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Would you like to fit a radiator without using PTFE tape

My stelrad bleed valves and blanks are all leaking as the rubber has degenerated. 12 -15 years old.
Possibly overtightened when installed, the o ring was mushed or the tapping wasn't clean. I've rads installed longer than that, with o-rings on the caps/bleeds and they're still fine, though I do clean the tapping face and add a little silicone grease to aid the o-ring to bed in without damage.
 
Possibly overtightened when installed, the o ring was mushed or the tapping wasn't clean. I've rads installed longer than that, with o-rings on the caps/bleeds and they're still fine, though I do clean the tapping face and add a little silicone grease to aid the o-ring to bed in without damage.
I see thanks. I am going to have to find some replacements.
 
I'm all for new ideas.
Better by design and all that.
But... Unless you can convince a manufacturer (or go into production yourself) it will go the way of most good ideas... Nowhere I'm afraid!

I've spent enough hours winding ptfe - 40 tails on one job last week! So would have loved to have not had to do that!

20 wraps of normal ptfe for me... To guarantee no leak and to still look good!
I've tried gas ptfe and 55 but not honed that skill yet to do it without thinking... See how hard it is for a plumber to learn new habits! Lol.

I'd be interested to see your design drawings and understand if the tail is the same material as the rad so is it in the casting or a different metal?

Good luck :)
The tail would be a welded in chromed steel pipe, same material as the rad body.If you can view UK patent number GB2415113.6 it will contain description and drawings of how to achieve a fixed tailed rad.
 
As you say, only for rads connected at the bottom. Manufacturers would then need to make a supply of both available.

What about different coloured valves, the tails wouldn't match?
I'm really only concerned with the high volume of rads installed bottom/bottom which is virtually all you see in homes and offices. My hope is that my design becomes the industry standard in that situation
 
It's one more thing to go wrong, if it leaks then they've got a warranty claim on their hands. If the installer has to fit it then it stops with them.

It's also a protrusion that would be prone to damage, either in the warehouse or in transit. This could only be offset by increasing packaging costs.
It can't leak is the point as it's a chromed steel pipe welded into the rad body to the same standard as the other welds on a rad. There is currently packaging to protect the female threads, can be redesigned to protect a tail protruding no more than 30 mm. This packaging can stay in situ until you have the rad mounted on the wall so ensures it won't be damaged. Do rads really get thrown about on sites, if they're damaged surely a customer won't sign off on a job so care is taken with them.
 
I'm really only concerned with the high volume of rads installed bottom/bottom which is virtually all you see in homes and offices. My hope is that my design becomes the industry standard in that situation
Not sure if this falls under the BR Document M? Accessibility for all new builds? This building reg dictates that all controls - sockets - switches - heating controls etc should all be installed at an accessible height. In essence all new builds with rads should be installed TBOE with the TRV horizontally installed at the top. I am seeing that more and more.
 
If that was the case in the future then the tails could still be fixed in opposite corners, one bottom and one top for TRV. Other top corner utilised for bleed screw. I still don't know why there are now 4 ports in new rads , seems a waste
 
Yep it's ''patent pending '' still protected in law. Hopefully be granted before Xmas, submitted last October
 
I still don't know why there are now 4 ports in new rads , seems a waste
Purely flexibility. Pipework runs etc can be dictated by the immediate environment, having 4 ports gives the installer the maximum number of options. That and there would need to be at least 3 ports anyway and using symmetrical jigs makes more sense, I would think.

Please don't think I am looking for ways to discount your idea, not at all, I'm all for new innovation that makes things better. I am just going through the scenarios that I may hit during the install of radiators and I can safely say that I have used each port through a multitude of various job requirements. Each one can be different but certainly the higher % are BOE.

The key here is to get the rad industry to adopt the thinking but TBH I don't think they really care about the valve makers and what they have to produce or how much PTFE is used or that they would have a rad that couldn't fit most, if not all scenarios, as they do just now.
 
No Madrab I appreciate the feedback , I want someone to tear it to shreds and point out the pitfalls. Some scenarios seem to be exceptional but for your straight forward run of multiple volume rads a fixed tail rad saves time and would suit the DIY market.Who decides what products are available, does the end user not have a say, seems whatever the big companies decide we're stuck in the past.
 
In my experience, what would be useful would be radiator tail extensions that can be fitted without leaking.
other than those stupid telescopic ones i have never had an extension leak
 
No Madrab I appreciate the feedback , I want someone to tear it to shreds and point out the pitfalls. Some scenarios seem to be exceptional but for your straight forward run of multiple volume rads a fixed tail rad saves time and would suit the DIY market.Who decides what products are available, does the end user not have a say, seems whatever the big companies decide we're stuck in the past.
The pit falls is there is various sizes and types of tails also when changing rads you may need various length of extensions as rads have not always been metric and people dont always want floors up or pipework alterations .
Even like for like rads might have used different length of tails as there is not an industry standard and basic tails can vary by 10mm in length
 

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