moving a radiator

[kjl4480]

I am re-boarding a bedroom wall so that i can insulate the single brick wall and need to take a radiator off the wall and then extend the pipes to the radiator to put it back on the new plasterboard wall.
is this something i can do myself or do i need to get a plumber out to it? (budget is tight!!)
If i can do it myself then any advice?????

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

I have no idea on your competancy so hard to say if you can do it

It should be difficult, isolate the rad, drain it, pull it off, extend pipes put it back on and refill

 

[kjl4480]

not too bad at DIY (for a girl!!!) also got some help so have spare sets of hands! have found instructions on how to remove one but dont know how easier it will be to extend the pipes or even how to do it.....any tips would be really welcome!
dont have easy access to a plumber!
will removing the radiator stop my heating from working?

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

hopefully your on a two pipe system so no, you can take all the time you want

To extend the pipe work will depend on the exisiting pipework, where are you based?

You'll a loot of DIYers whack flexis on but this is risky as the tend to fail and rats find them appertising

 

[kjl4480]

Hi,

thanks for all your help on this - must sound like i am completely clueless!!
I am just near derby in the midlands.
begining to wish i had never had the idea about sorting out the bedroom wall cause it seems that nothing in this house is ever easy!!
I am planning on stripping the front wall of the room on saturday as i need to paint the wall with some special paint before we start boarding the wall the following friday - how do i know if i am on a 2 pipe system?

 

[WaterTight]

how do i know if i am on a 2 pipe system?

Lift the floorboards and see (reciprocating / circular saw; thin bolster / big flat-headed screwdriver; hammer.) If there are two separate pipes connected to the radiator you have a two pipe system. If both rad valves connect to one pipe run, you have a one pipe system. Unless you have an old gravity system it's very unlikely you have the latter.

It should be difficult, isolate the rad, drain it, pull it off, extend pipes put it back on and refill

To extend pipes you'll need to do more than isolate and drain the rad. You'll need to drain the central heating circuit, or at least past the floor with the rads on. Do you know what central heating system you have?

If you can lift the floorboards and describe/photo what you see, let us know and we'll tell you what needs to be done, with what tools and fittings and you can decide if you can do it. My guess is at this stage, you'll regret taking it on. A plumber will do it for you for £70-£90.

 

[helpsy]

Also don't the rads get progressively larger the further you are from heat source on a one pipe system.

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

To extend pipes you'll need to do more than isolate and drain the rad. You'll need to drain the central heating circuit, or at least past the floor with the rads on.

Pipe freezer kit?

 

[WaterTight]

Hiring one of those is 50 quid (electric one that is..don't use the canned ones, you'll have long enough to swap over a tap if you know what you're doing with those, extending pipes for rads as a novice ..not a chance), add on buying things like pipe-slices and what-have-you.. might as well pay a plumber to do it. You could save money by draining down and doing it yourself but if you haven't got any plumbing tools I reckon you'll end up spending more than the plumber would cost

 

[Plumbcrazy56]

As already stated ,it is not cost effective to try and do it yourself.

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

yes if you are looking to do this as a DIY job buying the tools and parts needed will far outway the cost of a plumber