Broken head on TRV

[wickers]

Hi,

I need to remove a radiator for decorating. The head on the TRV has snapped off so that the pin is exposed.

Does this mean that the TRV is open so that water will flow through it or will it be shut closed so no water will flow.

(I cannot loosen valves and lift radiator off brackets and lie radiator on floor as the pipes are tight in the floor.....just in case anybody suggests this idea).

Thanks for your help.

Wickers

 

[snowhead]

Open.

 

[ashwilson]

There open.

If you have the box which the TRV came in it should have a white cap in it. If you place that on the head that will shut it off. I always leave these with customers when fitting new TRVS incase they want to decorate.

 

[snowhead]

Temporary fix with tiewraps, jubilee clips, string, or child with stick, not recommended to hold the pin down, it will release when you least expect it.

You'll have a temporary closure cap somewhere, you just didn't realise what it was for.

 

[grow_fins]

Is there another TRV elsewhere in the building that you can take off and fit on the broken one?

 

[lame plumber]

Is there another TRV elsewhere in the building that you can take off and fit on the broken one?

5 mins on and now there are 2 broken trvs in the house

 

[snowhead]

5 mins on and now there are 2 broken trvs in the house

There's always the neighbours next.

 

[grow_fins]

I should add that it's better to use the closure cap if you've got it as the trv can open up and let by if the temperature drops.
How do I know this?
We had a Welsh plumber called Di (afterwards known as Di the Leek) who took a rad off and only used the trv to isolate the water. Did I mention that this rad was on the first floor? Anyway, it being winter, the temp dropped and the valve opened, water poured out and dropped the kitchen ceiling and then carried on into the basement, dropping that ceiling onto a brand new massive tv and lifting the recently laid oak floor.
Our boss's insurance took a hammering that day!
John

 

[SimonG]

Always cap the outlet on trv when rad off.

 

[Roger Welton]

which is why I always put a 1/2 or 3/4" cap on valve regardless of how it is isolated.

 

[wickers]

Thanks for all the replies. It's an old TRV that come with the house so there are no spare parts anywhere. Looks like I'll drain the upstairs part of the system to make sure and put on a new TRV.

Cheers

Wickers

 

[tamz]

Get a small piece of wood or a coin and press the pin in then tape it into position. When you take the rad off put a cap on the end.

 

[wickers]

Get a small piece of wood or a coin and press the pin in then tape it into position. When you take the rad off put a cap on the end.

Thanks tamz. That's a great idea. I hate draining the system. Open vented system, air locks when refilling etc etc. I'll go with your idea.

 

[SimonG]

Thanks tamz. That's a great idea. I hate draining the system. Open vented system, air locks when refilling etc etc. I'll go with your idea.

Bung it or freeze it or snatch it

 

[lame plumber]

Thanks tamz. That's a great idea. I hate draining the system. Open vented system, air locks when refilling etc etc. I'll go with your idea.

nota benae: tamz has been at it a while and wont panic when the noise of flowing water permeates his brain via his ears, first timers wont hear the flowing noise due to screaming and shouting and broken furniture sounds

 

[tamz]

nota benae: tamz has been at it a while and wont panic when the noise of flowing water permeates his brain via his ears, first timers wont hear the flowing noise due to screaming and shouting and broken furniture sounds

True :lol:

 

[Terry_the_piper]

Freeze it & swap valve. Saves whole load of trouble.

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

you need a new TRV anyway so buy that up front and use the cap supplied with that

 

[Robert Tyrrell]

If it's just a broken head, and you can replace it then just look on Amazon for RadClamp and you'll two clamps (See image) that you can keep for the future, or rent them to your neighbours.

 

[Anton]

Get a small piece of wood or a coin and press the pin in then tape it into position. When you take the rad off put a cap on the end.

Just make sure you wear your deep-sea diving gear with this method.

 

[sputnick]

Not sure if you have fixed the problem yet, but you could bung the vent (guess it's in loft ) and the feed (might be a gate valve on feed down) and drain a small amount of water out of system and then you should get it to hold without draining whole house.