VIDEO - How to connect cast iron radiators together

The radiators featured in this video are from our cast iron radiator range.

In this latest video, James the plumber takes a look at the process of joining cast iron radiators radiators. This is a useful task to know how to do yourself because any radiators over 1200mm in length will be delivered in two parts.

The reason particularly long cast iron radiators are delivered in two parts is for delivery reasons. We don't want them overhanging the wooden pallet as this would make them more suceptible to damage when in transit. Additionally cast iron is a heavy matieral, so having the radiator in smaller parts makes them more manageable to move and install.

You will need a joining tool to assemble the radiator and we will contact you to let you know if you have ordered a large rad that needs assembling. James takes a look inside the rad and explains that you’ll find a small nipple between each section and that is the important component that joins the sections of the radiator together.

It’s actually quite easy to work on a specific section of the radiator without having to take the radiator apart piece by piece to fix it if you use a connecting tool, as James demonstrates in the video.

Zooming in for a close up, James shows us how the joint has two separate threads that go towards each other and meet in the middle. This special thread allows for the parts of the radiator we want to bring together to meet up exactly by turning everything in the same direction.

James goes step by step through the process of joining a radiator together, ensuring that the rubber washers are sitting at the middle of the joint where everything should meet. You can then give the nipples a little twist with your hands to make sure the two sections are locked in before finishing the process with the joining tool.

James does give an important word of warning when using the joining tool and that is not to tighten up one side straight away as it can pull the upper and lower joints out of line, making it impossible to fully tighten up the radiator.

You can use a torque wrench set to 200 Newton meters to tighten the joints, or if you don't have one of those (which most people don't), just give it a firm nip up. However, they don't need to be too tight as the rubber seal will make a great waterproof seal in every section one is placed.