How do I remove a radiator to paint behind?

Question

How do I remove a radiator to paint behind?

Answer 1

If you have a radiator, chances are it's pretty old? That means that the connecting pipes may, or may not, cooperate with your effort. If they're really old, the connectors could be hopelessly rusted and the pipes themselves rusted to the point where they could break if too much force is applied to loosening those connectors. If the piping is newer and the connectors look okay, then it may make sense to remove the radiator but, you would need to close valves to make sure that no water or steam would escape once you removed the radiator, get yourself the correct sized wrenches and disconnect the inlet and outlet, then the radiator can be moved easily (except that they are heavy!). Be prepared to either catch or clean up water that is in the radiator itself and its connecting pipes once you disconnect it. And then, once this little project is completed, you'll need to put it back in and make sure that your connections are good so that there are no leaks.

If this is really something you want to do, either because you want to strip the radiator or really do some work on the wall behind the radiator, go ahead, but think carefully about leaving it in place and doing as much as you can with it still there.

If you hunt around, you can find very thin 1" rollers which will get to your wall behind the radiator. If you need to do anything to the floor around the radiator (like sanding?), rental shops have specialized machine sanders that will reach under your radiator.

The other solution is to build a radiator cover, which you may, or may not, find desirable.

Answer 2

I agree with "Budding Author"

Answer 3

For a  better look build yourself a radiator cover, or better yet slide a reflector material behind as this will help reflect the heat back to the room

Answer 4

u can buy a roller that u can do that

Answer 5

Why Bother, life's to short,

If you must get a small roller,

If you start taking the radiator off the wall, you could end up causing more problems,

Answer 6

Most people dont. No point is there?! well you could use a drill or phil head. get a carpenter maybe

Answer 7

Hi there.

You don't. You buy a small roller on a thin stick and do it with that, it is a LOT less trouble in the long run, believe me.

Good luck, Steve.

Answer 8

you just need a long reach frame with a 4 inch emulsion roller (medium pile will do). try you local trade dec center.

Answer 9

you really should'nt put paint on your behind!

Answer 10

If you have an inlet and outlet valve at the bottom of the rad' then its easy enough!, turn them both off, undo the inlet and outlet connections in the pipe work. Hold a bowl under the pipes until the water is drained, unhook the rad' from the wall, carry on!

                 Refit the rad' open the vent valve at the top, refill, make sure all the air is out as it refills, then check all rads' make sure you release any air trapped else where.

                    If you dont have an inlet and outlet valve at the rad', forget it, paint around, it's not worth the hassle.

                      Good luck with that!