A thermostatic valve on the radiator in the spare room appears to have failed.
It will turn without any resistance, and the radiator will not warm up. The other radiators in the system are working OK. Unfortunately the spare room is where the computer is, and I spend up to three or fours hours a day in that room.
Other than calling in my local plumber, what are my options? Is it possible for an unsilled person to change the valve without having to drain down the system?
Peter
A thermostatic valve on the radiator in the spare room appears to have failed.
It will turn without any resistance, and the radiator will not warm up. The other radiators in the system are working OK. Unfortunately the spare room is where the computer is, and I spend up to three or fours hours a day in that room.
On 8 Dec 2022 at 08:15:22 GMT, "Peter James" <[email protected]> wrote:
A thermostatic valve on the radiator in the spare room appears to have failed.
It will turn without any resistance, and the radiator will not warm up. The
other radiators in the system are working OK. Unfortunately the spare room is
where the computer is, and I spend up to three or fours hours a day in that >> room.
Other than calling in my local plumber, what are my options? Is it possible >> for an unsilled person to change the valve without having to drain down the >> system?
Peter
My apologies, wrong NG. Copying to uk d-i-y
In article <[email protected]>,
Peter James <[email protected]> wrote:
A thermostatic valve on the radiator in the spare room appears to have failed.
It will turn without any resistance, and the radiator will not warm up.
The romovable top part of the valve pushes on a pin in the lower part
to stop the flow of water. The most likely problem is that the pin has become jammed in the down position. You may be able to free it by
tapping the the side of the lower part after removing the top part,
but it probably needs replacing.
A thermostatic valve on the radiator in the spare room appears to have failed.
It will turn without any resistance, and the radiator will not warm up. The other radiators in the system are working OK. Unfortunately the spare room is where the computer is, and I spend up to three or fours hours a day in that room.
Other than calling in my local plumber, what are my options? Is it possible for an unsilled person to change the valve without having to drain down the system?
Peter
A thermostatic valve on the radiator in the spare room appears to have failed.
It will turn without any resistance, and the radiator will not warm up.
Richard Tobin wrote:
In article <[email protected]>,
Peter James <[email protected]> wrote:
A thermostatic valve on the radiator in the spare room appears to have failed.
It will turn without any resistance, and the radiator will not warm up.
The romovable top part of the valve pushes on a pin in the lower part
to stop the flow of water. The most likely problem is that the pin has
become jammed in the down position. You may be able to free it by
tapping the the side of the lower part after removing the top part,
but it probably needs replacing.
What make is it?
I had Drayton valves about 25 years ago - they all needed replacement
within about 2 years of installation. The part which shuts of the water
flow jammed closed, and no amount of removing the thermostatic control
and pulling out the pin would achieve anything. If you can get two
hammers and clout the valve from opposite sides simultaneously - and
really hard - that might un-jam it.
I replaced them all with Honeywell and they've worked OK since - but the general design is the same. The valve is opened by a spring, and closed
by the expansion of the fluid in the thermostatic control; so if the mechanism jams and the spring is not powerful enough to open it - tough.
Ideally the radiator and thermostatic valve combination should be
connected via isolating taps, so you can remove the whole assembly for maintenance or redecoration without draining the whole system. It helps
if there's a drain cock on the radiator itself so you don't spill dirty
water as you disconnect everything. But I've only seen this very
rarely. Plumbers want to charge you to drain the sysem down and refill
it with expensive inhibitor every time anything needs attention.
Ours appear to be Bulldog. I rarely touch them though. Any view on those?
Peter James <[email protected]> wrote:
A thermostatic valve on the radiator in the spare room appears to have failed. It will turn without any resistance, and the radiator will not
warm up. The other radiators in the system are working OK. Unfortunately the spare room is where the computer is, and I spend up to three or
fours hours a day in that room.
Other than calling in my local plumber, what are my options? Is it possible for an unsilled person to change the valve without having to drain down the system?
Peter
No failure at all. This is just the pin getting stuck.
Common problem with old Danfoss things and the like.
The remedy: take off the head,
and pull out the pin with needle-nose plyers.
Next give the valve some smart taps with a small hammer,
if possible from behind.
Don't be afraid to hit hard,
it is the shock and vibration that you want.
If all goes well you will feel the heat coming through,
put the head back.
If it is free the pin will come out by itself after being pushed in.
No valve changing will be needed.
And once loose, it will remain loose, as long as it is used.
Next year, remember to open the valve once a month or so
to prevent it from getting stuck.
Jan
(sorry, don't follow you other group)
J. J. Lodder <[email protected]> wrote:
Peter James <[email protected]> wrote:
A thermostatic valve on the radiator in the spare room appears to have
failed. It will turn without any resistance, and the radiator will not
warm up. The other radiators in the system are working OK. Unfortunately >>> the spare room is where the computer is, and I spend up to three or
fours hours a day in that room.
Other than calling in my local plumber, what are my options? Is it possible >>> for an unsilled person to change the valve without having to drain down the >>> system?
Peter
No failure at all. This is just the pin getting stuck.
Common problem with old Danfoss things and the like.
The remedy: take off the head,
and pull out the pin with needle-nose plyers.
Next give the valve some smart taps with a small hammer,
if possible from behind.
Don't be afraid to hit hard,
it is the shock and vibration that you want.
If all goes well you will feel the heat coming through,
put the head back.
If it is free the pin will come out by itself after being pushed in.
No valve changing will be needed.
And once loose, it will remain loose, as long as it is used.
Next year, remember to open the valve once a month or so
to prevent it from getting stuck.
Jan
(sorry, don't follow you other group)
I have experienced this problem and can confirm that Jan has given good advice.
On 08/12/2022 08:17, Peter James wrote:
On 8 Dec 2022 at 08:15:22 GMT, "Peter James" <[email protected]>
wrote:
A thermostatic valve on the radiator in the spare room appears to
have failed.
 It will turn without any resistance, and the radiator will not warm
up. The
other radiators in the system are working OK. Unfortunately the spare
room is
where the computer is, and I spend up to three or fours hours a day
in that
room.
Other than calling in my local plumber, what are my options? Is it
possible
for an unsilled person to change the valve without having to drain
down the
system?
Peter
My apologies, wrong NG. Copying to uk d-i-y
If this is the TRV thingy (stop me if I'm being too technical) that you remove when you install a smart radiator valve, then yep - unscrew the
old one and screw on the new one. No bleeding of bleeding radiators
required.
It is - I would just add that the OP should ease the pin up gingerly, and don't force it or twist - the pins have been known to come out.
J. J. Lodder <[email protected]> wrote:
Peter James <[email protected]> wrote:
A thermostatic valve on the radiator in the spare room appears to have
failed. It will turn without any resistance, and the radiator will not
warm up. The other radiators in the system are working OK. Unfortunately >>> the spare room is where the computer is, and I spend up to three or
fours hours a day in that room.
Other than calling in my local plumber, what are my options? Is it possible >>> for an unsilled person to change the valve without having to drain down the >>> system?
Peter
No failure at all. This is just the pin getting stuck.
Common problem with old Danfoss things and the like.
The remedy: take off the head,
and pull out the pin with needle-nose plyers.
Next give the valve some smart taps with a small hammer,
if possible from behind.
Don't be afraid to hit hard,
it is the shock and vibration that you want.
If all goes well you will feel the heat coming through,
put the head back.
If it is free the pin will come out by itself after being pushed in.
No valve changing will be needed.
And once loose, it will remain loose, as long as it is used.
Next year, remember to open the valve once a month or so
to prevent it from getting stuck.
Jan
(sorry, don't follow you other group)
I have experienced this problem and can confirm that Jan has given good advice.
RJH wrote:
[snip]
It is - I would just add that the OP should ease the pin up gingerly, and
don't force it or twist - the pins have been known to come out.
The ones I've seen are designed to come out. They slide into a rubber
(?) gasket which makse the watertight seal.
On 8 Dec 2022 at 12:59:10 GMT, Liz Tuddenham wrote:
J. J. Lodder <[email protected]> wrote:
Peter James <[email protected]> wrote:
A thermostatic valve on the radiator in the spare room appears to have >>> failed. It will turn without any resistance, and the radiator will not >>> warm up. The other radiators in the system are working OK. Unfortunately >>> the spare room is where the computer is, and I spend up to three or
fours hours a day in that room.
Other than calling in my local plumber, what are my options? Is it
possible for an unsilled person to change the valve without having to
drain down the system? Peter
No failure at all. This is just the pin getting stuck.
Common problem with old Danfoss things and the like.
The remedy: take off the head,
and pull out the pin with needle-nose plyers.
Next give the valve some smart taps with a small hammer,
if possible from behind.
Don't be afraid to hit hard,
it is the shock and vibration that you want.
If all goes well you will feel the heat coming through,
put the head back.
If it is free the pin will come out by itself after being pushed in.
No valve changing will be needed.
And once loose, it will remain loose, as long as it is used.
Next year, remember to open the valve once a month or so
to prevent it from getting stuck.
Jan
(sorry, don't follow you other group)
I have experienced this problem and can confirm that Jan has given good advice.
It is - I would just add that the OP should ease the pin up gingerly, and don't force it or twist - the pins have been known to come out.
On 8 Dec 2022 at 12:59:10 GMT, Liz Tuddenham wrote:
J. J. Lodder <[email protected]> wrote:
Peter James <[email protected]> wrote:
A thermostatic valve on the radiator in the spare room appears to have >>> failed. It will turn without any resistance, and the radiator will not >>> warm up. The other radiators in the system are working OK. Unfortunately >>> the spare room is where the computer is, and I spend up to three or
fours hours a day in that room.
Other than calling in my local plumber, what are my options? Is it
possible for an unsilled person to change the valve without having to
drain down the system?
Peter
No failure at all. This is just the pin getting stuck.
Common problem with old Danfoss things and the like.
The remedy: take off the head,
and pull out the pin with needle-nose plyers.
Next give the valve some smart taps with a small hammer,
if possible from behind.
Don't be afraid to hit hard,
it is the shock and vibration that you want.
If all goes well you will feel the heat coming through,
put the head back.
If it is free the pin will come out by itself after being pushed in.
No valve changing will be needed.
And once loose, it will remain loose, as long as it is used.
Next year, remember to open the valve once a month or so
to prevent it from getting stuck.
Jan
(sorry, don't follow you other group)
I have experienced this problem and can confirm that Jan has given good advice.
It is - I would just add that the OP should ease the pin up gingerly, and don't force it or twist - the pins have been known to come out.
A thermostatic valve on the radiator in the spare room appears to have failed.
It will turn without any resistance, and the radiator will not warm up. The other radiators in the system are working OK. Unfortunately the spare room is where the computer is, and I spend up to three or fours hours a day in that room.
Other than calling in my local plumber, what are my options? Is it possible for an unsilled person to change the valve without having to drain down the system?
Peter
On 8 Dec 2022 at 08:15:22 GMT, "Peter James" <[email protected]> wrote:
A thermostatic valve on the radiator in the spare room appears to have failed. It will turn without any resistance, and the radiator will not
warm up. The other radiators in the system are working OK. Unfortunately the spare room is where the computer is, and I spend up to three or
fours hours a day in that room.
Other than calling in my local plumber, what are my options? Is it
possible for an unsilled person to change the valve without having to
drain down the system?
Peter
Thank you for all of the advice. I tried tapping the valve body with a hammer, and lo and behold it worked. Thanks t o you all, and also to the Christmas Fairy.
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