Vertical radiator coming away from the wall

[tippytappy]

Hi.

We had a couple of vertical rads put in, Summer last year. One is fine. But we spotted yesterday that the other might be about to come away from the wall. We're really scared about the damage it could do given they're incredibly heavy, not to mention they could injure us given we sort our washing there.

The rad is on a stud wall the builders put in. The top screws look pretty thin given the weight. Can anyone tell me whether this is normal, or have they not installed it properly?

 

[RandomGrinch]

For the moment, can you pull out the washing machine?
Turn the radiator valve off and nudge the machine up tight; the rad shouldn't go anywhere.
They appear to have used standard plugs into plasterboard and they haven't found a stud with the fixings - not a brilliant way to support a heavy rad.

 

[Murdochcat]

They used the wrong fixings for such a heavy item.

 

[tippytappy]

@RandomGrinch @Murdochcat thank you both for confirming that. I'll do what you said and take it up with them.

 

[Murdochcat]

@RandomGrinch @Murdochcat thank you both for confirming that. I'll do what you said and take it up with them.

Do let us know what they say because using those wall plugs was a stupid thing to do. Gripit fixings are far better

 

[foxhole]

Should have used these or similar .

https://www.screwfix.com/p/easyfix-hollow-wall-anchors-8-16mm-m5-x-52mm-10-pack/12229?ref=SFAppShare

 

[tippytappy]

@foxhole thanks, that looks much more like what you'd need for such a heavy item.

 

[^woody^]

Thats going to need a timber or ply support fitted behind the plasterboard. Do not allow the plasterboard to be repaired and new wall plugs used.

 

[tippytappy]

Thats going to need a timber or ply support fitted behind the plasterboard. Do not allow the plasterboard to be repaired and new wall plugs used.

Thanks ^woody^. That's very helpful because I got the impression the builders are suggesting just using different fixings. Hopefully I'm wrong about that.

 

[johnny2007]

Thats going to need a timber or ply support fitted behind the plasterboard. Do not allow the plasterboard to be repaired and new wall plugs used.

This is what needs done.
Plasterboard will eventually give up under such load, no matter what fixings are used.

 

[johnny2007]

For the moment, can you pull out the washing machine?
Turn the radiator valve off and nudge the machine up tight; the rad shouldn't go anywhere.

And do this.
NOW!

 

[tippytappy]

This is what needs done.
Plasterboard will eventually give up under such load, no matter what fixings are used.

Oh! I had no idea. Thanks. I'll definitely not let them just do fixings then.

 

[tippytappy]

And do this.
NOW!

Definitely!

 

[baker332]

The bottom brackets will be holding all of the weight now, so be careful they're not also starting to come away from the wall. It might also be worth using some wood underneath at the same height as the brackets, just incase.

I've hung a radiator like yours into a stud wall, mine also came away therefore I moved the top brackets inward a notch each side of the rad to in order to use a 'fresh' area of the plasterboard, I then hung the rad with the following:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/GeeFix-Plasterboard-Cavity-Fixings-Anchors/dp/B0196MJM8S/ref=asc_df_B0196MJM8S/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=696285193871&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10078449029210313460&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007076&hvtargid=pla-2281435177178&psc=1&mcid=bf4b68a75b2d39e39df8ccb611562c3b&hvocijid=10078449029210313460-B0196MJM8S-&hvexpln=74&gad_source=1

It's been solid since.

 

[aveatry]

The bottom brackets will be holding all of the weight now, so be careful they're not also starting to come away from the wall. It might also be worth using some wood underneath at the same height as the brackets, just incase.

I've hung a radiator like yours into a stud wall, mine also came away therefore I moved the top brackets inward a notch each side of the rad to in order to use a 'fresh' area of the plasterboard, I then hung the rad with the following:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/GeeFix-Plasterboard-Cavity-Fixings-Anchors/dp/B0196MJM8S/ref=asc_df_B0196MJM8S/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=696285193871&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10078449029210313460&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007076&hvtargid=pla-2281435177178&psc=1&mcid=bf4b68a75b2d39e39df8ccb611562c3b&hvocijid=10078449029210313460-B0196MJM8S-&hvexpln=74&gad_source=1

It's been solid since.

I would go with this untill it can be sorted properly. put a block of wood - or a pile of books - anything under to take the weight.