How to remove old paint from radiators

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Over time, paint on an old radiator can crack, swell or peel off. To restore the attractiveness of your heating radiators, you need to paint them again. However, everyone faced with this task logically asks the question - how to clean the battery of old paint? In this article, we will share with you the most simple and effective ways so that you can quickly get rid of paintwork that has lost its attractiveness.

Tools and tools

Depending on the cleaning method you choose, you need to acquire the required materials and tools:

Special aerosols that can be purchased at building and paint stores.
Personal protective equipment - rubber gloves, respirator, overalls, specialized sealed goggles.
Mechanical tools - chisels, spatulas and brushes with metal bristles, paint brush.
Active compositions for chemical removers.
Building hair dryer or blowtorch.
Sandpaper.

How to remove paint from a heating radiator

If the procedure for removing paint from cast-iron batteries is clear, and the composition can be removed completely, then it will be difficult to do this from radiators of a new sample with a powder coating. The smooth polymer surface is an obstacle to getting good adhesion of old and new paint. In this situation, only one way is possible, how to remove the paint from the battery, is to mechanically clean the surface of the device with sandpaper.
When the gloss is removed and the old coating is cleaned, the entire radiator is degreased with white spirit, nefras or a similar solvent. The subsequent steps depend on the type of paint selected. Enamels made on the basis of heat-resistant varnish or silicone can be applied directly to metal, while alkyd and acrylic compounds need a base to ensure good adhesion of the new coating to the surface.

To extend the service life of newly painted heating equipment, it is necessary to perform a high-quality primer, and the composition for this should be prepared in advance. The most popular brand is GF-021, which is intended for acrylic and alkyd paints. It is usually gray and reddish brown in color.

Good day! If you see that paint is cracked or swollen on your heating radiators, then it will need to be removed. For this, you can apply any methods.

The easiest and fastest way to remove paint that has already become obsolete from a heater is to apply chemicals. This tool can be purchased at a store selling building materials and tools. These funds are sold in the form of powders, gels and aerosols. You need to purchase this or that tool only after you know what type of paint the heating devices were painted with. This is due to the fact that a different substance is used for any type of paint.

For example, if the heating radiators were painted with oil-based paint, then it is most advisable to purchase an aerosol for removing paint. It is applied to the surface of the heater for 15-20 minutes, after which the paint is removed with a dry cloth. Where the paint has not been removed, the procedure is repeated

When removing paint with chemicals, it is especially important to follow basic safety rules. Such rules include the fact that all work is done only with gloves.

When removing paint in a chemical way, it is most advisable to ventilate the room, since such substances will have a bad effect on health.

It will also be possible to use chemical-based products that will be water-based. This method of washing consists in applying the remover to the surface of the battery with an ordinary brush. Before you apply the remover, you will need to cover the floor so that it does not hit the surface.

It will be possible to use a thermal method for removing obsolete paint from the surface of heating radiators. This method of removing obsolete paint takes into account the use of a blowtorch or a hair dryer. With these conventional devices, paint can be removed. To do this, the outdated paint layer heats up perfectly and is removed with the help of a familiar metal spatula.

If you do not have a blowtorch or a building hair dryer, but you have an angle grinder, then you can use a mechanical method of removing paint from heating devices. To do this, you will need to put a specialized wheel on the angle grinder, which will have the same surface as the sandpaper.

After that, the surface of the batteries is perfectly finished. And in order to be able to remove the paint between the sections, the batteries are best removed and disassembled section by section. After the paint-like is completely removed, you will need to apply 2 - 3 coats of paint on all parts and merge together. After all the parts are fastened together, they can be replaced in their old place.

If your money allows, then you will be able to apply a real way of removing obsolete paint from the surface of heating devices, and this method is considered to be sandblasting. This method of removing paint from you does not require expensive equipment, but it will require some ability. To remove obsolete paint in this way, you only need an air blower and a nozzle that is needed to work with sandblasting.

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Removing old paint using aerosol

If, in order to clean the battery of old paint, you have chosen a special spray in the form of an aerosol, then proceed as follows:

Spray the product evenly over the product. One aerosol is usually enough to treat both the outer and inner surfaces of the battery.
Wait about half an hour. By this time, a chemical reaction should have taken place and the paint will begin to bubble.

Important! For the full effect of the product, the ambient temperature must be at least 10 degrees C, therefore it is recommended to carry out the treatment in a well-ventilated room or in summer.

The loosened paint layer can be removed from the battery surface with a chisel, metal brush or spatula.

Important! If it was not possible to completely remove the old paint from the battery, or if it was applied in several layers, then after a while the procedure should be repeated.

How to remove paint from plastic

It is best to mechanically dispose of old paintwork in hard-to-reach places. To remove paint, you need to prepare medium-grit sandpaper and a wooden strip. The thickness of the rail, together with the sandpaper stretched on it, should allow it to pass between the transverse ribs of the radiator.

If a chemical agent is used to remove paint at home, cleaning will have to be done with a narrow spatula.

Peeling paint on radiators significantly spoils the aesthetic appearance of both the heating system itself and the entire room.In addition, when carrying out painting work, before applying new enamel to the battery, the old one must be removed without fail. Before removing paint from batteries, they must be thoroughly cleaned of dust. At the next stage, the radiators must be primed, and then, carefully, evenly apply new enamel to their surface, in an even layer.

Most people (more than 40%) use cast iron radiators as heating systems. Typically, they act as the main element of the decor in the room, highlighting the old interior and the design of the room. However, in some cases, the replacement or removal of cast iron radiators is impossible due to the characteristics of the heating system, which do not provide for its renewal.

On a note! Before performing work related to removing obsolete layers of paint from batteries, first of all, their surface must be cleaned of accumulated debris and dust. For these purposes, an ordinary damp cloth or vacuum cleaner is used. If the paint does not peel or flake off, you can use sandpaper to clean the battery.

Thermal cleaning method

You can remove old paint from the battery by exposing the radiator to high temperatures. To use this method, you may find the following tools useful:

building hair dryer or blowtorch, with the help of which the product will be heated;
metal brush with a sufficiently high rigidity;
metal spatula;
rags.

Cleaning work is recommended to be carried out in the fresh air, which is associated with the danger and toxicity of substances that are released when the paintwork is heated.

Important! If you nevertheless decide to carry out work in the apartment, then you must use a building hair dryer, which does not carry such a danger as a blowtorch. The walls in the room must first be covered with a protective layer of cardboard.

Instructions on how to remove old paint from a battery using temperature exposure are as follows:

Using your chosen equipment, heat the surface of the painted product until the coating starts to bubble.
Hot paint, without waiting for it to cool, is cleaned from the radiator with a spatula or removed with a rag.
This kind of work is carried out until the entire surface of the battery is rid of the obsolete paintwork.

Basic ways

There are many ways to remove dust from a battery. You do not need to purchase any special tools, most of the tools are generally available. Cleaning can be done with electrical appliances, improvised means, with or without chemicals.

Electrical appliances

The battery can be thoroughly cleaned with electrical appliances. It is important to take precautions.

Vacuum cleaner

You can use a vacuum cleaner for flushing. It is advisable to use a narrow nozzle, this will allow you to penetrate into hard-to-reach places. First you need to remove all dust and debris from the inside, then treat the outside. When finished, you can wipe the radiator with a damp cloth.

Hair dryer

To use a hair dryer, you must first place a towel soaked in water or any thick cloth under the radiator. Direct a jet of hot air towards the radiator. Dust will be transferred from the battery to a damp cloth. Not the most effective way: dirt can remain between the sections, get into the air or walls, floor.

Steam generator

The steam generator will perfectly cope with pollution (especially of radiators of the "accordion" type). For cleaning, you will need to direct a jet of hot steam to the radiator. Such heat treatment will not only effectively remove even old dirt, but also disinfect the surface.Under pressure, steam penetrates into narrow, hard-to-reach parts. To protect the surrounding surfaces from the effects of steam, you can cover them with a cloth or oilcloth. It is also important to know that high steam temperatures can adversely affect the coating: damage the paint.

Washing vacuum cleaner

A good alternative to a conventional vacuum cleaner. Perfectly copes even with serious dirt. Cleaning should start from the inside, and then proceed to the outside. The washing vacuum cleaner, thanks to the aquafilter, is able to prevent the spread of dust throughout the room.

Improvised means

You can qualitatively rinse the inside of the battery from dust with the help of improvised means that are in every home. The most popular remedies are presented below.

Spray

Before using a spray bottle or a country sprayer, a basin or any container where water will drain must be placed under the battery. Dissolve a few drops of any detergent in the liquid, spray the contaminated areas. Hold for a few minutes. Wipe with a clean cloth.

Brushes for painting windows

Small brushes, which will probably be able to penetrate between sections, get dirt out of hard-to-reach places. You can use a radiator paint fixture with an elongated handle and curved bristles. A regular tassel can also be lengthened with a stick and tape.

Toothbrush

The main difficulty of high-quality cleaning of heating devices is inaccessibility. The toothbrush will perfectly remove dirt in hard-to-reach conditions. You can moisten the bristles in detergent, wrap them in a cloth for a more thorough cleaning.

Boiling water

Beforehand, it is necessary to place some kind of container under the battery, for example, a baking sheet or basin, in order to avoid contamination of the surrounding surfaces. Pour water, previously brought to a boil, onto the battery from above, not forgetting about the side parts. Dusty water will enter the prepared container. Internal dirt can be cleaned in the same way.

Watering with a hose

This method will effectively remove different types of dirt. The hose is connected to the tap. It is important to adjust the pressure - the higher the pressure, the more efficient the cleaning. A large container must be placed under the radiator so that water can drain there. The method requires accuracy and care.

Foam sponge

The foam sponge will qualitatively remove dust and dirt. Detergents can be added. The sponge can be attached to a stick or brush to increase penetration into the radiator.

Chemical remover

One of the traditional and simplest ways to remove old paint from battery surfaces is with a chemical cleaner and a brush. However, this method has a rather serious drawback - sometimes it is very difficult and inconvenient to apply the active compound and remove the paint from the inner surfaces of the radiator.

Important! When choosing a chemical remover, give preference to water-based formulations, because they practically do not flow down vertical surfaces and lie fairly evenly on the surface.

The washing process itself is carried out in accordance with the following algorithm of actions:

The substance is drawn directly from the factory container onto the brush.
The composition is applied to the surface of the radiator with wide strokes.
Depending on the life of the coating and its layering, a chemical reaction takes place within 5-15 minutes.
Without waiting for the paint to dry, it must be removed from the surface with a spatula or a brush with metal bristles.
The surface of the cleaned battery is washed with soapy water at room temperature.

How do I clean old paint from a battery?

Korovin Sergey Dmitrievich
Master of Architecture, graduated from the Samara State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering. 11 years of experience in design and construction.

Before starting work on cleaning the heating radiator from paint, it is necessary to prepare the room. It is best to clean the paint before starting work on the walls, ceiling and floor, since the process of removing the old coating from the metal surface is associated with the formation of dust and dirt, which, under the influence of electromechanical tools, fly over a long distance.

If work has to be done in an already finished room, the walls and floor should be covered with sheets of cardboard and plastic wrap. When using thermal or chemical surface treatment, it is necessary to provide for the possibility of effective ventilation.

The best option for handling the battery is to dismantle it. The removed radiator is taken to the street and already there they begin to remove the old coating in any of the possible ways - the sandblasting machine is especially effective, which is able to quickly and efficiently rid the metal surface of any kind of paint.

To work at home, the master will need to prepare:

respirator;
protective glasses;
thick thread gloves (if processing is carried out by a chemical method, then you need to purchase thick rubber gloves).

Before starting work, it is recommended to disconnect the radiator from the heating system and thoroughly wash the battery, as dust and dirt will complicate the process of removing paint.

The most unpretentious in choosing a method for removing old paint are cast iron radiators. For work, you can use all types of processing.

Old enamel is removed from aluminum products with the help of special neutral washes. They are applied for 15 minutes. Then the coating is easily removed with a spatula. It is not recommended to use mechanical treatment for aluminum radiators in order to prevent scratches.

Removing the coating from bimetal requires caution, since the product consists of aluminum and steel parts. In order to prevent deterioration in appearance, it is preferable to use chemical washes, to avoid serious mechanical stress.

Chemical paint remover

All known chemical cleaners can be used to clean cast iron radiators. This is the easiest way to remove multiple layers of paint. But among the chemicals there are special means for removing nitro enamels and oil compositions, epoxy or polyurethane varieties. Their use may be ineffective for other types of paints.

Most often, there is no way to find out what exactly the battery is painted with. Therefore, it is necessary to purchase universal preparations that can dissolve several types of enamel. In the recent past, nitro paint and oil enamel were most often used for repair work. Both types are well removed by the AFT remover.

Water-based Paint & Varnish Stripper does not drip from vertical surfaces and is economical. For the treatment of a heating coil of 12 sections, approximately 1 liter of remover is sufficient. It works in 15 minutes.

To work you will need:

chemical remover for paint;
medium flat paint brush.

Before removing the old paint from the radiators, you need to cover the floor and furniture with plastic or newspapers. Safety precautions when working with chemicals provide for a person to have gloves, a respirator, and goggles. It is advisable to open a window in the room.

The wash can be applied with a paint brush, trying to evenly moisten all surfaces of the radiator with the composition. If the liquid is in an aerosol can, then it is sprayed according to the instructions. The composition works for 30-60 minutes. This causes the old paint to swell and soften.It can be removed quite easily with a spatula or knife. Cover the areas that have not been treated with a wash again.

After removing the paint, rinse the radiator with warm soapy water. It is convenient to rinse the inner surfaces of the sections using a household spray. Wipe clean battery with a cloth and dry before painting.

Mechanical cleaning

If you decide to use a mechanical method to clean old paint from the battery, be prepared for the most time consuming. However, its cost is also minimized.

Here, the basic rules are as follows:

You can remove large cracks and bubbles using a perforator on which a nozzle in the form of a hammer or spatula is put on.
For cleaning the rest of the surface, use tools such as sandpaper, files, metal brushes, etc.

Important! To achieve the desired result, you can also clean the surface with a grinder with a brush or a sander.

After the end of the procedure for mechanical cleaning of the battery from the old paintwork, it is imperative to treat the surface with a solvent, which will ensure an excellent overlay of new paint layers.

Method number 1

Before removing the paint from the pipe, scrape off the swollen layer with a brush and rinse with water, heat the layer of paint that remains on non-rusty areas with a construction hairdryer. As the temperature rises, the paint will begin to swell and will need to be removed with a brush. The cleaned surface from rust and paint must be washed off with warm soapy water, dried and painted over with an anti-corrosion compound and a new layer of paint must be applied.

Basic security measures

Since in most cases the removal of paintwork is carried out using strong chemicals, you need to worry about observing the basic measures for safe work:

Carry out cleaning work in a well-ventilated area or outdoors.
Protect the surrounding interior items from chemical splashes, especially plastic and rubber products.
Protect your hands with rubber gloves when performing work.
Use special glasses with a high level of tightness to protect the mucous membranes of the eyes from the corrosive effects of chemicals.
Wear protective clothing to prevent poisoning and remember to wear a respirator to keep your respiratory tract from irritating.

Preparatory activities

It is preferable to remove old enamel before starting repairs indoors, after preliminary preparatory work on the walls and floor.

Before starting the enamel cleaning procedure,

metal brush;
coarse sandpaper;
metal spatula;
electric drill, grinder equipped with a circle diameter of 150 mm;
vacuum cleaner;
a simple rag.

Before removing the paint and varnish surface from the product, it is recommended to stock up on goggles, rubberized gloves, and a respirator.

Chemical method of paint removal

Today in hardware stores there is a large selection of tools for removing old paint. Chemical compositions have different concentrations, but all liquids can be divided into 2 categories. The following are worth mentioning:

aerosol formulations;
liquid products.

Buy an aerosol, the easiest way to apply it to a cast iron battery. This method of application is superior to others, because the jet of solvent can easily penetrate even into hard-to-reach places. For a radiator consisting of plates, experts recommend buying a liquid remover.

If we talk about the method of cleaning, then there are few differences. First apply the remover to the radiator, then wait a quarter of an hour. As a result of using a solvent, the paint will start to lump. You can remove it with a spatula. First, the enamel is carefully removed, after which you should go through the battery with a stiff metal brush.Use a rag or old rags to remove any residue. When the process of striking the old enamel is completed, wash the radiator with soap and water.

Please note that liquid must not be poured into plastic containers. Take a brush, dip it in the solution from the factory container

If necessary, you can pour the composition into a glass container. After completion of the work, it must be sent for recycling.

There are a few things to consider when choosing a chemical method for removing old paint. It is worth listing the following points:

The formulations are caustic. Use goggles and a respirator, and protect your hands with cloth and rubber gloves.
Solvents are toxic. The room must be well ventilated when working with solvent.
The method is suitable only for those batteries that have been stained 1 or 2 times. If 10 layers are applied, then each layer will have to be removed separately. It is long and expensive. In addition, negative health effects are possible.
Flushing can damage the rubber gaskets between the 2 sections. The battery may start leaking, so do not use solvent on the joints.

Preparation for cleaning

It is better to carry out the procedure before starting the repair, when the floor and walls are prepared. From the tools you will need a metal spatula, a stiff brush and unnecessary rags. If cleaning is carried out when the repair is completely completed, you need to take care of isolating the workplace with thick film or paper so that chemical compounds, dust and jets of hot air do not harm the wallpaper and flooring.

Ideally, cleaning is carried out with the radiator removed, in the fresh air, but this is not always possible. In any case, you will need heavy cloth and rubber gloves for working with solvents, goggles and a respirator. Remedies should not be neglected regardless of which cleaning method was chosen.