Donate SIGN UP

Radiator Valve Advice Please

Avatar Image
needawin | 11:42 Sat 12th Mar 2022 | How it Works
6 Answers
I need to bleed a radiator.
The valve has a "coin slot" screw within a nut. Can't get the screw to budge. Can I bleed by taking out or loosening the nut?
The other panel just had the nut and looks as if the screw has been broken off at some stage.
Can I just bleed by the loose nut
Gravatar

Answers

1 to 6 of 6rss feed

Best Answer

No best answer has yet been selected by needawin. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.

For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.
A photo would jelp.
Perhaps a little WD40 would help free the inner screw?
Loosening the outer nut might let you release the air in the radiator, but watch out for dribbles when the water starts to flow. I'd be a bit worried in case the nut couldn't be re-tightened so as to be watertight - it's probably sealed with hemp or joint sealer, and might need to be removed and re-sealed, and that would mean closing both radiator valves first to avoid a flood.
The nut with the slot is meant to be loosened to bleed the radiator. The nut has a square profile which should be loosened using a radiator key, available at any hardware shop for a few bob.
The radiator should be cold to avoid injury - turn the key anti clockwise while holding a towel under the nut. When you hear air escaping stop turning and await escape of water when you can tighten the nut.
Unless you have a Myson radiator the nut and valve in the link will not fit. From the link:-
//Does NOT fit any other brand of radiator.//
If you feel up to it and you have decent tools, you could close the radiator valves, remove the existing bleed valve unit and take it to a plumbers' merchant to find a replacement. You will also need something to seal the thread when you screw the new one into place (probably a tube of goo nowadays). Good luck.
If you do it the way atheist suggests, don't forget to count the number of turns it takes to close the radiator valves. The valve with just a protective cap is used for balancing the radiator with all the others in the system, so it's important to set it back to exactly where it was before you mess with it.
PTFE tape is the best thing for sealing threads.

1 to 6 of 6rss feed

Do you know the answer?

Radiator Valve Advice Please

Answer Question >>

Related Questions

Avatar Image
fbg40