Radiator mistakes that could knock £37,000 off your house

Amid rises in fly tipping and people improperly removing their radiators, it could have huge repercussions on your finances.

It could help you avoid potential fines for illegal dumping, as well as prevent costly DIY mistakes that could reduce a property’s value by around £37,000.

Sam Carter, Radiator Expert at Appliances Direct, said: “It’s crucial that homeowners understand the risks of removing a radiator incorrectly.

“We’ve seen a surge of DIY renovation content on platforms like TikTok, where people attempt to drain radiators themselves - sometimes even emptying radiator oil into places like bathtubs.

“While it might look simple online, mistakes can quickly become expensive. If heating systems are damaged or left incomplete, urgent repair issues flagged during property surveys can reduce a home’s sale price by around 10%, equivalent to devaluing the average property by around £37,000, based on the average house price of £368,019.

“So if you’re planning upgrades before selling your property, it’s important to remove radiators properly and dispose of them responsibly.”

Avoid these 8 mistakes when removing and disposing of old radiators

Cracking open a hot radiator

Solution: Turn off the boiler and wait - make sure you shut down your central heating system two hours before you start.

If you open a valve while the system is hot and the water is pressurised, it will spray water everywhere, ruining your carpets and can result in serious burns. 

Removing the radiator without isolating it

Solution: Close both valves and count the turns. Turn the valves on both sides clockwise to shut off the flow to that radiator.

If one side has a plastic cap (a shield valve), count how many turns it takes to close it, as you will need that number later to rebalance your system.

Leaving open pipes in your floor

Solution: Cap the exposed valves immediately - once the radiator is off, you’ll have two open pipes sticking out.

If you don't screw on a cheap blanking nut, the pressure in your whole heating system can drop, which is a nightmare to fix when it is freezing outside.

Carrying a dripping radiator through your house

Solution: Plug the ends before you move it - old radiators contain black sludge that stains permanently.

Before you lift it off the wall, cover the open ends with rags or screw the plastic caps back on to stop that dirty water from dripping onto your beige carpets and flooring.

Trying to lift a heavy radiator alone

Solution: Always get a second person - cast-iron radiators are deceptively heavy.

Trying to carry one by yourself is a fast track to a slipped disc or dropping the unit on your hardwood floor. Save your back and your floor by asking for help.

Throwing metal in the household bin

Solution: Take it to the tip, or call a scrapper - You cannot put a radiator in your wheelie bin, your local council tip accepts them for free as a scrap of metal.

Or, you can find a local scrap yard, and they might even pay you a small amount for the weight of the metal.

Paying for a removal that can make you money

Solution: DIY the removal or call a scrap collector -  A plumber might charge you £80 per radiator to remove these, while doing it yourself saves the cash.

Even better, scrap metal collectors will often take the radiators away for free, or even sometimes pay you, because the metal is valuable to them.

Disposing of electric radiators as scrap metal

Solution: Treat them as electrical waste - if your radiator has a plug, or is oil-filled or electric, it doesn't go in the scrap metal pile.

These are classified as Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and must be taken to a designated electrical recycling point.