Radiators with covers and TRVs - can I remove them!!

[moggie 939]

I am in a brand new apartment with GCH and a brand new boiler and all the radiators have large metal covers over them (apartments meant for elderly originally) much higherand longer than the actual radiators of which there are 6 in total. The only one without a TRV is the hall radiator and I have the latest boiler plus a t.stat on the wall which would work perfectly without the TRVs I am sure!

I have to remove the rad covers to bleed the rads often and because they are so long it is a difficult job involving calling in a plumber as I am partly disabled. Previously I just had rads in each room without covers and only a TRV in the main bedrooom and that was great.

Looking at the rads when the covers are off, there seems to be a metal wire going from the TRV, which is only bolted to the cover, down to a small vlave at the bottom right of the rad - it just seems to stick into it and I presume that this is from the TRV to say when to switch it off and on?

If I have a plumber take the covers off and remove this wire and the TRVs will the rads then be normal like I had at other houses? Also, can he leave all the TRVs off and work it just from the t.stat and just have perhaps one TRV in the main bedroom. Where the 'wire' from the TRV goes into the valve on the bottom right of the rad seems to be where I had a TRV at my last house.

Thanks all.

[Zacs-Master]

If the wire is yellow and green it's an earthing wire. If you need to bleed the system often, then it's not balanced correctly. Your system has them because All new heating installations must have trvs on all but 1 radiator as per building regs.

[buildersmate]

If you need to bleed the system often, then it's nowt to do with it not being balanced correctly.
In over 90% of cases it is because there isn't any (or enough) concentration of inhibitor in the water. This is causing dissolved oxygen in the water to attack the inside of the steel radiators, producing black iron sludge (which eventually blocks the radiators) and hydrogen gas (which collects in the top of the radiators.
Ask your tame 'plumber' to investigate the likely root cause of the gas in the system - don't tinker with the symptoms of an unrelated issue.

[Zacs-Master]

What I meant was, if the installer failed to bleed the system, they can't have balanced it correctly in the first place.

[The Builder]

Good post from BM, Moggie. I've learnt something new today. I can't say I've ever come across the set-up you describe with the piece of wire ........ unless, as Zacs said, it's supplementary earth bonding.
I can comment on the TRV/roomstat set-up though. It's really worthwhile getting used to it. Simply, the roomstat sets the "global" temperature, while each TRV sets the "local" temp. that you're comfortable with in that area.
Much more efficient........... some rooms need to be kept at a decent higher temp. than others. TRVs let you "zone" your heating levels.

[moggie 939]

Thanks everyone
The wire I mentioned is not earthing wire - it goes from the back of the TRV to the bottom of the rad (the TRV is not anywhere near the radiator, it is just housed in the end of the rad cover). When the cover is lifted off all you have is the long wire from the TRV to the bottom of rad as I said.
If I were toremovethe wire from the little valve? at the bottom right of the actual radiator and dispose of the cover with the TRV attached to it then I would end up with a normal radiator.
Thanks

[moggie 939]

It is me again, Moggie. Further to my reply above I have dug out the instn leaflet when they were installed and they are called 'remote sensing TRVs with a capilliar tube attached' and as I said they are attached only to the cover - the capilliary tube is the only part that touches the rad - at the valve at bottom right of rad.
Thanks

[The Builder]

Oh blimey............. "something else to go wrong"....... as they say in the Motor Trade ;o)
Why should anyone want a remote TRV .......... only, I guess, if you want to cover the rad up :o(

Anyway, Moggie, being a capillary tube, it could well be a thin hollow pipe containing hot water that goes to the sensor (TRV). We'd need to read the instructions I think. Snipping it might cause a leak :o(

[johnk]

If you don't want to use your TRVs why not put them on the highest setting and let the room thermostat take control. You'll still have the TRVs if you change your mind and will save the cost of removing them which won't be a trivial amount

[moggie 939]

Thanks all and good point johnk
Moggie