Radiator rehanging in Exeter
Professional radiator rehanging services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60-£85
Typical Duration
30-45 mins
Location
Exeter, Devon
Radiator pulled away from the wall? Wonky or loose? I'll refit it properly - secure brackets in solid wall, level fitting, tested for leaks. Job done in under an hour.
When Your Radiator's Literally Falling Off The Wall
You walk past and notice the radiator's leaning forward at an angle. Or worse - one end's come completely off the wall and it's hanging by the pipes. That's going to leak (if it hasn't already), and it needs fixing now before you have a flood.
💡 Pro tip: A radiator full of water weighs 50-80kg. If the brackets aren't in solid wall with the right fixings, it's only a matter of time before they fail.
Why They Come Loose
It's almost always the wall fixings:
| ✅ Properly Fixed | ❌ About To Fall Off |
|---|---|
| Brackets in solid wall | Brackets in crumbling plaster |
| Correct plugs for wall type | Wrong plugs (too small, wrong type) |
| Level fitting, weight distributed evenly | Wonky fitting, weight on one bracket |
| Radiator not overfilled | Overfilled, too heavy for brackets |
What You Get
🔧 The Full Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Remove radiator | Close valves, drain radiator, lift off brackets |
| Fix wall | Remove failed plugs, drill new holes if needed, fit proper fixings |
| Refit radiator | Hang radiator level on secure brackets |
| Bleed & test | Bleed air out, check valves, test for leaks |
📦 You're Left With
- Radiator securely back on wall
- Level fitting (not wonky)
- Properly bled, working efficiently
- No leaks
Pricing Guide
| Job Type | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Simple rehang (good wall) | 30-40 mins | £60 |
| New brackets or wall repair | 40-60 mins | £60-£85 |
| Complex (bad wall, seized valves) | 60-90 mins | £85-£110 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Includes new brackets/fixings if needed.
Perfect For...
✅ Radiator pulling away - brackets coming loose
✅ Wonky radiator - not level, looks terrible
✅ One bracket failed - radiator hanging by pipes
✅ After decorating - radiator taken off, needs refitting properly
Why Choose Us for Radiator rehanging in Exeter?
Securely refitted to wall
New brackets if needed
Level fitting (not wonky)
Bled and pressure tested
What to Expect
Step 1: Assess The Damage
I'll check why it came loose - failed wall plugs, wrong fixings, crumbling plaster? Work out the best way to refix it securely.
Step 2: Take Radiator Off
Close the valves each end, open the bleed valve to drain the radiator, disconnect and lift off. Heavy, so needs two hands and care with the pipes.
Step 3: Sort The Wall Fixings
Remove old, failed plugs. Drill new holes slightly offset if the old ones are too large. Fit proper wall plugs for your wall type - brick, stone, plasterboard all need different fixings.
Step 4: Refit Radiator
Hang it back on the brackets, making sure it's level. Reconnect, fill, bleed the air out, check for leaks.
🔧 DIY Tips
Radiator rehanging is doable DIY if you're confident, but heavy and awkward:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Adjustable spanner
- Radiator bleed key
- Drill, masonry bits
- Spirit level
- Wall plugs and screws (correct type for your wall)
- Bowls to catch water
- Old towels
🔩 How to do it
- Turn off heating, wait for radiator to cool
- Close both valves (TRV and lockshield)
- Open bleed valve with a bowl underneath to drain radiator
- Disconnect radiator from valves (more water will come out)
- Lift radiator off brackets (HEAVY - might need help)
- Remove failed brackets, drill new holes
- Fit proper wall plugs for your wall type
- Screw brackets back securely
- Hang radiator (check it's level!)
- Reconnect to valves
- Open valves, bleed radiator, check for leaks
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Dropping the radiator (they're really heavy and awkward)
- Wrong wall plugs for wall type (will fail again)
- Not level (looks awful, can cause air pockets)
- Forgetting to close valves first (flood)
- Over-tightening connections (cracks the fitting)
💡 Pro trick: Old radiator bracket holes too big? Offset the new holes by 50mm and use bigger wall plugs. Or for plasterboard, use hollow wall anchors (toggles or snaptoggle fixings) rated for the weight.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🔧 Plasterboard walls? Radiators are heavy. Standard plasterboard plugs aren't strong enough. I use either toggles fixed into the plasterboard, or if there are timber studs behind, I screw directly into those. Much more secure.
Stone walls in old Exeter houses? Lovely thick walls but drilling them is hard work, and standard wall plugs don't always hold well in old lime mortar. I use longer fixings or resin anchors for a really solid fix.
Radiator really old? If it's come off the wall, take the opportunity to check for corrosion while it's off. Sometimes the brackets themselves are so corroded they've failed. I can fit new brackets easily enough.
Valves seized? If your radiator valves haven't been touched in 20 years, they might be seized solid. If I can't close them to take the radiator off, I'll need to drain down your whole heating system - adds time to the job.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do radiators come loose?
Usually the wall plugs have failed - either the wrong plugs were used for your wall type, or the radiator was overfilled and too heavy, or the plaster's crumbled behind the bracket. Sometimes it's just old age - 20+ year old fixings in 100+ year old plaster don't last forever.
Will you need to drain my heating system?
Probably not for a simple rehang - I can close the valves at each end of the radiator and take it off without draining the whole system. If the valves are seized or dodgy, then yes, I might need to drain down. I'll know when I look at it.
Can you fix it if the wall's crumbling?
Depends how bad it is. If it's just the area around the old brackets, I can move them slightly and use bigger/better plugs. If the whole wall's in poor condition, I might need to use chemical anchors or advise a different mounting method. Worst case, the wall needs replastering first.
Will it happen again?
Not if I fit it properly. I'll use the right fixings for your wall type (different plugs for brick, stone, plasterboard, etc.), make sure brackets are positioned correctly, and check the radiator's not overfilled. Should last another 20+ years.
How long does it take?
30-45 minutes usually - close valves, take radiator off, sort out wall fixings, refit radiator, bleed it, test. Longer if the wall needs significant repair or the brackets are completely destroyed.
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