Combi boiler, drain heating & use hot water

[Diyisfun]

I need to remove an upstairs radiator, can i drain system, remove the radiator & leave the boiler for hot water only. Boiler switched to water only, programer turned to heat off.

 

[terryplumb]

You can't drain the boiler ,it would have to retain water inside it. You would need to close its flow and return isolation valves before draining heating system.

 

[gas112]

so are you altering the pipework to upstairs rad ?

 

[Diyisfun]

so are you altering the pipework to upstairs rad ?

No, I want to take a towel rail off so I can decorate.
I was thinking if the room stat was calling for heat, then the valve would be closed so that I could demand hot water

 

[gas112]

No, I want to take a towel rail off so I can decorate.
I was thinking if the room stat was calling for heat, then the valve would be closed so that I could demand hot water

just close the towel rads valves and remove that will leave water in system so the hot water works with no need to touch boiler valves which are notorious for leaking when touched

 

[Diyisfun]

just close the towel rads valves and remove that will leave water in system so the hot water works with no need to touch boiler valves which are notorious for leaking when touched

Ok thanks. BTW Boiler is Greenstar Highflow 440

 

[gas112]

Ok thanks. BTW Boiler is Greenstar Highflow 440

boiler valves best left alone then

 

[fixitflav]

No, I want to take a towel rail off so I can decorate.
I was thinking if the room stat was calling for heat, then the valve would be closed so that I could demand hot water

If you isolate one rad you can leave the HW and CH working as normal. The other rads are still working. You'll need to repressurise when you refit the rad and bleed it as it refills.
But why bother removing the rad? It's usually possible to paint or wallpaper behind a rad so the bits missed aren't readily visible.

 

[gas112]

If you isolate one rad you can leave the HW and CH working as normal. The other rads are still working. You'll need to repressurise when you refit the rad and bleed it as it refills.
But why bother removing the rad? It's usually possible to paint or wallpaper behind a rad so the bits missed aren't readily visible.

its a towel rad . he could hide the missing bits with a towel

 

[fixitflav]

its a towel rad

Ah OK, I'd missed that

 

[Diyisfun]

If you isolate one rad you can leave the HW and CH working as normal. The other rads are still working. You'll need to repressurise when you refit the rad and bleed it as it refills.
But why bother removing the rad? It's usually possible to paint or wallpaper behind a rad so the bits missed aren't readily visible.

Not on a towel rail

 

[Diyisfun]

No water coming out. What best course of action, only need to drain upstairs towel rail.
I was thinking flexible bucket & drain the raid. OR remove a d/stairs rad & drain from there.
I want EASY please.
What would plumbers do.
edit
I have opened a bleed valve

 

[CountryFan]

What would plumbers do.

Post #5 - @gas112 isn’t a plumber but a very experienced gas/heating engineer

just close the towel rads valves and remove that will leave water in system so the hot water works with no need to touch boiler valves which are notorious for leaking when touched

 

[Madrab]

Towel rads are notoriously difficult to drain if the valves are stright and the pipework is down into the floor. Not so much if the valves are right angled into the wall. Which are yours?

Draining rads I then I use a plumb tub.

 

[dilalio]

Close both towel rail valves.
Crack one of the nuts from rail to valve.
Have a baking tray or hole less rubble bag around the rad tail.
Open air vent and control flow of water into recepticle by opening and closing the air vent.
When it's empty close air vent and remove rail.