[Misc] Draining house radiator for decorating

[Worthing exile]

Last night I went to drain my kitchen radiator and remove it to prepare for decorating.
Left hand side is the side with numbers so following advice, turned it anti-clockwise to 0.
Right hand side has the conventional take plastic top off and use pliers to turn clockwise to shut it off.
Used grips on the big nut to drain water.
After about 15 minutes it was obvious that water is still entering the radiator which must be from the left hand side.

How do I shut off the water to both sides without turning the whole system off?

It all use to be so easy.

 

[Frankie]

Didn't have a clue , followed this and job done perfectly .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmgtkVtdFD8


Oh don't forget to turn off the boiler before hand .

 

[Stat Brother]

WTF




Job done.

 

[pishrat]

Last night I went to drain my kitchen radiator and remove it to prepare for decorating.
Left hand side is the side with numbers so following advice, turned it anti-clockwise to 0.
Right hand side has the conventional take plastic top off and use pliers to turn clockwise to shut it off.
Used grips on the big nut to drain water.
After about 15 minutes it was obvious that water is still entering the radiator which must be from the left hand side.

How do I shut off the water to both sides without turning the whole system off?

It all use to be so easy.

You don't need to shut off both sides as one is flow, the other is return. when turning the TRV valve off you should have no water unless the heating is running. Either the system is running or the valve isn't shutting properly.

 

[Worthing exile]

You don't need to shut off both sides as one is flow, the other is return. when turning the TRV valve off you should have no water unless the heating is running. Either the system is running or the valve isn't shutting properly.

Thanks for this. So as long as the left side is at zero and the system is off, that should be fine.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Thanks for this. So as long as the left side is at zero and the system is off, that should be fine.

Unless the TRV isn't working. And always ensure both are closed. Trying unscrewing the plastic body of the TRV which should just come off, and check the pin which the TRV operates is able to be pressed and depressed without being stuck. It will look like this:

 

[Worthing exile]

Unless the TRV isn't working. Trying unscrewing the plastic body of the TRV which should just come off, and check the pin which the TRV operates is able to be pressed and depressed without being stuck. It will look like this:

Yes I took the top off last night. Will try pressing it tonight. Mine was black ha ha.

 

[Arthritic Toe]

Unless the TRV isn't working. Trying unscrewing the plastic body of the TRV which should just come off, and check the pin which the TRV operates is able to be pressed and depressed without being stuck. It will look like this:

If the TRV is knackered you can usually take off the plastic body as above, shove a 5p coin in it and then screw it back on (i.e. to hold the pin down).

 

[Uncle C]

You don't need to shut off both sides as one is flow, the other is return. when turning the TRV valve off you should have no water unless the heating is running. Either the system is running or the valve isn't shutting properly.

Even if the system isn't running it still has water pressure in it, so you need to turn off both taps, not just one.

 

[pishrat]

Even if the system isn't running it still has water pressure in it, so you need to turn off both taps, not just one.

the return doesn't move if it isn't connected to the flow. you can cut the return pipe and the water will just sit.

 

[pishrat]

the heating system is a closed loop. the flow is made by a pump. If you are turning the valve off and you still have flow you might as well just snatch the pipe and cap it off and get a new TRV. For what you are trying to achieve just close/cap the flow. undo the nut and drain the rad. Using a builders rubble bag works well for this.

When the rad has drained you can undo the return nut. you will get a few drops of water from the copper tail if the pipe isn't level and the water will sit in the pipe. no need for capping. then you can remove the rad. job done.

 

[Skuller]

Be careful leaving a radiator disconnected when the temperature falls. "Zero" on the thermostat doesn't always mean "shut-off". It can mean "shut off until the temperature drops really low". I removed a radiator in a December and then left an empty unheated house I was renovating intending to replace it in a few days' time. When I returned, the thermostatic valve had opened when we had sub-zero temperatures and flooded the house.

 

[Bodian]

In my experience it will leak, whatever you do! I hate plumbing - I always end up with smashed knuckles because bits are hidden round the back of stuff, it never seems to work quite right, and I end up cursing a lot.

 

[BN9 BHA]

You don't need to shut off both sides as one is flow, the other is return. when turning the TRV valve off you should have no water unless the heating is running. Either the system is running or the valve isn't shutting properly.

Wrong

WARNING - Under no circumstances take this advice

 

[BN9 BHA]

Unless the TRV isn't working. And always ensure both are closed. Trying unscrewing the plastic body of the TRV which should just come off, and check the pin which the TRV operates is able to be pressed and depressed without being stuck. It will look like this:

Good and correct advice

 

[Bold Seagull]

Wrong

WARNING - Under no circumstances take this advice

Presumably because gravity will create it's own pressure in the loop?

 

[BN9 BHA]

Presumably because gravity will create it's own pressure in the loop?

I have been a plumber for many years, I often take off rads when a room needs plastering, decorating or installing a new rad, I always ensure both rad valves are closed and water removed from the rad before removing ( the rad )

 

[Blue3]

Last night I went to drain my kitchen radiator and remove it to prepare for decorating.
Left hand side is the side with numbers so following advice, turned it anti-clockwise to 0.
Right hand side has the conventional take plastic top off and use pliers to turn clockwise to shut it off.
Used grips on the big nut to drain water.
After about 15 minutes it was obvious that water is still entering the radiator which must be from the left hand side.

How do I shut off the water to both sides without turning the whole system off?

It all use to be so easy.

You will probably find a bit of play on the pipe work if you have just Loosen the nuts on either side of the radiator it will leak a little now quickly lift and lay the radiator flat tighten on the floor the nuts

 

[BN9 BHA]

Be careful leaving a radiator disconnected when the temperature falls. "Zero" on the thermostat doesn't always mean "shut-off". It can mean "shut off until the temperature drops really low". I removed a radiator in a December and then left an empty unheated house I was renovating intending to replace it in a few days' time. When I returned, the thermostatic valve had opened when we had sub-zero temperatures and flooded the house.

Also very good advice this.
I always cap off the outlet side of a TRV if the radiator is removed.

 

[swindonseagull]

Just buy a small radiator roller to paint down the back part of the wall.