TRYING TO REMOVE A RADIATOR-CAN'T STOP THE FLOW THOUGH!!

[stevehayes]

when i try to drain one of my upstairs radiators to remove it and flush it through i have a problem! I turn off the lockshield valve fine but when I turn my thermostat valve down to the lowest (frost protection i think) it won't stop the water flowing through. it is about 18-20 years old, so will I need to drain my primary radiator circuit before I can remove it? Are all TRV's like this or is mine just an older type?? Thanks for your help !!

 

[JohnD]

you could use a pair of rubber bungs in the F&E

buy a new valve before you start as it sounds like the old one needs replacing.

turn off the other end before you remove anything.

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[D_Hailsham]

when i try to drain one of my upstairs radiators to remove it and flush it through i have a problem! I turn off the lockshield valve fine but when I turn my thermostat valve down to the lowest (frost protection i think) it won't stop the water flowing through. it is about 18-20 years old, so will I need to drain my primary radiator circuit before I can remove it? Are all TRV's like this or is mine just an older type?? Thanks for your help !!

If the lowest position is frost protection (usually indicated by *) the rad will not shut off completely. All TRVs are sold with a "decorator's cap", which is like a plastic bottle top, which can be screwed on to the valve in place of the TRV head; this will shut the valve completely. But I don't expect you still have one after 18-20 years

So the answer is to cheat

Remove the TRV head, insert a coin or similar (bluetack may be useful), then replace the head and close down until it stops. This may be higher than the frost position, depending on how thick the coin is.

 

[stevehayes]

when i take the top of the trv (it's a drayton make btw)!, underneath all i see is a very small skinny spindle, which i don't think could stop the flow of water intot he radiator at all (no way)!! maybe i will need to drain down my whole system to remove the radiator (how long will this take-10 mins)?????

 

[JohnD]

that is the operating pin you are looking at.

when pressed staight down, hard, it operates a piston that shuts the valve. don't push it sideways or it will break.

I expect Mr. H is correct.

I already suggested you to use bungs instead of draining down.

 

[stevehayes]

thanks all for your help.

one last point though!-how will shutting off my f&e cistern help? maybe i'm sounding stupid! but the water is already in the primary circuit so stopping the supply will not drain the water from the pipes that are leading up to my radiator????!!

 

[JohnD]

it stops the water lcoming out of the pipes when you remove the old valve.

you will have to let the rad drain into a basin by slackening the rad nut.

 

[D_Hailsham]

thanks all for your help.

one last point though!-how will shutting off my f&e cistern help? maybe i'm sounding stupid! but the water is already in the primary circuit so stopping the supply will not drain the water from the pipes that are leading up to my radiator????!!

Have a read of How Bung Kits Work

 

[Breesey]

Or remove the TRV head and put a penny inside it before replacing it and screwing it down tight, thereby increasing the amount that the control pin is pushed in and so shutting the valve completely. Done it, it works.