Radiator pipework renewal

Signs that the system is reaching the end of its life

The service life of a water-based radiator system is often estimated at around 50–60 years, but age alone does not decide it. What matters is the actual condition of the pipes, joints and valves. In many buildings built between the 1960s and the 1980s, the system is still original, and it is worth finding out its condition before problems start to pile up.

In older systems the pipes are often steel, and corrosion can progress on both the inside and the outside of the pipe. So a pipe that looks fine on the surface does not necessarily tell the whole story. When assessing the condition, we look not only at the pipes and joints but also at how the valves work, the expansion system and the quality of the circulating water.

• leaks or damp marks at joints or valves
• the system needs topping up with water repeatedly because the pressure drops
• radiator valves are stuck or thermostats do not respond to adjustment
• some rooms stay cold despite bleeding and adjustment
• dark, sludgy water comes out when the radiators are bled

Partial or complete renewal?

Not everything always needs renewing. Radiator valves usually wear out before the pipes, and if the pipes are in good condition, replacing the valves and balancing the system can considerably improve uneven heat distribution with much less work. Replacing individual radiators is covered in more detail on the radiator installation page. If a radiator only gurgles or stays cold at the top, try bleeding it first.

If the pipes have leaks or corrosion in several places, patching them will sooner or later cost more than renewal. In that case, it is worth planning the renewal of the whole system in one go, even if the work is carried out in stages.

When renewing, it is also worth re-sizing the system. If the building has had extra insulation added or the windows have been replaced, the heat demand may have fallen, and smaller radiators may be enough. An extension, on the other hand, increases the heat demand. Plan the schedule so that the building is not left cold during the installation – this is easiest outside the heating season.

Detached house or housing company

In a detached house, you decide yourself when the system is renewed. A natural time is, for example, when changing the heating system or during a larger renovation. If the house is switching from oil to a ground-source or air-to-water heat pump, the pipework and radiators should be sized for a lower flow temperature.

New pipes are usually surface-mounted, so the structures do not need to be opened up. Copper or composite pipe, for example, is used. Soldering copper is hot work, for which the installer holds a hot work card (Tulityökortti).

In terraced and apartment housing companies (taloyhtiö), the heating system is the housing company's responsibility. The project goes through the board and the property manager (isännöitsijä), and larger repairs are usually decided by the general meeting. Normally, a condition survey is done first, after which an HVAC designer draws up the plans. For large projects, the housing company often also hires a supervisor. If your housing company is asking for quotes, Solo-putkimies can give a quote based on the plans.

Price and household tax credit

Radiator pipework renewal is always priced as a quote. The price depends on the number of radiators and metres of pipe, whether the radiators are renewed too, the installation method and any boxing-in needed, and how easy it is to reach the pipe routes. For the quote, it helps to gather a floor plan, the number of radiators and any earlier condition survey. The more accurate the starting information, the more accurately the costs can be estimated.

The owner of a detached house can claim the household tax credit (kotitalousvähennys) for the labour part. In a housing company, the heating system is the company's maintenance responsibility, so a shareholder gets no deduction for its renewal – not even when paying their share through the maintenance charge (vastike) or otherwise personally. Only extra work that the shareholder orders and pays for directly to the contractor can qualify. Read more in our household tax credit guide, and estimate the deduction with the calculator on our prices page.