DIY | DIY
central heating | Fitting a radiator
Central heating radiators can be fit
in almost any room of the house and make a welcome addition. If fitting
a radiator that is plumbed in to the central heating system in a conservatory,
planning permission is normally required! Radiators are often positioned
underneath windows, this is so that the warm air from the radiator
meets the cold air from the window, which is then circulated around
the room.
Adding a extra radiator to an existing central heating system is relatively
straight forwards and can easily be completed in a few hours.
Firstly decide where the new radiator is to be positioned, then find
a radiator that is near by or lift the floorboards and check under
the floor to see if any central heating pipes are near. Central heating
is not as complex as it first seems, there are basically two pipes,
flow and return, Some older systems only have one pipe which is both
the flow and return.
The flow pipe carries the heated water from the boiler to the radiators
and the return pipe returns the water to the boiler to be heated again.
Often a large central heating pipe will attach to a manifold which
will have several smaller diameter pipes, this saves considerable
time and makes fitting central heating far easier.
The first thing to do with your new radiator is to fix the radiator
tails, These are the screw in fittings that normally come with the
lockshield or thermostatic radiator valves. PTFE tape should be wrapped
around the thread before screwing it into the radiator. Most tails
tighten with a radiator spanner, although some can be tightened with
a normal spanner of the correct size.
The first thing to do with your new radiator is to fix the radiator
tails, These are the screw in fittings that normally come with the
lockshield or thermostatic radiator valves. PTFE tape should be wrapped
around the thread before screwing it into the radiator. Most tails
tighten with a radiator spanner, although some can be tightened with
a normal spanner of the correct size.
Once a new position has been decide for your new radiator you can
fasten it to the wall using a suitable fixing.
1. To fasten a radiator to a wall simply measure the gap between the
2 fastening points on the reverse of the radiator, draw a straight
vertical line on the wall using a spirit level.
2. Then Draw another line the correct distance apart.
3. Fasten the brackets to the wall using the correct fasteners.
4. Lift the radiator onto the brackets ensuring that it is correctly
located.
Now you must ensure that the central heating is switched off! Look
at the downstairs radiators and you should find a drain off valve
like the one on the right of the picture below.
You will need a length of hosepipe long enough to reach outside of
the property as one side of the hose needs attaching to the drain
off valve and securing with a jubilee clip. Run the other end of the
hose pipe to the drain outside, ensuring that the pipe is as straight
as possible and that it is not kinked.
If you have a heating system that never needs topping up manually,
then you are going to have to isolate the water feeding the central
heating system. This can be done by either turning off the main supply
to the property or finding the header tank and isolating the supply
to it. Using an adjustable spanner open the square on the drain off
valve, water should flow out of the hosepipe! When you are certain
that the system is draining suitably, open a bleed valve on a upstairs
radiator. Do Not cut into any pipes until the system is completely
empty!
You can now cut into the pipes that you intended to take a branch
from using the appropriate cutter (pipe slice for copper, Plastic
pipe cutters for plastic), there could still be a little water in
the pipe so have a suitable container to catch the water in. You will
need to cut a little more from one of the pipes in order to insert
the "T" fitting.
Whether you use plastic pipe or copper you will have to use either
push fit fittings or compression fittings, solder fittings will not
work due to the water. I prefer plastic so will assume that you are
also using plastic, if you are using copper you will possibly need
a pipe bender or pipe bending spring.
After inserting the "T" fitting, run the pipe from both
the flow and return to the new radiator, the flow should have the
thermostatic valve on or the lockshield with the open close function
working, this is simply a matter of using the correct cap for the
valve. The return valve has a cap on that will neither open or close
the valve as it spins freely.
Pipe up the new radiator from the flow and return pipes that you
have Teed into and ensure that pipe inserts are used. If you are
using compression valves for the radiator ensure that the olives
are made of copper not brass as brass olives are too hard for some
plastic pipe.
Close the drain off valve using an adjustable spanner and remove
the hosepipe. Re- tighten the bleed valve that you opened earlier
and refill the system slowly. This will vary depending on what system
you have! Check for leaks and slowly allow the central heating system
to be filled. Bleed all the radiators in the system and keep checking
for leaks, if a leak is found tighten the nuts or if it is pushfit
ensure that the pipes are pushed all the way into the fitting.
Turn the central heating on and enjoy your new radiator!
Courtesy of Ultimatehandyman.co.uk
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