Re installing Towel Rail

[spoilmypooch]

Hello,

I am re installing a towel rail and it just doesn't seem to be heating up!

I have bled it until there was water spitting out of it and so I presume that it is full of water.

It seemed to get warmish and then it lost heat again- possibly as I was bleeding the rail.

There are two lockshield valves fitted and I wonder if they could be the problem?

I have posted photos of them below.

and

Should I swap the valves over? Have I re installed them on the wrong ends/ sides of the rail?

Do I need to adjust them?
The towel rail is in the upstairs bathroom, all the other radiators upstairs are on and working well.

 

[spoilmypooch]

Sorry, any help will be gratefully received.

 

[alan333]

I'm not a heating expert but have some knowledge (but I can't see your pics). You don't mention what type of system you have but I've assumed you know how to make sure the header tank is full or the system is pressurised.

First make sure both lockshield valves are fully open (normally by turning them anti clockwise). Then turn off all rads except the faulty one, and turn the heating on - this should force all flow to that rad and therefore force any air locks out. If that doesn't work you need to figure out why there is no flow. With the system off, the water will flow in either direction through the pipes, unless one is blocked. So, turn the heating off, and turn off one of the lockshield valves, open the rad bleed screw and see if you get any water out. Repeat with the other valve. The one which gives you no flow out the bleed valve (or very little) has a problem. If you're unsure how much water should come out of the bleed valve then do the same with a 'good' rad and compare.

Now prove you're correct by undoing the 'bad' lockshield from the rad and opening it into a tray/bucket. Water will come out the rad unless you drain it first, but only by gravity so you can probably catch it as you go (or drain it if you wish). If you have good flow from that valve then put it back on and check your other one. Assuming you prove you have a 'bad' one then remove the lockshield from the pipe and check the flow from the pipe. If you have a good flow with the lockshield removed then your lockshield is faulty. If you still have poor flow then your pipe is blocked. Beware if you have a pressurised system the water could burst out the pipe when you remove the locksheld unless you let the pressure out first.

I know how you can clear a blockage from a gravity system but not from a pressurised one, so would need more info on your particular system to help you further.

 

[Tay7]

Make sure both valves are open.

Cant see the pics but i would imagine one of them is closed.

 

[spoilmypooch]

Thanks for your detailed guide. I will check it out tomorrow when I have more time. I have edited my post so that my photos are now showing. Thanks.

 

[spoilmypooch]

I turned off most of the other radiators in the house and then turned on the heating. The system is pressurised almost to its highest limit. I opened up the valve using a large allen key and it started dripping black water almost immediately. I have no idea how to open up the valve in the second picture. What tool should I use? I have used a small spanner to open up the small nut on it and nothing happened. Anyway, the rail failed to heat up. Even the copper pipes below the valves did not seem to heat up.

I opened up the valve at the top of the towel rail (the valve above the valve in the second picture) and black water started dribbling out of it immediately.

What should I do next? Try and open the second valve or try to bleed the rads?

Thanks.

 

[TCCHeating]

Use a pair of grips on the spindle to open the valve in the second pic. I'm guessing you only have the lockshield version of the valve cap which doesn't grip the splines on the spindle

 

[steve32]

The valve in your second picture is probably stuck shut common problem with those valves.
You will need to drain the system and replace the valves or take the valve apart and refit the plunger back into the thread.

 

[spoilmypooch]

Thanks. It works and heats up like a bonfire! The valve in the second photo was closed, it wasn't stuck- I just didn't know how to open it. Ah, the learning process...Thanks to everyone for their help.

 

[Madrab]

It works and heats up like a bonfire!

Feck me I'd watch yer towels then or buy new asbestos ones