How to remove towel rail for decorating :-( Help please!

[trainingman]

Towel Rail

• trainingman
• 19 May 2009
• 1

Towel Rail

Can anyone PLEASE give me a simple guide to removing this towel rail so I can paint behind it. No matter what combination of turns I give to the various nuts, I end up with water on the floor (coming upwards from the pipes rather than coming down from the towel rail).

I don't have to drain the water system do I? Can I just isolate this radiator and drain it?

I have put colours next to the nuts for easy guidance! So help along the lines of "Turn the red nut clockwise until it's fully unscrewed" (or tightened) would be useful.

The knobs between the nuts have + and - signs on them if this makes a difference.

I think I have demonstrated my level of ability plumbing-wise, so simple advice only please. If you don't think it's a job for me please say so, however I am fairly practical in the right situation but there's something about shooting water that I'm not confident with.

Thanks in advance

 

[stephenf8542]

turn them both fully to minimum,loosen tponut on valve at one side,put bowl undr and drain radiator.Loosen air valve at top of radiator to help drain it quicker,when its empty remove other nut,unscrew brackets lift off wall. Reverse to fit don't forget to tighten the bleed screw.
Job done

 

[glasgowgas]

first; close both valves. remove chrome heads and use a spanner to make sure you have positive shut off
second;holding valve body with one spanner,slacken "red" nut.this will drain rad.
third;when rad is empty,hold other valve body and slacken "blue" nut,remove radiator holding brackets,remove rad.

fit in reverse

 

[glasgowgas]

sorry steph you beat me to it

 

[trainingman]

first; close both valves. remove chrome heads and use a spanner to make sure you have positive shut off
second;holding valve body with one spanner,slacken "red" nut.this will drain rad.
third;when rad is empty,hold other valve body and slacken "blue" nut,remove radiator holding brackets,remove rad.

fit in reverse

Thank you both. The theory seems straightforward. I have a couple of issues with the practise though... I presume when you talk of valves you mean the 'knobs' between the nuts which have the + and - signs on them. And when you say 'shut off' you mean turn all the way to -. I've tried quite hard at pulling the caps off these valves but they are stuck on it seems. Any trick to doing it?

 

[glasgowgas]

the knobs between the nuts,

steady there fella.

are you trying to groom me?

the valves are the metal shiny things perpedicular to the nuts.

the knobs are actually called valve heads or wheelheads they provide a decorative cover of the valve spindle

IMHO get a plumber, i think this may be a wee bit too much for ya!

 

[trainingman]

are you trying to groom me?

Yikes! caught red handed!

Seriously, thanks for the advice, I'll have a tentative attempt because I'm not scared of it, but if it feels like things are going wrong, I'll call the professionals.

Cheers

 

[D_Hailsham]

I presume when you talk of valves you mean the 'knobs' between the nuts which have the + and - signs on them. And when you say 'shut off' you mean turn all the way to -.

Yes! Think of these as taps; turn clockwise to close, anticlockwise to open.

I've tried quite hard at pulling the caps off these valves but they are stuck on it seems. Any trick to doing it?

Why are you trying to remove the caps? There may be a label on the top with a screw underneath.

Make sure you have some old towels and a container to collect the water which will come out of the radiator.