Radiator Thermostats

[genthon]

My son has radiators without individual thermostats fitted. Is is possible for an experienced DIY person to install thermostats? My husband has fitted a bathroom suite, sinks, taps, washing machines etc but seems a bit apprehensive of tackling this job.

[The Builder]

.........no reason why not :o)
If he's familiar with compression fittings rather than just pushfit, then he should be ok.
It might be an idea to fit reversible TRVs though (thermostatic rad valves). With those, he doesn't have to figure out which is the flow, and which is the return.
Remember the whole system would probably have to be drained down first.

[gucciman]

what type of heating system / boiler do you have?

[genthon]

it's a combi boiler stand alone type

[gucciman]

he should be ok fitting trv's if he can handle plumbing a bathroom suite in.

make sure the boiler is turned off and then drain the system from a drain plug at the lowest point. he will need to open up the bleed vents in the radiators so that the air can push the water out, make sure he opens the upstairs ones first and then the downstairs later when the flow of water from the system slows down again, dont forget to close all the bleed vents before re-filling the system.

buy some good quality reversible flow trv's such as honeywell and use plenty of ptfe tape on the threads. when the system is re-filled go round all the upstairs rads venting them of air and then adding more water to the system as needed. turn the heating on and then go round the new valves checking for leaks and tweaking the nuts up as needed.

if he prefers just try doing one radiator first and see how he gets on.

[buildersmate]

We all had to start somewhere. It is probably 20 years ago that I did my first of these - remember wondering what would happen if I couldn't stop the water flowing out. He'll be fine.

[genthon]

Thanks very much all of you.

[gucciman]

sorry doc spock is right, its the thread that goes into the rad that needs ptfe tape, thats if you change it as you may not need to.