Moving a radiator - how difficult/expensive

MKTenant

I've got a radiator in the middle of a wall, and want to move it about a foot to one side to be able to fit in a bigger piece of furniture next to it.

It's downstairs in the kitchen and there seems to be two pipes going into the wall that are connected to it.

First question, is this something that I could find out about and do by myself as a very beginner DIY:er, or is it best to get in a plumber? Or maybe it would be enough with a handyman?

If I do need a plumber, would anyone be able to estimate how much it would be (the house is in Milton Keynes)?

abankerbutnotafatcat

Hi, moving it along the same wall won't be difficult or expensive. I'll leave more competent people to give you details but I will suggest that you google it as there's bound to be some YouTube style clips of how to do it to give you an idea.

cyclonebri1

If you haven't any plumbing experience I would get someone else to do it, a competant diy guy, fine, but not unless he's done it before.

Your biggest problem will be draining the system and unless you know where and how to both isolate and refil the system, you will be in trouble.
Actually moving the rad and replumbing is straight forward enough.

Sorry no idea on price, never employed a plumber, but it would take me a morning to complete to give an idea, professional plumber with freezing kit, a couple of hours tops.

Leif

Since the pipes go into the wall, would the work involved not depend on where those pipes went? If they are chased into the wall, then surely you would have to excavate, create new chasing, and then put pipe extensions on? If the pipes just go through to the other side, then presumably that is easier.

MKTenant

Still not certain, but considering the pipes going into the wall, I get the feeling that it would probably be best to get in someone that has some experience to avoid messing up the wall too much.


Thanks all.

bryanb

Solid floor? Internal wall?

MKTenant

Sorry, didn't notice the reply.

Stone/tiled floor (not sure what it's called, the bigger tiles that are common in kitchens).
It's an external wall.

Leif

I'm no plumber - - but since you have not had a plethora of posts from plumbers, I would guess that since the pipes go into the wall, and it is an external wall, then the pipes must be chased into the wall, and probably go up the wall and into the floor space above. I would be surprised if they went down into the floor, as why chase them into the wall? In that case this is a non trivial job. As said in an earlier post, get someone competent (by recommendation if possible) to give you a quote. The usual approach is get three quotes, unless someone highly recommended gives a decent quote and you feel happy. Getting more quotes wastes peoples time. The work involves draining down at least one section of pipe, if not the whole heating system, removing the radiator, excavating part of the wall, chasing extra pipe into a section of wall, making good the wall, and reattaching the radiator. You'd then have to redecorate. There is quite a lot of work involved. Would it be cheaper to rearrange the furniture or buy narrower furniture?

DHSTom

I'd probably get someone in. We removed a radiator the other day and flooded the downstairs.

I learn't the hard way that it's sometimes best to let the experts lead the way!

cyclonebri1

Going back to your 1st post.
You want to move the rad a ft to 1 side and fit furniture in it's place?

Ok, given that even though the pipes go into the wall all the mods should be able to be done in the same room as the radiator, forget digging out the wall.
The pipes will simply extend across the wall and be hidden by the furniture.
But I stand by my earlier comment about maybe not being confident/able enough, you have to understand how your system works,