Help - boiling hot radiator!

[KATE123]

Hello - I am new and I am desperate.

I can't turn my radiator off. On the left handside there's a twisty thing with numbers 5 to 0 (5 being very hot and coloured red and zero being blue and off). When it was turned to zero before the radiator would turn off completely. In the last few weeks when I turn it to zero nothing happens and I can hear the hot water being pumped around and it's BOILING HOT.

I don't know what to do. Any advice will be hugely appreciated!

 

[Kyle87]

You can turn it off from the other side. Take the cap off and twist the flat pin down

 

[Kyle87]

You'll need a small adjustable spanner

 

[mfgs]

Turn the heating off at the thermostat or timer for now.

 

[Kyle87]

 

[KATE123]

Thanks - I have taken the lid/twisty thing off and now but I am not sure what I should turn (once I get an adjustable spanner). There's the metal base which is round and then a plastic smaller circle and then a metal small thin stick in the middle. Ah yes, kind of like your picture!

Is the metal stick the 'flat pin' that I should be twisting?

 

[Dotty]

Have you taken the big head with numbers off? We call this the TRV head - or thermostatic radiator valve

try putting it back on, it may just have come loose.

The valve Kyle mentioned is at the other end.

 

[Kyle87]

Yea twist the thin flat part down and it will shut your radiator off.
Sounds like your trv (the other valve) is dead. You will need a plumber to replace it for you

 

[Kyle87]

Sorry cropps you posted before I could answer.

Try what croppie said first

 

[gassafe]

I saw some rads like this last week! The thermostat head was worn out. Even on frost symbol it would not reach down to push pin shut on trv. Another brand trv head fitted & cured the problem, or buy a replacement head.

Maybe worth getting some one to check it out, only a simple job really.

 

[helpsy]

Post where you are based KATE123 someone may be able to help you.

 

[gassafe]

Like someone else posted, turn the heating off on the programmer... It will stop all heat going to rads then!

 

[KATE123]

Thanks everyone really helpful.

In summary - I am going to try twisting the flat thing first, then I will try putting my TVR head back on, then replacing the TVR with a new one. If nothing works I will call my landlady and see if she can have someone fix it (she's always the last port of call and she can be very difficult).

It will probably be working just in time for the weather to turn!

Thank you once again!

 

[Kyle87]

Tell her it's health and safety and it needs doing. Young children can literally get stuck to dangerously hot radiators and end up scarred for life.
Demand a plumber at least comes and has a look.

 

[woodytheplumber]

take the trv top off and press it gently with the head of your hammer a few times could be just slightly still I usualy replace them when the become stiff but realising the pin could last for years if its that

 

[plumber0808]

If you can locate the temperature dial on your boiler you can turn that down as a temporary fix until you get a plumber to change your thermostat on your radiator. Doing so will lower the heating temperature all together.

 

[gassafe]

Landlords & tenants, not an effecient heating system!

my bro in London has a 3 storey house, he lives in one room and controls just his rad by the trv like the op, the boiler & hot water is on 24/7 all year round! Crazy!

 

[Kyle87]

take the trv top off and press it gently with the head of your hammer a few times could be just slightly still I usualy replace them when the become stiff but realising the pin could last for years if its that

Aslong as the pin doesn't blow out and then she's in a right mess not knowing what to do with scalding hot water spraying everywhere

 

[woodytheplumber]

heard that story a few times kyle never had it happen to me though luckily enough!!!

 

[Kyle87]

heard that story a few times kyle never had it happen to me though luckily enough!!!

But if it did, you and I would be able to deal with it