This is plasterboard or something with a void about an inch back
This is the wall plug
The hole here is actually so big that the wall plug would fall through into the void if I put it back
I can't move the radiator up or down or left or right because it is fixed and even if I knew how to disconnect it I wouldn't want to spill black water everywhere and ruin the carpet, so I am thinking I should use the same holes but get a bigger plug
What about the plastic ones for plasterboard that sort of butterfly out when you fix them in?
I'd suggest looking at hollow wall anchors (also called umbrellas fixings) which are similar in design to the ones you're describing but heavier duty (steel) and designed to hold the weight of a radiator, though they can be difficult to use if you're just using a screwdriver (in my limited experience.) Also a new product called Gripit which I have no experience with but apparently are designed for this sort of thing. Seems quite a bit easier to use.
I’m a big fan of this style of hollow wall anchor: https://toggler.com/products/snaptoggle-heavy-duty-toggle-bolts-zinc-plated-carbon-steel-channels Like the butterfly you describe, but the non-structural plastic bit keeps it in the wall while you get a bolt into it. The steel toggle is stronger than the folding type.
Even with the larger anchor however, there’s some chance that the wallboard is damaged, either as a result of the anchor failure, or as a cause of it. If it doesn’t feel sound, I like dem bosain’s idea of fastening a 1x4 to studs, then mounting the radiator the 1x4. What do you call those outside of burgerland? 20x95?
What's the back of the radiator look like? I would try to get that thing in a stud if possible. That's a drywall anchor there that fell out which means there are studs nearby.
Yeah I get you, there is literally nothing behind that wall there though, I will check with a stud finder but I think maybe the people who installed it just didn't know better
I think you are right there's no stud where the hole is, but the drywall itself has to be anchored to something. Depending on how the radiator is hung up you might be able to move the anchor or drill a new hole if it's like a plate running lengthwise
Oh thanks I will double check, I've got very little wiggle room in terms of moving it about but will try
How much room do you have between the wall and the radiator? If you can't move this to attach directly to a stud, I would mount something on the wall horizontally that does attach to the studs, and then attach the radiator to the horizontal. Something thin like a 1x4, painted to blend into the wallpaper so it's not very noticeable.
I can't move the radiator up or down or left or right because it is fixed and even if I knew how to disconnect it I wouldn't want to spill black water everywhere and ruin the carpet, so I am thinking I should use the same holes but get a bigger plug
How are you planning to get the new plug in, and screw into it? There's not a lot of room behind a radiator.
I'm in a similar situation, but my radiator isn't hooked onto the bracket. There's not enough give in the pipe to lift it back on (it turns out that I hired a bad plumber over a decade ago, but that's another story).
I've had a plumber to have a look, and he's said that the system is going to have to be drained and the pipe cut, to make enough room to lift the radiator onto the bracket. I would imagine that you'd need more room to get a screwdriver in and reattach the bracket, or lift the radiator onto the screw.
I hope I'm wrong, but that looks like it could be a bigger job than you'd expect.
Well I can move it about just one end is fixed so if I drilled new holes I would be extremely limited for where if the drill would even fit and it might be wonky from one side
Should be plenty of room for me to fit a plug though so wish me luck, on my way back from the hardware store now
Good luck, I hope it works :)
P.S. I've just remembered that you can get a socket screwdriver that works like a spanner / wrench. It has a handle like a wrench, but the end is turned 90 degrees, and holds a screwdriver bit. It's ratcheted, so will fit into a narrow space and still work. It could work for both our situations :)
Oh that would help
So I just put a wall plug in for now, could only reach to do the two at the top and the depth was a bit too long so not ideal (need to do it again with a shorter one) but at least it is done and I can forget about it for now
This is the type of screwdriver:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/383465817336
Apologies for the eBay link, but I can't post pictures to a reply. There are cheaper examples on Amazon, but then you have to deal with Amazon 🤷🏻♂️
