Plumbing Knowlwdge Needed, Please ...

[suziecreamcheese]

How can I turn off the water supply to a leaking, rusting ground-floor radiator, PLEASE?
Is there a valve or a means of DRAINING the useless thing?

[fender62]

have you tried retightening the coupling

[Etch]

Plenty of advice online if you Google "removing radiator" - this page gives a good explanation:
http://www.diybasics.co.uk/removing-radiator.html

[bhg481]

There is a connector at each end of the radiator. One is the tap you use to turn it on and off (it could be a TRV), so turn it fully off. The other is also a tap, usually covered with a plastic cap, but requires a spanner to turn it off by turning the small flat spindle clockwise. This one is used for "balancing" the radiator, to take care of different pipe lengths to each radiator; for that reason it is important to count the number of clockwise turns it takes to turn it off. When the radiator is replaced you turn that tap anti-clockwise the same number of turns ie, you don't turn it fully on, just back to where it was.

[suziecreamcheese]

Many thanks to your clear instructions I now understand what I *should* do but canna shift the (almost)rigid 'cap' to GET to the spindle. It's going to be a horrid job - but at least I've mopped up and the drip's capturedISH. How to find an ol' school plumber - a plumber who won't give up and knows what's what - a Hero ...

[vulcan42]

The Plastic cap is usually a push fit but can, over the years seize up. A broad bladed screwdriver inserted at the base of the cap and twisted might free it up, or again using the screwdriver, gently tap the cap in two or three places to release it.