Temporary radiator removal

[BazzaS]

The time has come (the wife says) to redecorate our dining room. This involves removing the wallpaper from behind the radiator and painting the wall instead. I've never removed a radiator before so I'm looking for an idiots guide - I'm a reasonably competent DIY person. So what I'd like to know is how to do it (and I presume re-fitting is a reversal); whether the central heating can be on whilst the dining room radiator is off and how does the radiator get refilled when it's put back ? Is it automatic or what ?
If it helps I've a Worcester combi boiler that services both hot water and the radiators.
Thanks

 

[gas4you]

turn off valves at both ends of rad. if you have a thermostatic valve one end then take the head off and fit the decorators cap to turn it off if you have one.

At the locksheild end try to count the turns it takes to close it completely.

Once both valves closed put down plastic sheet and/or dust sheet under valve nut. Put small plastic tray under valve nut. Undo valve nut between valve and rad slowly until water runs out. When water stops open air bleed on rad to let more water drain out.

When water stops running out lift one end of rad and drop over empty plastic tray to empty last bits of water, careful here as this will probably be black and/or rusty water.

When finished draining do up air bleed, undo other end valve nut, remove rad and turn upside down to eliminate drips fron valve bodies.

Fitting is a reversal of above except that after fitting you will have to top up system pressure via combi filling loop or worcester filling link built into your boiler.

 

[BazzaS]

Thanks Dave and sorry to be thick but when you say "except that after fitting you will have to top up system pressure via combi filling loop or worcester filling link built into your boiler" is this the tap thingy on a bit of flexible pipe going into the boiler?

 

[gas4you]

Yes Fill to about 1 bar or just over cold