How To Fit A Radiator
To fit a radiator into your home you need to know the basics beforehand, first of all you need to turn off the heating and allow to cool down then you turn the plastic handle clockwise to turn the radiator off. On the opposite side of the radiator there’s a lock shield valve, to close this valve you need to remove the protective plastic cup covering it and use an adjustable spanner to turn the valve clockwise for it to close. Its important that you remember how many turns you made on the valve because it should be opened by the same amount of turns when the radiator is replaced. This keeps the system even spreading the heat out equally through the house. Next you must bleed the radiator and this is done by using a key to open the bleed valve, this is usually found in one of the top corners of the radiator and will allow the air to enter it for water to flow more quickly out the radiator.
Now remove the old radiator but still leave the 2 valves connected to the pipes and clasp the valve assembly with one wrench so its unable to be pulled loose from the pipe feeding it. Completely detach the nut and carefully do the same with the nut holding the radiator to the valve at the other end. Close the bleed valve and finish draining it by removing the radiator from its brackets and holding it over a bucket, they’re pretty heavy so make sure you have support when carrying out this procedure.
The next step before fitting is to wrap PTFE tape clockwise around the thread of the new radiator then placing it onto the wall brackets, you then position the valves either side so that the radiator sits perfectly on top of them and hand tighten the nut onto each valve making sure you don’t cross thread them. Tighten the valves by using the same technique as you used to remove the old radiator, by holding the valve assembly with 1 wrench so it cant be seperated from the pipe while using another wrench to do up the connecting nut. Keep in mind that if it leaks you can tighten the joint, but if you tighten it too much, you will need to take it apart and start from scratch.
After tightening both connections, re-open the bleed valve at the top of the radiator and then only open the flow valve situated at the bottom of the radiator. This valve will be used to switch your radiator on and off allowing water to flow in and air to be pushed out from the top, when water begins to seep from the bleed valve that’s when you should close it. To let water circulate the system you need to open the return valve found at the bottom of the radiator using the amount of turns used to close it. Finally check both connections for leaks, turn on the heating and check again for leaks. You now have a working radiator.
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