post, we’ll tutor you through the process of removing a radiator.
Preparation for Radiator Removal
Before attempting to remove your radiator, there are a few steps you need to take.
Firstly, you’ll have to make sure the radiator is cold so that you don’t have to deal with boiling water. If you’re trying to detach your radiator in the winter, consider an alternative heating source like a portable heater.
Also, find a storage area where you can put your radiator after having removed it.
When storing your radiator, make sure you pad underneath it using towels or such, as it may let out some residual drips.
Next, you must check the flexibility of the pipes. If the pipes aren’t quite flexible due to a laminate or concrete floor, you may have a hard time removing your radiator. In this case, we suggest getting a friend or family member to help with the removal process.
The next step is to remove the radiator shelves using a screwdriver to avoid pumping into them accidentally as you’re tackling the radiator itself.
Thereafter, you want to note the pressure level by writing it down or taking a picture of it.
And lastly, turn the thermostatic regulator valve off, as it opens automatically whenever the temperature of the room matches its preset temperature.
Steps to Removing a Radiator
Done preparing for radiator removal? Great. It’s time to gather your tools and begin the process.
To remove your radiator, you’ll need a radiator bleed key, which is a tool that fits into a socket at the top of your radiator to bleed out the air.
Moreover, you’ll need an adjustable spanner, bucket for catching water, two adjustable grips, towels, and a sponge. Let’s dive right into it, shall we?
Recommended reading: How to Bleed Radiators
Shut Off the Radiator Valve
Each end of a modern radiator houses a different valve. On one end, you have the thermostatic regulator valve (TRV), whereas the other end is where you can find the lock-shield valve.
Firstly, you want to replace the TRV’s top cap with a non-thermostatic control and tighten it firmly. Can’t find the control knob that came with your radiator? You can buy one from any hardware store.
Like we’ve mentioned in the previous section of the article, it’s imperative to note the setting of the lock-shield valve.
It’s safe to assume that the radiator’s water supply is now shut off, but it’s recommended to double-check before proceeding.
Grab a towel or an absorbent piece of cloth, keep your bucket at hand, locate the bleeding valve, and start unscrewing it very slowly.
As you unscrew the bleeding valve, you’ll notice that some water and air will begin to spurt out. Assuming the water supply is shut off, the spurting should stop very shortly.
If it doesn’t stop, it means the radiator’s water supply is still open. In this case, we recommend getting in touch with PHS to resolve the problem. If the spurting did stop, however, leave the valve open and proceed.
Drain the Radiator Completely
Inspect either end of your radiator for a notable nut that’s opposite to the thermostatic regulator valve. Grab some old towels and start padding under the radiator and around the pope.
Loosen the nut with the aid of an adjustable spanner while holding against the turn. Thereafter, use the radiator key to loosen the bleed valve at the top of the radiator in order for water to spurt out.
Your bucket should be catching the water leaking from the valve. When filled to the brim, you’ll need to tighten the nut again so that you can go and empty your bucket.
Once emptied, loosen the nut again and repeat the process until you’ve completely emptied the radiator. If you lift the radiator before it’s entirely drained, water will spill onto your floor, resulting in a serious mess.
Start Removing the Radiator
Having undone the nut opposite to the TRV and made sure it’s separated from its piping, start lifting the radiator away from the brackets ever so slightly.
Subsequently, put the radiator in its designated storage area. Keep in mind that some grungy water may still leak from the radiator, so make sure you have a sponge at hand so that you can wipe anything that may spurt out.
To prevent accidental valve opening that could result in a flood, we suggest grabbing a pair of blanking caps with which you can close the pipes that are attached to the radiator.
From there, the heating could be restarted without any worry. Now, it’s time to carry out the task for which you removed the radiator, whether it’s decorating the house, painting the wall or radiator maintenance.
How to Remove a Radiator – Final Thoughts
It’s difficult to clean your radiator thoroughly when it’s intact, so you should consider undertaking fastidious radiator cleaning while it’s removed.
Grab a couple of tights and dangle them through the length of the radiator’s pipes. Then, hold both dangling ends and start pulling back and forth.
The static generated by pulling the tights back and forth helps attract the dust inside the pipes.
As you’re cleaning your radiator’s pipes, make sure there’s an old damp towel beneath it so that the dust falling from the pipes settles instead of flying back up into the pipes or around the room.
You should also take the chance to lubricate your radiator’s valves in order to prevent any future problems that may arise, as valves tend to rust and get stuck if they’re not maintained properly.
And don’t forget; PHS is only a call away should you face any problems while removing your radiators!
With many years on the tools in all aspects of the engineering industry has given me a second to none skill set which enables me to provide a leading professional service to my customers with a wealth of knowledge and highly skilled engineers to successfully cover all your plumbing, heating, AC and catering equipment requirements.