Radiator Upgrade in Newcastle-under-Lyme

The Brief

A three-bedroom semi in Newcastle-under-Lyme had radiators that had been in for decades. They were slow to warm up, cold at the top, and visibly tired. The bedroom radiators in particular weren't keeping rooms warm during cold snaps. The owners wanted the whole house upgraded in one go so the heating felt new and worked properly.

What We Did

The job in summary:

• Pre-job survey: Measured every room, calculated heat output requirements, and recommended a mix of standard convector panels for bedrooms and a low-profile design rad for the lounge.
• Drained and isolated: Drained the system in stages so the household had heat for as long as possible while we worked. No long water-off periods.
• Swapped 8 radiators: Removed the old radiators carefully (no drag-marks on carpet, no dripping), fitted new ones to neat brackets, and replaced the valves on every rad with thermostatic valves so each room can be set independently.
• Pipework adjustments: A couple of rads needed small pipe extensions to suit modern bracket spacing. Done neatly, painted to match, no chasing of walls.
• Refill, bleed, balance: Refilled the system, bled every radiator, then balanced the flow rates with lockshield valves so every rad heats at the same pace. No more "cold lounge, boiling kitchen".
• Took the old rads away: Loaded the old radiators into the van and disposed of them responsibly. Household didn't have to lift a finger.

The Result

A house that warms up evenly in half the time. The new TRVs mean the spare bedroom isn't heated at the same level as the lounge, which alone will pay back a chunk of the install through gas savings. The owners said the upstairs bedrooms reached a comfortable temperature for the first time in years.

Job Duration: Three days for the whole install, balance, and final test.

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