Tips For Removing A Radiator When Decorating

Over the years I have often been asked to remove radiators before decorating. As such this is now second nature to me, but there was a time when I first became self-employed as a painter and decorator that I didn’t quite know what I was doing.

On one such occasion many years ago I was decorating a kitchen and I had to wallpaper all the walls. You can of course just wallpaper around so that you just pass the radiator. and the chances are nobody would know any different. For me that’s simply not good enough. I’m a perfectionist and for the amount of time it takes to remove a radiator it’s worth getting the best finish you can. Although the wallpaper will be ok at the time eventually it will curl up and come away from the wall behind the radiator and become noticeable.

So this particular time my inexperience was to be tested to the limit. To remove all the wallpaper from behind the radiator I decided to remove the radiator, but there was just one slight problem. I neglected to cut the water supply to the radiator. I removed the bolts connecting the water pipes, but before I had chance the pipes popped off and I had a six foot waterfall creating a lake in the kitchen! I remember running around like a headless chicken with bowls to catch the water, failing badly. Not for one minute did I think to turn off the mains water! Panic had set in. After what seemed like an eternity, I realised I needed to stop the water and quickly found the stop tap, and the fountain slowly disappeared.

I was left standing in about four inches of water looking like a drowned rat, and well, very embarrassed and thinking this is going to take a while to clean up. This was not funny at the time, but the whole episode amuses me today, when I realise how naive I was.

So if you are decorating and the room has a radiator and you want the perfect finish, here are my tips for removing a radiator that I have learnt from experience.

1. Water Supply

The first, and without a doubt the most important thing to do is to cut the water supply to the radiator. Sometimes there will be an inline cut off in the pipe, which does make it easier, but if not, turn off the mains water supply to the property.

2. Make Sure the water supply is off

The easiest way to check the water is turned off, is to simply turn on a tap and a small amount of water may come out, but usually this stops quickly.

3. Removing the radiator

The first thing to do is to get two bowls to go under where the pipes meet the radiator, because although you have turned the water off there will still be water in the radiator so that will catch some of the water, but also lay down clothes because water from radiators is very dirty and it stain carpets.

4. Removing pipes from radiator

It’s very simple to undo using a wrench, and once undone remove the pipes completely away from the radiator. Once that is done, lift the radiator from the brackets that hold it on the wall. Making sure you keep it level and carry it outside so none of the dirty water stains the floor coverings. Once outside you can empty the radiator of the dirty water down a drain.

5. Remove Brackets

Finally remove the brackets that hold the radiator on the wall. Now you can wallpaper with ease and achieve the perfect finish.

A final tip

When you are hanging new wallpaper over where the brackets go make sure you mark where the screws go to hold brackets, because the radiator needs to go back in exactly the same place. Once the radiator is refitted, you will need to bleed the radiator so the heat is distributed evenly.

So that’s it my tips on removing a radiator in a room that needs decorating.

Have you had a nightmare removing a radiator like me? I would love to hear.