Changing bathroom radiator

[berniekelly]

Hi all, looking for a bit of advice here, if anyone can help. In process of gutting a bathroom and replacing. Part of the works will be to re route ch pipes feeding a rad. This will involve chasing into wall and re routing to suit new rad / towel rail. I'm happy enough with the general plumbing aspects. CH runs from a combi.

Is it necessary for me to drain down whole system to do this work. There are no drain points in the ch runs (so assume I'll have to disconnect a rad and drain from there). Or is there an easier way to do the work without draining completely(freezing or anything similar).

If i do have to drain to undertake the works is the refilling as simple as filling from the intake loop to the same pressure as before, belleding the rads as i do. I've never had a combi before so a little uncertain here, previous houses have all had header tanks and been filled from there.

Appreciate your help. Cheers

At the moment I have just shut off the rad valves and removed the rad

 

[Legion]

Is it necessary for me to drain down whole system to do this work. There are no drain points in the ch runs (so assume I'll have to disconnect a rad and drain from there). Or is there an easier way to do the work without draining completely(freezing or anything similar).

Taking for granted that the bathroom is upstairs, you have a couple of choices, firstly turn off boiler, remove fuse from fused spur to prevent anyone turning on the boiler, then using the pressure relief valve inside the boiler you can empty the boiler/release pressure through the blow off pipe which will be the short stubby pipe on the outside wall. This is frowned upon due to the fact that the valve may not reseat afterwards and the boiler will constantly drip and lose pressure. You can then just drain the rad you are working on (after turning all other upstairs rads off at both ends) which is the quickest option.

It`s done every day but you may get some `holier than thou` feedback on this shortly.

Other option, drain system at lowest point, then refill.

If i do have to drain to undertake the works is the refilling as simple as filling from the intake loop to the same pressure as before, belleding the rads as i do. I've never had a combi before so a little uncertain here, previous houses have all had header tanks and been filled from there.

Refill using filling loop but bleed rad furthest from boiler and work back remembering to bleed pump. 1.5bar usually.

Dunno about freezing, tried it once and it failed.

 

[Nige F]

Is it necessary or anything similar).

Taking for granted that the bathroom is upstairs,
It`s done every day but you may get some `holier than thou` feedback on this shortly.

quote] I`ll say a prayer to Saint Gobain for you , and light a candle next time I`m in PTS. Bless You, My son

 

[Nige F]

I`ve been reading about you, Legion. St. Mark Ch. 5 v9 and St. Luke Ch.8 v30.. You`re not a devil ...You`re very naughty boys

 

[Legion]

Legion is the name of the demon that Jesus casted out from a man in the Geresenes region (East of the Sea of Galilee). Just around the corner from HRPC. Legion was originally a term for several thousand plumbers, which suggests that there may have been many demons inside this man. Jesus removed the demons out of the man and casted them into a herd of polish pigs that consequently ran off the edge of the cliff into the sea. This story is included in Luke to show that even poles are afraid of Jesus and must submit to him. Here is the story from Mark 5:6-14:

When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, ``I`ll do that for £6.00 an hour!Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me!" For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!"

Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?"

"My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many." And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.

A large herd of Diye`rs were sipping free coffe from PTS on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the Diy`ers; allow us to go into them." He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the Diy`ers . The Diy`ers, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

 

[Goldspoon]

Easier way to drain down:

Use a downstairs rad.
Both valves either end switch off.
Take out blank from opposite end to bleed valve and add what is pictured (PTFE on iso helps).

Open valves on rad and drain away

Spanner was just there to clamp hose on in case it popped off.

(fully drained just takes level to top of downstairs rads but that's fine if working upstairs).

Re-filling is easy on a combi - use loop and bleed rads as you suggested.

 

[Legion]

Bit knackered on older/cheaper rads were vent is often behind the rad. Quicker with blow off, sunbeam. Hope you had mop and bucket when you released initial pressure from top of rad, when removing plug.

 

[berniekelly]

Thanks for the feedback (and for the banter in between)

Legion - whilst it sounds like an easy metod i'm a little loathe to use the pressure relief valve in the combi as when I moved to the house a gas fitter i know mentioned that he had previously worked on the boiler and it was on its last legs. He had prolonged its life by lubricating valves and messing around with pressure settings to keep things working. He mentioned that if it had to be worked on again it might be more economic to replace. His view and mine was to keep it going till it packed up basically. So I'm a bit unsure if messing about in there is sensible?? Thanks a lot for the advice though

Gold spoon, thanks a lot, makes sense to me!

 

[Legion]

Gold spoon, thanks a lot, makes sense to me!

It will till you loosen vent cap, make sure you have plenty of towels ready and carpet protected. Did he mention that one or two valves may be passing? thought not.

 

[Goldspoon]

You have to bleed rad to let pressure out b4 unscrewing one of the top two bungs.

Valves can be passing of course - then you will find this out when letting pressure out as bleed point will just keep letting water. Move to another rad!

 

[Legion]

You have to bleed rad to let pressure out b4 unscrewing one of the top two bungs.

Thought about it have we? Let`s hope OP is still reading.

Valves can be passing of course - then you will find this out when letting pressure out as bleed point will just keep letting water. Move to another rad!

And this is the easiest solution is it? FFS.

 

[Goldspoon]

And welcome to the forum Berniekelly. You will meet caring and helpful members here and, as in life generally, you'll meet those who have no manners.