DECORATING?

Advice if you are decorating.

REMOVING RADIATORS

If you are going to remove radiators our advice is “don’t unless you have too!”

There are often problems when radiators are taken off the wall. The things to watch out for are as follows; -

  • Valves may leak.
     
  • Radiator bracket may fall off the wall with the radiator.
     
  • Black sludge may get on the carpet.
     
  • The feed pipe from the top-up (header) tank may be blocked.
     
  • The system/radiator may not work after you have finished and you will get the blame!

If you are taking off a radiator that has a thermostatic valve on the end you should cap it off or during cold weather as the valve could open.

As an anecdotal story to this I was once called out to an emergency where a radiator was taken off the wall and the thermostatic valve was pouring out water. When I arrived the householder was holding his finger over the opening and shouting, “help” to his wife.

I asked if she had a hairdryer, much to her surprise. I got my extension lead as she got the dryer. Plugging it in and proceeded to get some heat onto the valve the leak stopped within a matter of moments.

It is not very often you can fix a leak with a hair dryer!
 

Before commencing work.

  • Check the condition of the heating, was it working before you started.
     
  • Check the condition of the valves, are there signs of leaking, making a note as to how much the lockshield end is open, turn them on and off a few times.
     
  • Use a plastic or 100% waterproof groundsheet to protect the carpet.
     
  • Advise "the customer" that you will not be responsible for any damage or problems as a result of the radiator removal.
     
  • Check the header tank in the loft, (the smallest) for sludge, rust and debris in the tank. When you refill the radiator this will get sucked into the system.
     
  • Tie up the ball float valve in the header tank so that water does not run in. If you should be unlucky and get a flood it is under control.

If you feel competent in working with the heating system then it is a good opportunity to clean the header tank out and using a hosepipe from the radiator valve, flush the system out. This can then be refilled using an inhibitor such as Sentinel or Fernox.

     THE HOT WATER SYSTEM WILL NOT WORK IF THERE IS NO WATER IN THE RADIATORS

We sometimes get called to a breakdown where the system has been drained. The hot water comes from the boiler and in most cases will not work if the system is empty.

COMBI boilers are topped up with a loop attached to the mains water supply.

      PLEASE DO NOT PAINT OVER AIR RELEASE VALVES.

 
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