What does radiator installation involve?
Radiator installation involves fitting a new radiator to your wet central heating system and connecting it to the flow and return pipework. For a like-for-like replacement, we drain down the system, remove the old radiator, fit the new brackets and radiator, connect the valves, then refill the system and bleed out the air. Adding a new radiator or moving one means running new pipework from the nearest suitable point. Once everything is connected, we check for leaks, bleed the radiators and balance the system so heat reaches each room evenly.
We don't carry out gas or boiler work. If your boiler needs attention, you'll need a Gas Safe registered engineer.
When should you replace a radiator?
You should consider replacing a radiator when it's leaking, badly corroded or no longer heating the room properly. Common signs include rust spots or weeping around seams, cold patches at the bottom that don't clear after bleeding, a radiator that's too small for the room, and valves that are seized or leaking. Replacing radiators is also worth doing during a renovation, when you change how a room is used, or when you want to fit thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) for better control of each room.
Why do radiators stop heating properly?
Radiators usually stop heating properly for one of a few reasons. Air trapped at the top of a radiator leaves it cold at the top, which bleeding fixes. Sludge, a build-up of rust and debris inside the system, collects at the bottom and leaves it cold there. Seized valves, especially TRV pins, stop hot water entering. An unbalanced system sends most of the heat to radiators nearest the boiler, leaving the furthest rooms cool. Sometimes the radiator is simply too small for the room it's meant to heat.
How do you choose the right size radiator?
The right size radiator depends on the heat the room needs, not just the wall space available. Heat output is measured in watts or BTUs, and the amount a room needs depends on its size, how many external walls and windows it has, how well it's insulated and what it's used for. A radiator that's too small leaves the room cold, while one that's far too large wastes money. We work out the heat requirement for your room and recommend a radiator that fits both the space and the output needed.
What affects the cost of radiator installation?
The cost of radiator installation depends on the radiator you choose, whether it's a straight swap or a new position, and how easy the pipework is to reach. Replacing a radiator with one of the same size and pipe centres is the quickest job. Fitting a different size, moving a radiator or adding a new one means extra pipework, which may run under floors. The number of radiators being fitted on the same visit also matters, as the system only needs draining once.
Our standard hourly call-out rates, excluding parts, materials and VAT, are:
Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm£100 / hour
Monday to Friday, after 5pm£150 / hour
Saturday and Sunday, 8am to 5pm£150 / hour
Saturday and Sunday, after 5pm£180 / hour
Emergency callouts may vary, so ask us for details. There are no hidden charges, and we always confirm a fixed price for your job before we start.
Should I repair or replace a radiator?
Repair is usually the right option when the problem is air, a faulty valve or a sticking TRV, as these can often be fixed without changing the radiator. Replacement makes more sense when the radiator itself is leaking through corrosion, when it's heavily blocked with sludge, or when it's simply the wrong size for the room. A radiator that's rusting through will only get worse. We'll check the radiator and valves and tell you honestly whether it's worth repairing.
Radiator installation FAQs
Can I replace a radiator without draining the whole system?
Sometimes a single radiator can be swapped by isolating it at its valves and draining only that radiator, which saves time. It depends on the valves working properly and the new radiator having the same pipe centres. If the valves are seized or the pipework needs changing, the system usually needs draining down.
Do I need to turn the heating off for a radiator to be fitted?
Yes, the heating needs to be off and the system cool before a radiator is fitted, as we'll be working on the heating pipework. We'll turn the heating back on once the new radiator is connected, the system is refilled and we've checked for leaks.
Can you move a radiator to a different wall?
Yes, we can move a radiator to a different wall by extending or rerouting the heating pipework to the new position. How easy this is depends on the floor type and where the existing pipes run. We'll look at the route before quoting, so you know what's involved.