New Radiator but pipes wont fit

Housewifediy

Hello...I hope someone can help me. We have hung a new double radiator, old radiator was single. Now the pipes are far apart. Let me try and attach a picture. Is there anything I can buy (extenders etc) to fix it.
Ok no idea how to post a pic. The existing pipes are closer to the wall. And new radiator pipe is half a finger away from the existing pipe.

nofoollikeold

Sounds as if you have two problems:

1. The new radiator is narrower than the old one, resulting in the pipes being too far apart to connect to the radiator. You can get extension pieces which screw into the radiator instead of the existing "tails" and you connect the valves onto the new extension, which you may have to cut to length. I'd advise NOT getting telescopic extensions, they often leak. Have a look at Screwfix item 78169.

2. The point where the valves fit at the base of the new radiator is further from the wall then those points were with the old radiator. The solution could be:

2a. Radiator brackets have one wide and one narrow edge. If the old radiator was fixed with the narrow edge to the wall, so that the wide edge stuck out into the room for the radiator to attach to, you might be able to turn the brackets with the wide edge to the wall. This would bring the radiator closer to the wall, and the pipes might then match up with the valves.

2b. If 2a won't work for you, the pipework will have to be altered. If the floor is easily removable (floorboards) you might have enough room to remove the board the pipes come through, extend the holes and have enough "wriggle room" to get the pipes to line up. Otherwise I'd suggest you need a plumber to alter the actual pipework, but this will almost certainly require the heating system to be drained. Incidentally, if you have to go this route, you might as well get the pipes altered to obviate the need for extension pieces.

Housewifediy

Thank you Nofoolikeold!
Checked 2a and it was ok. Still too far.

I think 2b seems to be the best action. Looks like pipework needs to be redone near the radiator,under floor boards. And need a plumber for that. Thank you.

neilmcl

If you want to post a pic as a new user then post the link without the https in front and someone will do the rest.

missile

Might be easier / cheaper to change radiator for one same width as you had before?

EmmyLou30

Had the same issue, all our rads fitted on the narrow side of the bracket so all were very close to the wall and the pipes had no play in them whatsoever. So when I wanted to get a single big rad under the lounge window swapped to a double one so I could lower the height of it (it's barely a finger away from the windowsill) and get the same BTU I went ahead and bought the double rad. Went to fit it......pipes wouldn't reach.


Your choice is to stick with what you have or get all the pipework altered, no simple fix unfortunately :-(

southcoastrgi

For future ref, this is how the brackets should be fitted, single rads have the long side facing out, double rads have the short side facing out