How to install a towel radiator

Before you start, it’s important to drain your heating system to stop water from leaking out of the pipes as you work. 

Unscrew the tails and wrap PTFE tape around them. You’ll want to make around 10 wraps.

Take the nuts off the valves and place them onto the tails.

Then apply plumber’s compound to the tails using your finger. This will make sure the join is watertight. Wipe any excess off the nuts.

Place the valve onto the tails and begin tightening the nut by hand. Once you’ve tightened as much as you can by hand, remove the cap and use a grip to hold the valve in place as you tighten the nut with a wrench.

Find the centre point of your radiator by measuring its width and dividing this number by two. Check that this measurement matches the pipes.

If you want it to sit in the middle of your wall, use this centre marking to measure to each edge of the wall, making sure both measurements are equal.

Draw a straight line up from this centre point using a spirit level. This means your radiator will sit straight.

Top tip: draw over masking tape to avoid leaving pencil marks on the wall.

Mark where your brackets will be attached to the wall using a pencil or Marxman pen. This will involve a few measurements:

Measurement 1: from the top of your skirting board to the centre of the pipe.

Measurement 2: from the bottom edge of the towel radiator to the centre of the valve.

Add these measurements together. Then use this new value to mark on the wall where the bottom of the radiator will sit.

Measurement 3: from the bottom of the radiator to the centre of the first bracket.

Then mark this distance above the line you just made on the wall. This is the centre point of your bottom brackets.

Measurement 4: between the brackets on the back of the radiator.

Top tip: take your measurements from the outside edge of one to the inside edge of the other, as this will be equivalent to a centre-to-centre measurement.

Use this measurement to mark the height of the top brackets.

Using a spirit level, draw a straight line across each of these points so you have the position for the brackets on either side.

Measurement 5: between the top brackets on your radiator, then half this number. 

Use this value to measure where the brackets will sit on either side of your centre line. Do the same with the bottom brackets. These will be your drilling holes.

Now that you’ve marked where the brackets will sit, drill holes onto these markings with a combi drill and 6mm drill bit. If your wall is made of brick, you’ll need to use a masonry drill bit.

Remove the masking tape.

Push 6mm wall plugs into each hole. You may need to use a hammer to get them flush with the wall.

Screw the brackets into the wall with 5mm x 50mm screws.

Use a spirit level to double check the brackets are all level.

Lift the radiator into position to check it fits onto the brackets.

Place the radiator back down, remove the nuts from the tails, and place them onto the pipes. Apply plumber’s compound to the pipes.

Drop the radiator onto the pipes and slot it into the brackets.

Tighten the nuts by hand.

Use an allen key to tighten the brackets.

Fully tighten the nuts with a grip and wrench.

Open the valves fully to allow water to flow through, filling the system up.

You may need to bleed the radiator once your heating is back on, but this is a really easy process:

• Find the bleed valve - this will be a small cap at the top of the radiator.
• Slowly turn it anticlockwise to open.
• First air will start to come out, and eventually you’ll start to see water. Hold a cloth underneath the hole to catch any leaks.
• As soon as any water escapes, quickly tighten the valve back up. You want to take as little water as possible out of the system.