It’s tempting to think of a radiator swap as a quick job — old one off, new one on. In practice, a proper installation is five distinct jobs, each one protecting the finish and the performance of the unit you’ve just paid for. Here’s what’s actually involved when one of our installers is at your radiator.
1. Sizing and balancing, before anything is fitted
Every room loses heat at a different rate, depending on its size, the number of external walls, window area and insulation. Before your radiator goes anywhere, we calculate the output your specific room needs and check it against the model you’ve chosen. Once it’s up, the valves are balanced so it warms up in sync with the rest of the house — not left to lag behind while every other room is already warm.
2. Pipework adaptation
Few replacement radiators sit on exactly the same footprint as the one they’re replacing, especially if you’re moving from a single-panel radiator to a column or vertical design. We assess the existing pipework and modify, extend or replace it with new copper pipe so the new radiator lines up properly, rather than forcing a fit around pipes that were never meant for it.
3. Flushing the system
Old central heating systems accumulate sludge, rust and general debris over the years, sitting in the pipework long after the old radiator is gone. We flush this out thoroughly before the new unit goes in. Skip this step and that same sludge ends up circulating straight into your brand-new radiator, which is one of the most common reasons a “faulty” new radiator is actually just a dirty system.
4. Rust prevention
Once the system is clean, we add a high-quality chemical inhibitor. It’s a small step that protects your new radiator from corroding from the inside out — the kind of internal wear you’d never spot until a leak shows up years down the line.
5. Leak testing and bleeding
Last, every joint and valve is put through a high-pressure leak test, and the radiator is bled to remove trapped air pockets. Air in the system is the usual cause of a radiator that’s warm at the bottom and stone cold at the top — bleeding it properly at install means you get an evenly heated radiator from day one, not a follow-up call-out three weeks later.
Why it’s worth having it done properly
Every radiator we install is backed by our standard warranty, and installation is carried out by F-Gas certified engineers. If you’re planning a radiator upgrade, browse our full radiator range or get in touch and we’ll help you size the right one for your room before it’s even ordered.
