radiator pipes

[mike s]

I need to remove a radiator to tile the floor , ive removed them leaving the valves in place before but never just the copper pipe sticking up from the floor , if i shut off rad at each end drain then remove the valves.
will i still have to drain the whole central heating system?
It's a groung floor radiator so wont all the water in the system all just flow to the lowest point Ie this radiator.
thanks in advance

[whitebeam]

Why remove the rad if your tiling the floor

[grumpygrouter]

Originally Posted by whitebeam

Why remove the rad if your tiling the floor

so he can slip the drilled tiles over the pipes instead of slotting them?

[whitebeam]

I would'nt want to be draining a heating just so I can cut a couple of holes

[grumpygrouter]

Originally Posted by whitebeam

I would'nt want to be draining a heating just so I can cut a couple of holes

I always give the customer the choice Whitebeam. Slotting is ok if it is hidden well but some people prefer to have the rad removed to get a nicer finish. I have had both types of customer!

[nickj]

I always give the choice and price for it but yes if you want to remove those valves then the system has to be drained down. Drop me a PM if you need some advice on how to do it.

[whitebeam]

Originally Posted by grumpygrouter

I always give the customer the choice Whitebeam. Slotting is ok if it is hidden well but some people prefer to have the rad removed to get a nicer finish. I have had both types of customer!

I would be getting a heating engineer to do that grumps

[365drills]

Removing the radiator inlet valves from the copper pipe WILL cause the entire system to drain down via your pipework.

The usual way to fix tiles is to cut slots.

If slots look ugly or the customer doesnt want them then you will have to drain down. You might be lucky and find the system can be isolated into zones but even so you will be looking to lose water.

I just bit the bullet, drained the system down, fixed the tiles then let the plumbers get on with rebooting the central heating system.

You cant even freeze the pipes because once you freeze them the cooling jacket gets in the way of slipping the tile over the pipe.

[grumpygrouter]

Originally Posted by whitebeam

I would be getting a heating engineer to do that grumps

Me too Whitebeam, I don't do it myself. I am considering doing a basic course at Chase though to teach me how.

[mike s]

thank's for the reply's and confirmation guy's .
It's a nice ornamental rad in a hallway the pipes sit about 6" from the wall so i really wanted to drill them, i've got some drills from 365 and aint used em yet.
i think i'll leave the rad alone and cut the tile and patch it,i doubt the customer wants to drain the system.

[GazTech]

Cutting in around pipework can be ok if cut neatly...
[IMG]http://www.tilersforums.co.uk/members/gaztech-albums-various-picture1158-piecing-around-pipes.jpg[/IMG]

[365drills]

Yes in the BFKMX the 40mm will allow a rad pipe and fitting to slip through with room to spare.

The downside is that the 40mm hole looks a bit swamped.

The easy solution is a standard cover plate at 45mm.



Shown is a 15mm rad pipe being capped off with a 45mm plate. Hole underneath can be 40mm to fit through a standard rad pipe at 15mm fitted to a rad valve.

But I'd be tempted to use GazTech's standard method if you do not have an ultra fussy customer. There are projects where the extra effort is required (mainly ultra-modern contemporary) when minimilist fittings are required. Perhaps not in this case.






I just did this little article:


Tile drills for radiator pipes with our kit - By Richard Hazell of 365-Drills

1) Drill a 40mm hole into the tile.



2) Slip radiator pipe WITH the valve over the hole



3) Seat tile down onto grout and press in place



4) The Hole at 40mm looks too big for the pipe.



Slip a pipe cover over to cap off for a perfect result