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How to adjust radiator height without?

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Mixmaker

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Hello everyone! Its a bit tricky question, but i will give it a try. I came across the problem where one side of radiator lower by 10mm, while using spirit level it looks fine. When i look visually, i can see that one side a bit lower than another one(i used tape measure to check aswell). Question is: How often does this happen on the job? and is it normal to leave it like that? Is there a way to level it without removing radiator as brackets hanging on adjustable holes.

P.s I have attached pictures of spirit level. Level sits on top of radiator..
 

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Hello Mixmaker,

Radiators must almost always be installed level using a spirit level not only because that is the correct way for appearance purposes but also so that there cannot be air trapped in a corner / section at the top of the radiator which is higher than the radiator air vent - unless for the reasons that I describe below where the radiator is installed out of level for a good reason with the air vent at the highest end.

In extreme situations where a floor or perhaps a window sill is so far out of level that fitting the radiator level actually makes it look like an eyesore Heating Engineers / Heating Installers would try to make the radiator look better by perhaps visually positioning it between the floor and window sill ensuring that the highest end has the radiator air vent fitted so that the radiator can be successfully vented.

Have You just noticed that there is a 10mm out of level measurement and want to know whether that is acceptable or has the installer tried to line up the radiator with an out of level window sill or an out of level floor ?

From your photos the spirit level bubble does not look too far out of level although there seems to be a slight difference between the 2 photos - also obviously 10mm out of level along a long radiator would be less evident than it would on a short radiator - how long is your radiator ?

There is not really a correct / DIY way to level the radiator without taking it off the brackets and levelling them up / securing them so that the weight of the radiator does not cause the brackets to slide down if the slots have been used instead of the screw holes to fix them.

Radiator brackets moving down when they are fixed only using the bracket slots is something that often happens especially when large / long heavy radiators are installed.

Chris
 
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I use a spirit, ( sometimes Laser ) when hanging radiators, as a starting point.

More often than not the radiator looks out of level with the floor, skirting boards, window sill, or walls close by.

I often adjust radiators to make them look level with other items that aren't level.
 
I was taught to use a level or plumb line as the reference for everything attached to a building: shelves, radiators, light switches, etc. Also, never use a spirit level without 'proving' it, i.e. lay it in one direction then spin it though 180° and check the deviation is the same.
 
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If I install a rad under a window, I first put the level on the sill.

Then right off the bat, I fix the brackets to match the sill.

99 out of 100, it’s job done.
 
CHRISX said:
perhaps a window sill is so far out of level that fitting the radiator level actually makes it look like an eyesore
Click to expand...
There is no windows sill, radiator installed on the wall without windows.

CHRISX said:
want to know whether that is acceptable or has the installer tried to line up the radiator with an out of level window sill or an out of level floor ?
Click to expand...
Both to be honest if its acceptable or its just moved because radiator is heavy.

CHRISX said:
10mm out of level along a long radiator would be less evident than it would on a short radiator - how long is your radiator ?
Click to expand...
900mm thats the length of radiator. And photos of spirit level are taken from both side of radiator( one from left side and one from the right side).

CHRISX said:
Radiator brackets moving down when they are fixed only using the bracket slots
Click to expand...
What are those slots are used for then?

Whats the the correct way to level radiator? level the brackets before hanging radiator or adjust level when its already on brackets?
 
Measure from bottom of welded lugs to top of radiator - to be honest they are usually spot on - if they are good then level brackets will produce a level radiator.

Fix one bracket in position using the holes, then it won’t move, fit the other one using the slots so it can be adjusted to match the first one perfectly- when it does secure it finally with a screw in a hole so it can’t drop.

As others have said it is sometimes better to be not actually level, but rather - “in tune with the surroundings”
 
Mixmaker said:
There is no windows sill, radiator installed on the wall without windows.


Both to be honest if its acceptable or its just moved because radiator is heavy.


900mm thats the length of radiator. And photos of spirit level are taken from both side of radiator( one from left side and one from the right side).


What are those slots are used for then?

Whats the the correct way to level radiator? level the brackets before hanging radiator or adjust level when its already on brackets?
Click to expand...

Hello again Mixmaker,

I hope that I am understanding your question about whether it was acceptable for someone to have hung the radiator that you are asking about 10mm out of level ?

The answer is NO unless as I and other Members previously described it was to overcome the radiator looking really bad compared to other surfaces / lines that would normally be supposed to be level - such as Floors or Window sills etc. but which are not level.

As we described sometimes Heating Engineers / Heating Installers will hang a radiator out of level to make it less visually unacceptable related to the visual datum's above and below it - that is often what the customer wants - not a radiator that looks so far out of level that it is an eyesore / a constant irritant to the customer.

Member Ben-gee has described the best way to hang a radiator - the brackets should be levelled up correctly before hanging the radiator.

The hanging lugs on the back of the radiator are almost always precisely welded onto the radiator so there should be no reason why they should throw the radiator out of level when it is hung onto the brackets.

The radiator bracket SLOTS are so that the second or sometimes third bracket can be temporarily fixed using one screw in the lower slot and then the bracket adjusted to level up with the first permanently fixed bracket before then completing the fixings by using the screw hole at the top of those other brackets so that the weight of a radiator cannot push the bracket downwards.

When a radiator is fixed to the wall as described by Member Ben-gee [and me above] it would be level with no further adjustment needed and because the radiator bracket top screw holes have been used the radiator brackets cannot slide down at all even with very heavy radiators.

Chris
 
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Just a thought....has the rad got a top cover? Is that cover bent...causing it to look out of level?

Can you put level on bottom edge of rad to check?
 

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