C/H Radiator - plastic inserts for brackets?

[Peter Hemmings]

Hi,

I have an old long (3m) radiator that creaks as it is heating up.

I have found that most/all new radiators have a plastic insert that allows expansion without the noise!

Does anyone sell these separately, or doe anyone got another solution to my problem?

Thanks

[Grunff]

I've never seen them for sale anywhere. When I've lost inserts in the past, I've replaced them with rubber grommets, cut in half and pushed into the U on the bracket.

[TheScullster]

"Peter Hemmings" wrote

If the radiator is Stelrad or similar mounting, try contacting Stelrad customer service. I called them and was told that they are not an item sold separately. So I asked them to send me some anyway and they did FOC

Phil

[John Laird]

Gawd, I wish the installer who worked on the system in my new house hadn't decided not to bother with these. Every single radiator bangs when you brush past them. (At least they don't make a noise when heating up or cooling down.) I'd lift them and add grommets as you suggest, but as said installer was also a big fan of plastic pipe, mostly fitted without elbows, I'm loathe to start straining any of the pipework in case there's no give. (Some of the "tails" are bent through extreme angles - yuk.)

[Andrew Gabriel]

I wonder if grommets last longer? Most of the plastic inserts on mine have split under the weight of the radiator. Only one (bathroom) makes any expansion noises though.

[Grunff]

The oldest ones I put in are at my parents house, and have been in for over 10 years. AFAIK they're still in place. Neoprene in pretty tough stuff, so as long as you have neoprene grommets...

Another option, if you were buying especially, is neoprene cutout edging strip, available from RS and the like. Should be even easier to use than the grommets.

[Peter Hemmings]

Thanks for all the information, I must say I did think the grommets would get cut quickly, but I will give it a try.