Help, towel radiator cold all the time

[Chris26]

hi, looking for some help. I have a towel ladder style radiator that is constantly cold. I have blend the radiator and tried turning the valves but nothing seemed to change. The rest of the radiators in the house are piping hot including another couple of towel radiators.
There are two straight pipe valves at the bottom, not sure which is which. Both have chrome collars, one seems to turn half a turn each way, the other just spins on a collar.

Any ideas which valve is which and what may be the problem for heating? Have tried turning all other off and balancing but not working.

 

[Chris26]

Valves like the picture, anyone know which is lock shield and temperature valve? One collar spins freely the other can be turned half turn

 

[CBW]

Good evening Chris,

Has this ever worked? Has it just been installed?

 

[Chris26]

Was here when moved in a couple of years ago, never really had any heat in it. But did get warm but never like the rest in the house. Recently doesn’t even heat. Pipes at bottom aren’t even warm

 

[CBW]

Was here when moved in a couple of years ago, never really had any heat in it. But did get warm but never like the rest in the house. Recently doesn’t even heat. Pipes at bottom aren’t even warm

It’s either the valves, or piped up wrong. If you're able to remove the cap covers, then try opening the valves.

 

[Chris26]

One of the caps unscrews and and can remove collar. The valve looks like a small wheel that moves ok. The other valve collar just spins and cap doesn’t unscrew. Guess that might be the issue! Which one would be lock shield valve? If valves were not open would pipes still be warm

 

[terryplumb]

You need to remove the decorative heads from both valves and show pics of what's below. Both valves need to be open ,or rad will not heat and the two pipes will not get hot either ,although one may get a little warm.

 

[CBW]

Are you turning these bits anti clockwise to unscrew? This will reveal the lockshield.

 

[Chris26]

Yes, turning anti clockwise, will give it another go but didn’t want to break it and get a leak

 

[Chris26]

This is the one that came off easily

 

[Chris26]

Can’t get this one off. Collar spins and cap will not screw off

 

[CBW]

Screw might have snapped inside, might be new valve time

 

[Chris26]

Is that easy to replace?
I know they are cheap enough but is it a job for a plumber?

 

[terryplumb]

Screw might have snapped inside, might be new valve time

It would fall off if the thread had snapped.
Try prising it off ,if it will not unscrew.
Do you have a set of grips to use ,to turn it with ?

 

[Chris26]

Checked other towel rad and it is exactly the same