Balancing radiator, valve keeps spinning

[scoutfamily]

I have been balancing the radiators throughout the house with the expectation of this and another with the same valve. The pin moves up and down when pressed but when using pliers it just spins without closing to cool the radiator or come to a stop. I have tried pushing down whilst turning but that's not made any difference.

I have a radiator in the extension that has gone from cold to warm whilst balancing the other radiators, so hoping that turning these down will help it get hotter.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

The pin moves up and down when pressed but when using pliers it just spins without closing to cool the radiator or come to a stop.

That is what it is supposed to do. To turn it off, it needs to be pushed in against the spring pressure, which the thermostatic head does, when it reaches the set temperature.

 

[scoutfamily]

I want to turn this radiator down as its very hot and the needle keeps turning

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

I couldn't explain any better than Harry already has above. Don't turn the needle, turn the cap, which pushes the needle down.

 

[scoutfamily]

It's just a cap/cover on this side. The other side is the thermostat valve which does adjust the heat but easy for kids to play with them. On the other rads I gave adjusted this side to balance them

 

[terryplumb]

The cap / cover just screws onto the valve doesn't it ?
If it does ,screwing it down fully should close the valve as the cap pushes the pin down to its closed position. Backing it off ,unscrewing , partially is what you are trying to achieve.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

It's a thermostatic type of valve with a manual handle instead of a thermostatic valve. Fairly normal, but unlike the others that you have elsewhere, which are adjusted internally as you're attempting here.

First of all, remove all the metal shrapnel from your pliers!

Turn the outer top fully clockwise for off, then turn it anti-clockwise to allow flow.

There isn't a childproof option other than changing the valves completely.

 

[scoutfamily]

This cap is nothing more than a decorative cover, no matter how loose or tight it is, it makes no difference to the heat of the radiator.
The cap is domed and having checked the height of it, will not come into contact with the pin

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

It's just a cap/cover on this side. The other side is the thermostat valve which does adjust the heat but easy for kids to play with them. On the other rads I gave adjusted this side to balance them

Upload a photo of the other valve, which you suggest is a thermostatic one, please.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

This cap is nothing more than a decorative cover, no matter how loose or tight it is, it makes no difference to the heat of the radiator.
The cap is domed and having checked the height of it, will not come into contact with the pin

Fit a few 2p pieces on top of the pin, before screwing the cover on.

 

[scoutfamily]

This is the other side, this will close the water off and stop the rad heating up

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

This is the other side, this will close the water off and stop the rad heating up

OK - I cannot think of any good reason for there to be a thermostatic valve at both ends of the rad, and such a valve is not really designed to control the flow through the rad, so I think you might be struggling with balancing. Coins under the cap, will enable you to turn it completely off, but might/might not enable you to balance it.

 

[BlueLoo]

Why are you fiddling with the radiator flows?

 

[scoutfamily]

Because I have 2 that are very hot and another that is just warm, before I started adjusting them that one was cold.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

Can you hear the flow? Does it go off when you push the pin in?

You could try the thermostatic valve on this end, see if it will cut it off when turned to 0.

If not then it's possible that the valve is now cream-crackered and needs replacing.

Put the pliers away!