Radiator removal for decorating in Exeter
Professional radiator removal for decorating services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£85-£110
Typical Duration
45-60 mins
Location
Exeter, Devon
Decorating? I'll remove your radiators so you can paint behind them properly, then refit them when you're done. One price for the whole service - off, decorate, back on.
You Can't Decorate Properly Around A Radiator
You're redecorating the room and doing it properly this time. But there's 5cm between the radiator and the wall, and no matter how you try, the roller doesn't reach and brush marks look awful. Taking the radiators off is the only way to get a perfect finish.
💡 Pro tip: If you're paying for professional decorating, it's worth having the radiators removed. Decorators charge by the day - they'll save hours not messing around behind radiators, and the finish will be miles better.
Why Use A Plumber For This
It's not just unscrewing and lifting off:
| ✅ Done Properly | ❌ DIY Attempt |
|---|---|
| Valves closed, no system drain needed | Drain whole system (mess, air in pipes) |
| Capped safely while decorating | Leaking valve or open pipe |
| Refitted securely, bled properly | Air locked, cold spots, leaks |
| System balanced and tested | Some radiators don't work properly |
What You Get
🔧 The Full Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Remove rads | Close valves, drain each radiator, lift off, cap pipes |
| You decorate | Take as long as you need - days, weeks, whatever |
| Refit rads | Hang back on brackets, reconnect, bleed, test |
📦 You're Left With
- Perfect decorating access
- Radiators safely stored or moved aside
- Refitted exactly where they were
- System working perfectly
Pricing Guide
| Number of Radiators | Time (removal + refit) | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 radiators | 1-1.5 hrs total | £85-£110 |
| 3-4 radiators | 1.5-2 hrs total | £110-£135 |
| 5+ radiators (whole house) | 2-3 hrs total | £135-£210 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Price covers both removal and refitting.
Perfect For...
✅ Professional decorating - painters want them out of the way
✅ Wallpapering - can't paper behind radiators
✅ Full room redecoration - doing it properly once and for all
✅ New flooring - easier to fit without radiators in the way
Why Choose Us for Radiator removal for decorating in Exeter?
Access to paint properly behind radiators
Radiators carefully removed and refitted
System drained and refilled properly
Bled and tested after refitting
What to Expect
Step 1: Remove Radiators (30-45 mins)
I'll come round, close the radiator valves, drain each radiator into a bowl, disconnect, and lift off the wall. Cap the pipes safely. You can move the radiators aside or I can take them away if you prefer.
Your Decorating Time
Paint the walls properly, paper behind where the radiators were, whatever you're doing. Take days or weeks - doesn't matter. The rest of your heating works fine.
Step 2: Refit Radiators (30-45 mins)
When you're done decorating and ready, I come back. Hang the radiators back on their brackets, reconnect to the valves, bleed the air out, check for leaks. Job done.
🔧 DIY Tips
Removing and refitting radiators is doable DIY if you're careful, but heavy and easy to get wrong:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Adjustable spanners (2)
- Radiator bleed key
- Large bowl or bucket
- Old towels
- PTFE tape
- Possibly radiator caps (if valves don't have integral caps)
🔩 How to remove
- Turn off heating, wait for radiators to cool
- Close both valves (TRV and lockshield - count how many turns on the lockshield!)
- Put bowl under TRV, open bleed valve to drain radiator
- Unscrew connection at each end (more water comes out)
- Lift radiator off brackets (HEAVY)
- Cap or seal the valve ends so nothing leaks
🔩 How to refit
- Hang radiator back on brackets
- Reconnect to valves (PTFE tape on threads)
- Open lockshield valve same number of turns as you closed it
- Open TRV
- Bleed radiator
- Check for leaks
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Dropping the radiator (heavy and awkward)
- Not noting lockshield valve position (system won't balance properly)
- Forgetting to close valves (water everywhere)
- Cross-threading connections when refitting (leaks)
- Not bleeding properly after (cold radiators, noisy system)
💡 Pro trick: Mark or photograph the lockshield valve position before closing it. That valve balances your heating system - if you open it a different amount when refitting, some radiators won't heat properly.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🔧 How long between removal and refitting? As long as you need. Days, weeks, doesn't matter. The rest of your heating works fine. Just call when you're ready for me to refit.
Can I paint the radiators while they're off? Absolutely - much easier than trying to paint them on the wall. Let me take them off, you paint them in the garden or garage, I'll refit when they're dry.
Skirting boards and flooring? If you're replacing skirting or flooring, having the radiators off makes that much easier too. One job, multiple benefits.
Old radiators heavy? Cast iron radiators are ridiculously heavy - 100kg+ when full of water. I can handle them, but if you're DIY-ing, get help. Dropping one will go through your floor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I just paint around the radiator?
You can, but it never looks quite right - you can't get a decent finish in the tight gap behind, rollers don't reach properly, and brush marks show. If you're decorating the whole room properly, taking the radiators off is worth it for a perfect finish.
How long will I be without heating?
Just while the radiators are off - could be a few hours or a few days depending how long your decorating takes. The rest of your radiators will still work fine. I fit valves so you can isolate just the radiators I've removed.
Can I move the radiator while it's off?
Not really - the pipes are fixed in place. I can take it off and refit it in the same position, but if you want to relocate it permanently, that's a different job (new pipe runs, replastering, etc.).
Will you cap the pipes while the radiator's off?
Yes - I close the valves and cap them off safely so there's no risk of leaks while you're decorating. The rest of your heating system works normally.
Do you charge for both removal and refitting?
It's one price for the service - I take them off, you decorate at your leisure, then call me back when you're ready and I refit them. Usually takes about 30-45 mins to take off, same again to refit and test.
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