Drayton TRV4 Broken Head

[rribumbee]

Anyone know the reason for the valve snapping off? I turned on the radiator for the whole night and realized in the morning that it was broken. Is there a leakage or something else? I'm new to this. Thanks in advance.

 

[terryplumb]

Are you built like Arnold Swazzeneger ? If not the plastic has probably become brittle with age. Picture of the valve would be helpful to determine.

 

[oldbuffer]

1. I'm seeing more and more of these TRV4's where the rotating head part has separated from the body.
2. The two parts are held together by 4 small indents in the metal of the head which clip into the black plastic body of the valve.
3. It appears to me this is a very weak holding system.
4. TRV4's used to be my favourite TRV on looks and functionality. Not any more.

 

[Gwyndy]

Anyone know the reason for the valve snapping off? I turned on the radiator for the whole night and realized in the morning that it was broken. Is there a leakage or something else? I'm new to this. Thanks in advance.

The plastic becomes brittle with age and eventually breaks. I have only had a couple of these fail in over 20 years. Repalcement heads are around £18 ea from Screwfix. Check that the pin on the valve body is moving freely before you fit the new head.

 

[oldbuffer]

The ones I'm seeing are not the plastic breaking, its the sleeve you rotate (looks like plated mild steel) separating from the rest of the body. These are the chrome / white plastic versions.