Moving radiators to decorate

bodmil

Hi there, I need to re-decorate and need the radiators moving. My plumber said he could do it very quickly and there's also a B&Q DIY class on it so I'm thinking I could do it myself. Is it really that easy? Could I even just skip the class and watch a youtube guide? I don't think they have been moved for many many years!

alleycat`

Do you mean temporarily remove and then put them back where they are or move them altogether?

World of difference

McKneff

If your leaving them where they are, they dont need to be removed at all.

A long handled roller will do the job from all sides, doesnt reallly matter if there is a big miss in the middle, the radiator hides it see. I'm all for an easy life.

bodmil

alleycat` wrote: »

Do you mean temporarily remove and then put them back where they are or move them altogether?

World of difference

Just temporarily move to decorate then put back.

bodmil

McKneff wrote: »

If your leaving them where they are, they dont need to be removed at all.

A long handled roller will do the job from all sides, doesnt reallly matter if there is a big miss in the middle, the radiator hides it see. I'm all for an easy life.

Nooo... I've just moved in, it's going to be done properly! There's peeling paper stuck down them currently, it's driving me mad!

keystone

The only way you will get that peeling paper out is to remove the rad - particularly if it was papered without the brackets in situ and the brackets put back up on top of the paper.

If the rads have been there as long as you say the bottom part will be full of a black and greasy sludge that is quite ruinous to cream coloured carpets.:)

You need to drain carefully making sure the valves are closed fully first otherwise all you'll be doing is to drain the whole system. When you lift it off the brakets turn it up side down before moving it so that the sludge doen't have access to the open ends where the valves connect. Take it outside and stick a hose in it. You'll be surprised how much muck comes out.

Note though that if they have been there a long time without being remnoved the unions will be stiff and if you are not careful you'll rotate the valve rather than the nut and promptly create a leak where the feed (or return pipe) is connected into the bottom of the valve.

In truth I honestly thinlk you will be better off letting your plumber do it even if it costs you the few quid you appear to want to save.

Cheers

Mojisola

How old are the radiators? As we decorated each room after moving in, we replaced the old radiators with modern, more efficient ones which really made a difference.

Leif

bodmil wrote: »

Hi there, I need to re-decorate and need the radiators moving. My plumber said he could do it very quickly and there's also a B&Q DIY class on it so I'm thinking I could do it myself. Is it really that easy? Could I even just skip the class and watch a youtube guide? I don't think they have been moved for many many years!

It depends how good you are at making and mending things, and also how heavy the radiators are. I found it rather tedious but not particularly hard, although as said, there is potential for spilling very dirty liquid (jet black) on the carpets, and the walls. Having two people would make life easier, as long as one does what the t'other says, if you see what I mean. If you do it yourself, then put down some plastic sheeting to protect the carpets and the walls, and some old towels/curtains/sheets. Assume you will spill some water, and it can squirt a good distance.

As said above, get most liquid out before carrying them or you'll leave a trail of dirt. You can tip it on end and drain into a bowl, but there is a lot of water in a radiator.

Leif

Mojisola wrote: »

How old are the radiators? As we decorated each room after moving in, we replaced the old radiators with modern, more efficient ones which really made a difference.

Are radiators standard sizes i.e. distance between the two ends?

Mojisola

Leif wrote: »

Are radiators standard sizes i.e. distance between the two ends?

Ours weren't because we were replacing old imperial measured ones with new metric measured radiators.

jonny1945

in all honesty if youve not done it before it would save time and money! as time is money, if you let your plumber do it, as other posts have said there are plenty of things that could go wrong! and if you did have to call your plumber in, would he wipe the egg off your face?


Wow whats with this Newbie thing?