Free Radiator Collection and Removal
New heating system, a bathroom refit, or switching to a heat pump? Old radiators are solid metal, so local scrap collectors will usually take them for free, whether it’s one towel rail or a whole house of cast iron. Tell us what you’ve got, and a licensed collector near you will pick them up.
Its heating days are done. Its metal isn’t.
Which radiator have you got?
They can all be collected. Knowing the type helps the collector bring the right van.
Steel panel
The flat, modern radiator in most UK homes.
🧲 Magnet sticksCast iron
Chunky columns, often in older or period homes. Very heavy.
🧲 Magnet sticksAluminium
Lightweight and quick to heat up. Often in newer homes.
🧲 Magnet won’t stickTowel rails
Ladder-style rails from bathrooms, chrome or painted.
🧲 Depends on the metalSteel column
Modern tall or column designs in painted steel.
🧲 Magnet sticksConvector
Panels with fins behind them for extra heat.
🧲 Magnet sticksNot sure what it’s made of? Grab a magnet.
It sticks
It’s steel or cast iron. Cast iron is the very heavy one with chunky columns, so mention it on the form.
It doesn’t stick
It’s probably aluminium. It’s lighter, and still worth collecting.
Getting radiators ready
Old radiators hold dirty black water that stains everything it touches. A plumber can do this for you.
Heating off
Turn the heating off and let the radiators cool down.
Drained
Drain the water out, with towels and a tray ready.
Disconnected
Take them off the wall and cap the pipes.
Easy to reach
Lay them on the driveway or front garden, flat side down.
Clearing a lot of radiators?
Heat pump switch
Heat pump installs often come with new radiators. The old ones can be collected in one go.
Renovations
Stripping out a whole house? Collectors can take radiators along with pipework and other metal.
Heating engineers
Clear radiators from your jobs, and do your waste transfer notes on your phone. See digital waste tracking 2027.
Add these while you’re at it
Frequently asked questions
Is radiator collection really free?
Yes, in most cases. Radiators are made of steel, cast iron or aluminium, so local scrap collectors will usually take them for free. A collector covering your postcode picks them up from your home.
Do you take old cast iron radiators?
Yes. Cast iron radiators are very heavy, so a collector with a van makes life much easier. If yours are ornate and in good condition, a reclamation yard might pay for them, so it’s worth checking first.
Do radiators need to be drained before collection?
Yes. Old radiators hold dirty black water that can stain floors, carpets and vans. Make sure they’re drained and disconnected, by you or a plumber, before collection.
How do I tell what my radiator is made of?
Try a fridge magnet. If it sticks, the radiator is steel or cast iron. If it doesn’t, it’s probably aluminium. Cast iron is also much heavier and usually has chunky columns.
Do you take towel rails and pipework too?
Yes. Towel rails, copper pipe, brass valves and other heating metal can all go in the same collection.
How many radiators can you collect?
From a single radiator to a whole house of them after a heating upgrade. Tell us roughly how many on the request form so the collector can bring the right van.
I’m a heating engineer. Can you clear radiators from my jobs?
Yes. Installers can request collections for radiators, boilers and cylinders. Scrap4Free also has digital waste transfer notes for tradespeople, ready for digital waste tracking.
Are the collectors licensed?
Collectors on Scrap4Free must hold a valid waste carrier registration, which we check against the public register. Scrap metal collectors also need a licence from their local council, and by law scrap metal can’t be paid for in cash in England, Wales or Scotland.
Old radiators to get rid of?
Tell us what you need collected. It takes less than 2 minutes.
Request a Collection