radiator removal

[stevec000]

when i decorate i can remove one radiator at a time by turning the valve right down and using plyers on the other side to turn the little valve thing at the other side ...
my mum wants to do the same but she dos'nt have the little valve at the other side it just looks like a nut on top which dos'nt seem to move ..do i need to drain her whole system ?
many thanks in advanve
steve

[The Builder]

Beats me Steve .......... there's usually a thermostatic (or manual) valve at one end (big head with numbers on it), and a "lockshield" valve at the other (used for balancing the rads)
I would have thought her valve would be adjustable........ maybe very old type?
If it is seized up, then it's probably just as well to drain down, flush, and refill, plus additive.

Sometimes, if that's going to be a problem, you could use a freezing kit on that pipe, then change the valve to a new one.

Hang about a bit ........ one of the other guys could be along. They might have come across this before.

[stevec000]

these are brand new rads about 6 months old put in by energy scheme for old folk..
yes the way you discribe are just like mine..hers has the thermostat but just the other end different....

[scoob101]

Remove the nut where the wheelhead valve normally is, the control is under this.

[alavahalf]

Remember a thermostatic valve may open on it's own if the temperature drops .. then you wont need to drain the system down, as it will empty itself.

Personally I'd go for the belt and braces approach and fit a couple of these when you remove the rad .... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk...s&hash=item19c28891c6

[pilotlight]

Very important point that alavahalf has made regarding the thermostatic valve ' passing ' water at a low room temperature, even when fully turned down.
The installers should have left special plastic caps that replace the thermostatic valve - heads.
These are designed for just such circumstances as removing radiators.

[terence7556]

they are sometimes called decorators caps