Home & Garden Improvements

Although adding a new radiator to an existing system will require the advanced building trade skills of a plumber, replacing an old radiator is a straightforward DIY job. If you’re painting and decorating, why not ditch those rusty old radiators and install some efficient new ones?

Close the radiator by turning the large plastic cap on the valve clockwise. Then remove the little plastic shield from the valve on the other side and use a spanner to close it, remembering to count the number of clockwise turns. When you open this valve again, it has to return to the position it was in previously or the radiator won’t be ‘balanced’ and heat will get distributed unevenly through the system. Use a radiator key to open the bleed valve at the top of the radiator and ‘bleed’ it of air.

Remove the radiator from the closed valves by holding the valve body in place with one spanner, while undoing the nut connecting it to the radiator with the other; place a shallow tray beneath to collect the water. Then tilt the radiator to empty the water into the tray and lift it from the wall brackets.

Bring your new radiator into position on the brackets, wrap some PTFE around the threads, in a clockwise direction and lift the valve nuts into alignment, tightening them with your fingers. Tighten with two spanners, as you loosened them, open the bleed valve, turn the large plastic cap clockwise and the small valve back to its former position and wait. When water starts to sprinkle from the bleed valve, close it and check all around for leaks. It might not be property development, but you’ll feel much warmer.