New Radiator Install for Hethersett Customer
Ryan recently attended a job for a local customer in Hethersett.
The customer had asked Ryan to remove a couple of his old radiators and install a new bathroom towel radiator and a modern double radiator for their master bedroom.
The job was simple enough, but despite it being simple, there are still a number of measures we must go through to ensure customer satisfaction and, of course, gas and water safety.
Removing Old Radiator
Firstly, Ryan isolated the radiator in the bathroom. This was an old radiator that was rusty and no longer performing its function. The customer decided to go for a new sleek black radiator that would take up less space, be more heat efficient and would be more aesthetically pleasing. Ryan went to work by isolating the old radiator by closing off the central heating and closing the valves.
Then came the fun part, which is physically draining and involves removing the radiator. He started by placing a towel and tray below to catch any running water that might possibly leak from old pipes. To finally get to the point of moving it he had to ‘break the vacuum’ which is a technique whereby you have to use an adjustable spanner to hold the valve body still, while using a second spanner to loosen the nut connecting the valve to the radiator. Keep your container ready. When this part is done, you then have to remove the cap on the bleed valve at the very top of the radiator and open it with a bleed key to break the vacuum, letting the water drain out into the tray.
Eventually, he could then disconnect and lift the old radiator off the wall. He will dispose of them for the customer after the job is finished.
Installing a new bathroom radiator
Once the old radiator was fully off the wall and removed from the workspace. Ryan then fitted the new wall brackets, attached the valve tails. Ryan then carefully mounted the new radiator on the wall making sure everything was level. He then added new copper piping with the old inlet/outlets series of soldering and adjusting to fit. Once on Ryan, then added a thermostat radiator valve to allow the customer to adjust their temperature easily.
After all the hard work was finished, we then had to open the valves, check for leaks, bleed and top up pressure, as well as add a central heating inhibitor to prevent internal rust and sludge build-up. Once this was complete Ryan then full tested the radiator before proudly presenting his fine work to the client.
Installing a double radiator
The working day wasn't quite over yet. Ryan’s final task was installing a new radiator in the main bedroom. The customer had explained that the room always felt chilly and wanted a larger radiator to improve heating efficiency. Upon inspecting the old unit, Ryan noticed it was only a single-panel radiator. He recommended upgrading to a double-panel radiator, which would heat the room much faster and more efficiently.
To keep the project moving, Ryan popped down to the local Toolstation in Wymondham to pick up the new unit. The customer was delighted with both the choice and the excellent price Ryan secured for them with absolutely no extra markup fees.
As always, Ryan completed all the necessary safety checks before draining and removing the old radiator. However, the installation threw up a surprise: the radiator's water supply was fed from pipes running through the adjoining wall.
Thinking outside the box, Ryan came up with a clean solution: Drilled a precise access hole through the connecting wall. Soldered the necessary copper piping to ensure a flawless and efficient connection.
Did you know?
Unusual pipework like this is common in older properties, particularly those built around the 1970s or earlier. Due to more relaxed building regulations at the time, tradesmen often used unconventional routing, which can leave modern engineers dealing with a few structural quirks. Thanks to Ryan's quick thinking, the customer now has a cozy, highly efficient bedroom just in time for a cold spring.
Finishing the job
After the second radiator was then installed. Ryan showed his fine handiwork to the client. They were extremely happy with the job. They ended up giving us a five-star review on Google and recommending us to their friends and family. They are now a regular client and we have since serviced their boiler and discussed replumbing their kitchen.
We are extremely grateful to all our customers for trusting in us at Heat Control. If you need your radiators removed or installed, please feel free to get in touch with our team today.
