Painting behind radiator

Auti

Hello. I am in the process of decorating a room which is taking a long time - i have to do a bit at a time for various reasons - but now have come to the radiator bit. The radiator is also loose as the brackets are loose on the wall. There is just me so need it to be easy - ideally i would like the radiator to flip forward so I could clean and paint behind it but thinking I might need to replace. Bit confused.

maisie_cat

I would normally remove the radiator, but that doesn't seem like an option. Next best would be a long handled micro roller that can reach behind. If you can hoover behind that'll help but obviously normal prep won't be possible. I've removed a fair number of radiators that have been painted around in the past so your issue is a common one.

Ganga

As the brackets are loose and need to be repaired ,it would be better to turn off both taps ,drain the rad and remove it ,repair the loose brackets and paint the wall ,refit the rad and bleed.

FreeBear

maisie_cat said: I would normally remove the radiator, but that doesn't seem like an option.

What I have done in the past is to put some suitably sized blocks on the floor. Slacken the nuts either end of the radiator ever so slightly. Then lift the radiator off the brackets and rotate it to rest on the blocks - Best to have another pair of hands to assist.

If there is no slack in the pipework, then this may not work. You also need to be careful not to lose any plastic spacers (if fitted).

grumbler

Some recent thread: Looking for a really thin paint roller for behind a radiator

casper_gutman

It's usually possible to "drop" the radiator for painting, by pivoting it forward. It can be a bit daunting if you're not confident about how the connectors fit together, and there's a risk of one of the joints leaking.

I know plumbers used to be happy to do this for you for a call-out fee, but that's a more expensive option than it used to be, and finding someone with availability might not be easy. Perhaps something to consider if you have a friendly plumber in your life, or if you could combine at least the first part of this with other work you need - e.g., drop the radiators while someone's there to service the boiler, then ask them to pop back at some point over the following few days (other work permitting) when you've painted the wall. If one coat will cover it, you might even get it done in one visit.

tasticz

suggest putting foil behind radiator to hide the colour mis match or do your best with painting it. i took off my radiator and now my boiler system is potentially airlocked - TBC what is wrong