How to paint a radiator: step-by-step technology for painting radiators

Over time, old batteries lose their aesthetic appearance, rust appears, cracks appear in the coating, and paint peels off.Agree, changing the radiator in this case is not the best idea. It is much easier, faster and more economical to repaint the battery. Moreover, it is quite easy to update the appearance of the heating device.

We will help you choose the appropriate enamel composition, explain how to prepare and how to paint the heating radiator correctly. We will also outline the nuances that should be taken into account when working with different types of radiators.

The proposed photo ideas will inspire you to choose an interesting solution and implement your design idea.

Requirements for paintwork

It is not always possible financially, and in many cases even technically, to install a new radiator. It is easier to refresh the outside of the heating device if it is still capable of serving. If the battery has already had to be repaired or it does not heat well, then it is better replace with a new one.

The painting process as such is not particularly difficult, but this does not mean that you can buy any composition and immediately begin restoring the attractiveness of the radiator.

The paint must be selected according to certain parameters, and the battery must be carefully prepared.If this is not done, the new coating will not last long, and you will soon have to repeat the process again.

An old cast iron battery with peeling paint looks very unaesthetic. In addition, the material of its body is subject to oxidation and rusts.

When choosing a composition, it is best to focus on options specifically designed for heating devices. But if there is no such inscription on the label, you should carefully study the instructions and find data on its heat resistance.

To obtain a high-quality, durable and beautiful coating, you must use paint that has the inscription “For radiators” on the label.

Requirements for paint coating:

• Heat resistance. The composition applied to the radiator body must withstand temperatures up to 80-90 degrees and be flawless for the time promised by the manufacturer.
• Adhesion. It is necessary that the composition has good adhesion to the surface to be painted. Did not peel off when heated and alternating heating/cooling.
• Corrosion protection. The composition must contain anti-corrosion substances so that the coating in direct contact with the body does not cause its destruction.
• Color fastness. Unconditional condition, because Radiators are painted for aesthetic purposes, among other reasons.
• Abrasion resistance. From direct contact with various furnishings, drying items, etc. the coating should not become thin.
• Safety. It is very important that the composition does not contain any components harmful to health.

good paint for radiators must meet all the requirements, and not individual points.

Varieties of compositions for coloring batteries

When painting a battery, first of all you need to pay attention to the technical component of the dye. But aesthetic characteristics also play an important role.

Advantages of acrylic dyes

Acrylic paints, which belong to the group of water-based dyes, allow you to kill two birds with one stone.Their undoubted advantage is that they do not emit harmful substances, are odorless, and are safe for humans.

They dry quickly (about 30 minutes at a temperature of 18-23 degrees), have water-repellent properties, and form a very durable coating that is resistant to mechanical stress.

The technical and aesthetic characteristics of acrylic dyes are excellent for heating appliances

And, perhaps, the most important thing is that they can withstand high temperatures perfectly, maintaining their qualities and without changing their original appearance for seven to eight years.

During this time they will not turn yellow, crack or peel. The whiteness coefficient of acrylic dye is 96%, the color is very rich and bright, and the surface looks like a plastic coating with a slight shine.

Features of alkyd compositions

Alkyd paints have high heat resistance and are also suitable for painting batteries. They are superior in strength to acrylic compounds, have anti-corrosion properties, adhere well to the surface, forming an even and beautiful coating.

However, they are not as safe as water-based paints. The solvent included in their composition causes an unpleasant odor that remains in the room for at least a day.

Paints dry quite slowly, and a specific smell can persist even after drying. Alkyd dyes can only be used in a well-ventilated area, and it is advisable to leave it completely until the smell has completely evaporated.

When working with alkyd compounds, you must take precautions and thoroughly ventilate the room.

Another significant drawback is that paints retain their color for a relatively short time and begin to turn yellow over time. If you do decide to paint the battery with alkyd paint, it is better to choose a composition that forms a glossy finish.

In this case, the period during which the radiator will remain white increases by about 20%, compared to matte and semi-matte paints.

Other types of paint for heating devices

For painting heating radiators, paints based on aluminum and silicate resins are suitable, forming a dense and elastic layer on the surface on which cracks do not appear even with temperature changes.

Silicate paints are characterized by high adhesion and do not require preliminary priming of the surface; they are designed to work at very high temperatures. Their disadvantage is a strong unpleasant odor.

Another type of paint that is worth focusing on is hammer paint, which is a type of alkyd composition. They form a rather interesting, but very specific coating. After their application, the surface is not smooth, but as if beaten with a hammer (hence the name) or with a hammered effect.

Hammer paints perfectly hide all the unevenness of a cast iron radiator - a property that is very useful for home owners with an old heating system

A significant advantage of hammer dyes is that the non-uniform texture will make various roughnesses, irregularities and other minor defects of radiators invisible.

This property is especially valuable when it comes to painting old cast iron batteries Soviet era, the rough surface of which will be completely hidden behind the original coating.

Very often, silver paint is used to paint radiators, which is a mixture of varnish and aluminum powder. It withstands high temperatures perfectly and can be applied both to the primer and to the old coating. However, the paint has a persistent odor, so the room must be well ventilated during and after its application.

Silver can be purchased ready for application. You can prepare the composition yourself by mixing two parts aluminum powder with five parts varnish

Aluminum powder is an explosive substance. The process of cooking yourself is quite risky. You should not resort to it if there are easily flammable structures in the house, and especially small children.

Preparation procedure for painting

Preparing the surface for painting is a stage no less important than the painting itself. Treat it responsibly, since all the flaws and shortcomings that you make during preparation will certainly affect the quality of the paint and the appearance of the battery. Let us immediately note that all work should begin only after the end of the heating season.

Methods for removing dust and grease

First of all, the battery must be cleaned of dirt and dust accumulated in it. This can be done dry using a vacuum cleaner or brush, and wet using water and detergents. If there are layers of grease on the radiator, wash them with regular dishwashing detergent. After this, let the battery dry and proceed to the next step.

You can clean the battery from paint with a regular metal brush, but this process will take a lot of time and effort.

Now you need to remove rust and old cracked paint from the heating device.

How to do it? There are two methods: mechanical, but it is quite long and labor-intensive, and chemical - simpler, but it has some nuances that will be described below.

Mechanical removal of old coatings

To remove paint mechanically, you will need a wire brush. Everything is simple here - take it in your hands and rub it until you get tired, and you get tired quite quickly, so it’s better to use a more productive method. An angle grinder with special attachments – a brush or a grinding wheel – will help you in your work.

You can quickly and effortlessly remove old paint using an angle grinder fitted with an attachment with a metal brush.

With this power tool you can remove old paint in a few hours. But be careful, do not work at high speeds, especially for radiators made of non-ferrous metals, since along with the paint you can damage the surface of the battery itself without being noticed.

It is not necessary to remove the paint completely. A new coating can be applied to smooth, non-cracked areas.

How to get rid of paint using chemicals?

Now let's look at the chemical method. It consists of washing off the paint with special compounds, which come in the form of a gel, paste or aerosol. When using gel or paste products, apply them to the entire surface of the battery with a natural bristle brush, and then cover with plastic wrap for best results.

The exposure time depends on the product used and can be from fifteen minutes to several hours. The exact time is indicated on the label.After the paint has softened, remove it with a spatula and remove any remaining paint with a wire brush.

Aerosol washes are easy to apply and can be used to easily treat even hard-to-reach areas of the radiator. The principle of operation is the same as that of gel compositions - after a certain time (15-40 minutes depending on the product), the paint softens and can be easily removed with a brush.

Before applying, be sure to cover surrounding furnishings, floors and walls.

Under the influence of chemicals, old paint softens and peels off. Then removing it with a spatula is not difficult.

However, chemicals are not as harmless as they seem at first glance. Firstly, they have a strong, unpleasant odor and should only be used in a well-ventilated area. It is advisable to wear a respirator and protective gloves before work.

Secondly, it is unknown how the metal will behave when interacting with an aggressive chemical composition. It may react with it, and after washing off you will find a damaged surface.

Old cast iron batteries are not afraid of modern chemicals. But here you need to be wary of something else: previously, hemp (a natural material made from flax or hemp) was used to seal radiators, but it can very easily be corroded by chemicals.

As a result, when the heating season arrives, water may splash out from all connections. Therefore, decide for yourself which method of cleaning old paintwork is best for you.

Surface priming rules

After the old paint has been removed, before you begin directly painting the radiator, you must go through a number of other procedures.To remove cracks, scratches and other minor imperfections, smooth steel or copper surfaces must be sanded. It is better to treat cast iron batteries with a wire brush.

Primer GF-021 has anti-corrosion properties and creates additional protection against rust formation

Now the radiator needs to be degreased and primed. When choosing a primer, you need to choose a product designed for metal, that has anti-corrosion properties and is compatible with paint.

For example, GF-021 primer combines well with domestic paint and varnish compositions. If an imported dye is used to paint a heating radiator, we can recommend Dulux or Sigma primer.

Heating radiator painting

Now we have reached the main stage - direct coloring. Here it is advisable to adhere to the following rule: it is better to apply two thin layers of paint than one thick one.

It is unlikely that you will be able to get an ideal surface the first time, and if you apply a thick layer of paint, the effect will be the opposite: thick and unsightly smudges will form on the battery.

A brush with a curved handle allows you to reach the most difficult to reach areas of the battery

General dyeing technology

For painting, purchase at least two brushes: one regular, the other for hard-to-reach places with a long curved handle. With its help it is convenient to apply paint to the back walls and internal surfaces of the battery. Before working, fluff the bristles so that loosely attached hairs fall out.

First, the upper parts inside the battery are painted, then the lower ones. After this, proceed to the outer surface. It is also painted from top to bottom. If you start from the bottom, drops will fall onto the painted surface.The second coat of paint is applied only after the previous one has completely dried.

How long this will take depends on the paint; this parameter is usually indicated on the label. If the first layer turns out to be uneven, then when it dries, sand the surface, removing all unevenness and smudges.

Painting the battery should start from the top to avoid getting the paint on the painted areas (click to enlarge)

The nuances of painting aluminum radiators

All previous tips related to painting cast iron, copper and steel batteries. How to paint an aluminum heating radiator? But first, it’s better to answer the question: is it worth doing this at all?

Modern aluminum appliances are painted in the factory at a professional level with special powder paint. Home painting will not be able to provide a high-quality smooth finish.

In addition, if the radiator is still under warranty, then after painting at home, the manufacturer’s warranty obligations are terminated.

But most likely, it will hardly occur to anyone to paint a new radiator. If the device was damaged as a result of transportation or installation, chips and cracks appeared on it, which greatly spoil the appearance, you can use auto enamel.

It should be taken into account that car enamel paints most effectively and dries quickly only on hot batteries. Drying time at 130°C is 20 minutes, and at 20°C – up to two days. You need to work in a respirator and with open windows; you should spray at a distance of 20-30 cm from the surface. Do not keep the stream in one place for a long time, otherwise smudges will appear.

You can also remove chips and dents from an aluminum radiator using automotive putty. Pre-degrease the surface and treat it with a primer. Then apply the putty of the desired shade with a brush.

If you decide to completely repaint the battery, then it is not necessary to remove the old paint. Degrease and prime the surface and apply two layers of alkyd or water-based paint using a spray gun.

An alternative heating radiator decor option - installation decorative screen.

Interesting Coloring Ideas

The white radiator is a classic that we have become accustomed to since Soviet times, when almost all houses were equipped with the same type of cast-iron radiators.

The color of the heating device, if it affects heat transfer, is only to a very small extent, so nothing prevents you from painting the radiator in accordance with the interior of the room.

The battery can be made almost invisible if you paint it the same color as the walls

Today you can find many interesting design solutions where the radiator is one of the decorating elements that harmoniously fits into the surrounding space.

On the contrary, you can build a composition using contrast, and make the battery an accent that attracts attention, painting it in a bright rich color.

The red battery against the background of a light interior looks unusual and very impressive

Today it is very fashionable to paint objects using the ombre technique. Its essence lies in the fact that the first sections of the battery are painted in pale, subtle shades, all subsequent ones are a tone or two darker, and for the last sections very bright saturated colors are used.

A battery painted using the ombre technique will be an excellent decoration for any interior.

The most creative design ideas can be implemented in a children's room.

You can decorate the radiator sections in different rich colors, paint the battery with interesting designs, turn it into a zebra or a set of colored pencils

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

To make it easy for you to figure out how to paint a battery, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with video materials on this topic.

The process of removing old paint from a cast iron battery is very well presented in this video:

You will learn how to properly paint a heating radiator if you watch the video:

You can get original ideas for creative painting of cast iron radiators from the following video:

To paint a battery, you do not need to have any special skills. And although in this, as in any other job, there are certain difficulties, they are quite simple to learn. By following the painting technology and knowing all the nuances of the work, you will be guaranteed an excellent result.

Do you have practical skills in painting batteries? Perhaps you have encountered any difficulties while working or want to ask a question? Please leave comments on the publication. The feedback form is below.