June 30, 2015Once your radiator and pipe clips are in place, it’s time to fit your radiator pipes. Here’s our quick and easy guide on how to fit them securely and evenly for effective and neat pipework.
Step 1. Find your centre line
Using a small off-cut of pipe, fit it to your radiator valve so that you can see where the centre line is. Then take a T-pipe connector and hold up behind the pipe. Then mark the centre point on your existing horizontal feed pipe (which you have fitted in the clips) in pencil.
Step 2. Cut the pipe
Remove your pipe from the clips and cut on the mark, using a pipe cutter.
Step 3. Fit the T-connector
Fit the T-connector to one end of your cut pipe, directly below the radiator valve. Remember that the T-connector is a downsizer, reducing the diameter of the pipe from 22 mm to 15mm.
Step 4. Connect the second section of pipe
Now add the other half of the cut pipe to hold the T-piece in place. You are now ready to bend your pipe.
Step 5. Working out bend angle
To work out your bend angle, the top part of the measurer must line up against the valve. The bottom part must line up against the T-piece.
Step 6. Bending the pipe
Put the pipe in the benders and use an estimated bend. Check it frequently to make sure you have bent it to the right angle.
Step 7. Match up and repeat
Now match the two parts up and repeat on all the valves.
Step 8. Cut the pipes
You may need to cut the pipes using pipe cutters. To do this, measure where you will need to make the cut and mark with a pencil. Then use a pipe cutter to get a smooth and clean cut.
Step 9. Connect pipes to valves
Connecting the pipes to the valves is the same as a standard compression fitting.
Step 10. Close clips and solder
Now that all the pipes are fitted, close the pipe clips and solder the joints together. The hot water will now flow from the main feed through the 22mm pipe into the radiator, and through the 15mm pipes downstairs, before coming back up through the return flow and into the boiler for reheating.
