Cost to Move a Radiator

Trying to find out how much it costs to move a radiator?

In this price guide, we look at the average costs for moving a radiator, including labour costs and any additional costs that might be incurred.

An average price to take a radiator off the wall and reposition it is usually around £275 for gas central heating, but electric radiators usually only cost around £130 to relocate.

Moving a radiator along the same wall is usually cheaper and easier than moving it to another wall because less pipework or wiring is needed.

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How Much Does It Cost to Move a Radiator?

The cost of moving a radiator depends largely on whether you have a central heating radiator connected to your boiler, or an electric radiator connected to your electrical supply.

Moving a central heating radiator usually costs around £150 to £400, because the system needs to be drained and pipework may need to be extended or rerouted. This type of radiator relocation requires a plumber.

Moving an electric radiator is usually cheaper, costing around £80 to £180, as there is no pipework involved and the work is often limited to repositioning wiring or moving the electrical connection. For this type of work, you'll hire an electrician rather than a plumber.

The ease of relocation plays a big part in the final cost. If pipework needs to pass through flooring, plaster, skirting or brickwork, the cost of moving a central heating radiator will increase.

Moving a Radiator Prices

Additional Costs of Moving a Radiator

When moving a radiator to a new location in the room, there may be some other costs that you need to think about:

• Thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) cost - £8 to £33
• Pipework cost - £350 to £700 if access is difficult, flooring is concrete, or long runs of pipework are needed
• Redecorating - £100 to £150 to hire a painter to re-paint the wall the radiator was removed from and £20 to £80 for filling old bracket holes/repairing the wall
• Flooring repairs - £50 to £150 to make the flooring around the old radiator good and replace floorboards

Labour Cost to Move a Radiator & Timescales

The labour cost of moving a radiator usually falls somewhere between £80 and £120 for a straightforward job, although central heating radiator moves can cost more if extra pipework is needed.

For central heating radiators, plumbers usually charge £40 to £60 per hour, while electricians moving electric radiators typically charge a similar hourly rate depending on the complexity of the wiring.

Those based in London can expect to pay around £20 to £40 more per hour for labour than those based elsewhere in the UK.

The cost can vary depending on the size of the radiator, the difficulty of the job, and the location of your property.

If the radiator is particularly large, or if the new position requires difficult pipework or electrical alterations, labour costs will usually increase because the work takes longer.

If the job is more complex or requires extra work such as lifting flooring, chasing walls, or extending wiring, the work may take longer.

Once a central heating radiator has been moved and the system refilled, the radiator will usually need to be bled to remove trapped air. In most cases, this is included in the labour cost rather than charged as a separate job.

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Factors That Impact the Cost of Moving a Radiator

There are several factors that can affect the cost of moving a radiator. The main price differences usually come down to labour time, access, and whether extra pipework or wiring is needed.

Number of Radiators

More radiators mean more labour time.

The more radiators that need to be moved, the longer the overall job will take.

Plumbers in the UK usually charge around £40 to £60 per hour, rising to £60 to £80 per hour in London, so moving multiple radiators can quickly increase labour costs.

Size of Radiator

Larger radiators are heavier and take longer to reposition.

This can increase labour time, especially if extra support or assistance is needed during installation.

Type of Radiator

Some radiator types are more difficult to move than others.

For example, cast iron radiators are much heavier than standard panel radiators, so they often take longer to remove and refit.

Electric radiators can sometimes be cheaper to move because there is no pipework involved, although hardwired models may still need electrical work.

Distance Moved

Moving a radiator along the same wall is usually cheaper than moving it to another wall.

This is because shorter moves often require less pipework or wiring, while moving to a different wall may involve lifting flooring, chasing walls, or extending services.

Wall Type

Stud walls may need extra fixings or supports.

If the radiator is being installed onto a stud wall rather than solid masonry, additional brackets or strengthening may be needed to support the weight safely.

Flooring Type

Floor access can make a big difference to the total cost.

If pipework runs under suspended timber flooring, floorboards can usually be lifted to extend or reroute pipes more easily.

Concrete floors are more expensive because pipework may need to be surface-run, boxed in, or chased into the wall instead.

If flooring needs lifting, trimming, or making good afterwards, this can add extra labour and repair costs.

Extra Plumbing Work

Pipework changes increase both labour and material costs.

If new pipe runs are needed, especially through floors or solid walls, the overall cost will rise.

Location of Property

Labour costs are higher in London and the South East.

Those based in London can expect to pay around £20 to £40 more per hour than those in many other parts of the UK.

Existing or New Radiator

Reusing an existing radiator is usually much cheaper than replacing it.

Buying a new radiator increases supply costs and may also affect installation time if the size or fittings differ.

What's Involved in Moving a Radiator?

You should always hire a plumber, electrician or heating engineer if you're planning on moving a radiator in your home.

Here are the steps your contractor is likely to take when moving a central heating radiator:

• Plan and measure the radiator - Your contractor will start by measuring the existing radiator to ensure it’s going to fit in the new location, making sure there's room for the necessary pipework.
• Drain the system - Your boiler will be turned off, and the system will be drained.
• Cap the pipework - The original radiator pipes will then be cut, rerouted, and capped.
• Move and install the radiator - The radiator will then be mounted, checking that the pipes are fitted correctly before refilling the system.
• Refill and test - The system will then be refilled, the radiators bled to remove air, and the boiler will be switched on to check correct operation.

The process for moving an electric radiator is usually simpler, with less labour involved:

• Check the electrical supply - The electrician confirms whether the existing connection can be reused or extended.
• Isolate the power - The electrical supply is switched off before any work begins.
• Move the radiator - The radiator is removed and mounted in the new position.
• Reconnect and test - The wiring is connected safely and the radiator is tested.

Where Can I Move a Radiator To?

You can usually move your radiator to any internal wall in the room where there is no electrical or plumbing work in the way behind the wall.

You also need to ensure that the wall you want to move your radiator to is big enough to house your existing radiator.

It’s always best to thoroughly measure each aspect, so you can be certain the radiator is going to fit into its new position in your home.

You should also check where your water pipes are located. The further away your radiator is from the existing pipework, the more it is going to cost, as it will take longer to reposition the radiator.

Adding new pipework is a time-consuming task, so you should be aware of this beforehand.

Can I Move a Radiator Myself?

Unless you feel that you are fully competent to do so and that you have the required plumbing knowledge needed to move a radiator, it’s always best to leave it to the professionals.

If you attempt to move your radiator yourself without the basic knowledge needed to do so, you could cause damage to your heating system that may result in some hefty costs down the line.

You may also cause leaks within your system, which could cost a lot to fix or could even cause damage to other parts of your property.

Electric radiators are often simpler to move because there is no pipework involved, but hardwired models still need to be safely isolated and reconnected. If any wiring changes are required, the work should be carried out by a qualified electrician.

If you are only removing a radiator temporarily for decorating or plastering and refitting it in the same place, the job is usually easier than moving it to a new wall, but care is still needed to avoid leaks or damage.

Building Regulations for Moving Radiators

In most cases, you do not need Building Regulations approval in order to move an existing radiator to a new position.

However, Building Regulations may apply if you complete any of the following as part of the job:

• Installing a new or replacement heating system or boiler.
• Installing an additional radiator to your existing heating system.

If you're unsure whether you need approval for your job, it's best to seek advice from a professional before going ahead with the work.

Checklist: Finding a Tradesperson to Move a Radiator in the UK

When you are looking to hire a plumber to move your radiator for you, there are a few things that you need to consider first.

Below is what you should consider when trying to find the right contractor for the job:

• Be sure to obtain at least 3 quotes from various contractors with costs to move a radiator to compare prices.
• Ask for a breakdown of costs on the quote so that you know you’re getting a good price for each different element of the job.
• Take a look at the contractor's testimonials for their previous work - are past customers happy?
• How much experience does the contractor have in moving radiators?
• Make sure you ask if the contractor offers any guarantees on their work.

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