Need Help Identifying Plumbing Fitting

[Strike Team]

This fitting is on one of the pipes connecting to my sitting room radiator. I presume it's a shutoff valve, however if I turn the screw in either direction water spurts out. The other input has a lockshield valve.

I want to remove the radiator to decorate. Does this mean I'll have to drain the system and replace the valve?

 

[Blackadder43]

Thats a service valve and has no right being put on a radiator.

If you turn the screw so it is horizontal then it will be closed

You say water spurts out, where from?

 

[ColJack]

round the screw.. one of mine does that.... and yes, also on a rad pipe..
it's the furthest one from the boiler though if that makes any difference..

 

[kirkgas]

its a (cheap=leaking)service valve to shut water to a sink/cistern etc (never on a rad), you will need to drain to change, best to replace it with the correct valve, depending on how pipe gets to the rad you can get a straight or angled rad valve
*edited cause i didnt read the bit under the photo

 

[seco services]

looks more like a standard ball o fix on a rad tail.

 

[Blackadder43]

I cant think of an occassion where i would fit one of these to a radiator....hmmm wait a min *thinks*
Nope never....
If it was me i would drain down and replace with a couple £'s lock shield

If you dont want to do that then use your imagination as a temp fix while you take the rad off.

 

[compheat]

Depending on the quality of the ball valve there is no reason why you wouldn't fit them on on a towel rail with bottom entry tails, Ballofix valves in chrome are very reliable and can withstand high temps and pressure,
but if you get the 50p ones then expect trouble.

 

[Strike Team]

Thanks everyone. I think I've no option but to replace it.