HOW-TO GUIDES
How to move a radiator
Updated 07/26
By: Content Team
Reviewed: Alex Peters
During home renovations, it’s quite common to find that the current position of your radiator simply won’t work with your new home layout. Luckily, you can learn how to move a radiator yourself.
Whether moving a radiator a few inches differs from a full relocation
The tools and steps involved in draining, moving and refitting a radiator
How to safely refill and repressurise your heating system afterwards
What's different about electric radiators versus central heating ones
How much professional radiator moving typically costs
When this is a job to hand to a plumber rather than DIY
Redesigning a room often means the radiator ends up in the wrong place.
Moving it isn't impossible for a confident DIYer, but it involves draining part of your heating system, handling a heavy object, and potentially routing new pipework, so it's worth understanding the full process before you start.
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Before you start
Take time to properly plan the radiator's new location. You'll need space for the pipework as well as the radiator itself, and positioning a radiator under a window is a classic choice because it helps counter draughts.
If you're moving the radiator to an entirely new wall, you'll need new pipework run to that location, which almost always means bringing in a plumber. If you're just shifting it a few inches along the same wall, the job is considerably more manageable.
Tools you'll need:
Two adjustable spanners or wrenches
A radiator bleed key
A large bucket
Old towels or a dust sheet
PTFE tape
Wall brackets suited to your radiator's weight
Radiator buying guide: Helping you to choose the right radiator for your home
We look at radiator types, fuel sources, and the key considerations to bear in mind when choosing the best radiators for your home.
How to move a radiator: step by step
1. Turn off the heating and let the radiator cool
Switch off your boiler and allow the radiator to cool completely before you touch any valves. Working on a hot radiator risks scalds and makes draining messier.
2. Close the valves
Close both the thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) on one side and the lockshield valve on the other.
Note how many turns it takes to close the lockshield valve, since you'll need to open it back up by the same amount later to keep your heating system balanced.
3. Check and drain the radiator
Open the bleed valve slightly with your radiator key. If water seeps out, the valves haven't sealed properly and need adjusting before you continue.
Once you're confident the valves are fully closed, place your bucket and towels underneath, then use one wrench to hold the valve steady while you loosen the nut connecting it to the radiator with the other. Water will drain out as you do this, so be ready to catch it.
Don't forget to repeat the process on the lockshield side too. Both connections need to be disconnected before the radiator will lift free.
4. Remove the radiator
Once fully drained, lift the radiator away from the valves and off its wall brackets. Radiators are heavier than they look, so get a second pair of hands to help.
5. Fit new pipework
For anything beyond a small shift along the same wall, this is where a plumber takes over: running new supply pipes to the radiator's new position and capping off the redundant pipework at the old location.
6. Fit brackets and rehang the radiator
Wrap the valve adapter threads with PTFE tape in a clockwise direction, fit the new wall brackets at the correct height and spacing, and lift the radiator into place.
7. Reconnect and reopen the valves
Retighten the nuts at both valve connections. Open the lockshield valve by the same number of turns you used to close it, then fully open the TRV.
8. Refill and repressurise the system
Refilling isn't just a case of opening the valves. Use your boiler's filling loop to bring the system pressure back up to the manufacturer's recommended level, typically around 1 to 1.5 bar when the system is cold, checking the pressure gauge as you go.
9. Bleed the radiator
Slowly open the bleed valve to let trapped air escape until water flows out steadily with no air bubbles, then close it. Check the boiler's pressure gauge again afterwards and top up via the filling loop if needed.
If you're unsure at any point in this process, it's worth stopping and calling in a professional. Getting the pressure or valve settings wrong can affect your whole heating system, not just the radiator you've moved.
This job usually needs a plumber for the pipework, and if you're changing the radiator itself at the same time, our guide to replacing a radiator covers that process.
Moving a radiator a few inches
If you're only shifting a radiator slightly rather than relocating it to a new wall, the process is largely the same, but the pipework changes are usually smaller and quicker for a plumber to complete, which keeps the cost down too.
Moving a radiator without draining the whole system
You don't need to drain your entire central heating system to move one radiator, provided its own valves seal properly when closed.
Isolating just that radiator (closing both valves, then draining the radiator itself rather than the whole system) is quicker and avoids the extra step of refilling and bleeding every radiator in the house.
Central heating engineer near me
Central heating engineers are important for keeping our homes warm and toasty throughout the year - as well as ensuring that our central heating systems are safe. Here's all you need to know.
Electric radiators vs central heating radiators
Moving an electric radiator is usually far simpler, since there's no pipework or draining involved. In many cases it's a case of unplugging it, choosing a new spot away from furnishings, and plugging it back in.
If the new location needs a socket moved or added, you'll need a qualified electrician rather than a plumber for that part of the job.
How much does it cost to move a radiator?
Moving a radiator to another wall typically costs between £150 - £400, depending on whether new pipework needs to run through the floor or ceiling. Moving a radiator just a short distance along the same wall generally costs less, since less new pipework is needed.
Plumber rates for this kind of work are usually around £40 to £60 an hour, and costs can vary depending on floor type, radiator size, and how far the radiator is moving from its existing pipework.
For the full breakdown, see our cost to move a radiator guide.
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Should you move a radiator yourself?
If you're comfortable with the valve and pipework side of plumbing, a small shift along the same wall is realistically within reach for a confident DIYer.
Moving a radiator to a new wall, however, usually calls for new pipework, which is a job for a qualified plumber or heating engineer, both for a leak-free result and to avoid affecting your system's pressure and balance.
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Radiator move checklist
Moving radiator checklist
Moving a radiator FAQs
It depends on your experience with plumbing and how far you're moving it. A short shift along the same wall is manageable for many confident DIYers, while relocating a radiator to a new wall almost always needs a plumber for the new pipework.
If you have experience with basic plumbing and someone to help lift it, you can move a radiator yourself for smaller relocations. For anything requiring new pipework, we'd recommend hiring a professional to avoid leaks or damage to your heating system.
Moving a radiator to a different wall typically costs between £150 and £400, while a short move along the same wall usually costs less. See our full cost guide for a detailed breakdown.
No, not usually. As long as the radiator's own valves seal properly, you can isolate and drain just that radiator without affecting the rest of the system.
Most systems should sit at around 1 to 1.5 bar when cold, though it's worth checking your specific boiler's manual, as this can vary. If pressure won't hold at the correct level, get a registered gas engineer to check the system.
Yes, it's usually much simpler. Electric radiators typically just need unplugging and repositioning, with no pipework or draining involved, unless the new location requires an electrician to move or add a socket.
No, moving a radiator within your home is considered general home improvement work and doesn't require planning permission. If your property is listed, it's worth checking with your local authority before making any changes.
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