Help identifying a radiator valve

[lisa]

Cut a long story short, we have a radiator valve that sprang a leak. Unable to find a replacement at local diy places and hardware stores, my brother (rightly or wrongly) stopped the valve from leaking, but also stoped the radiator from working.
Essential he removed the turning part... no i'm not pleased.

(excuse my lack of technical lingo, i'm way out of my depth here)

Obviously replacing the valve is cheaper (i hope) than replacing the entire radiator.
I've tried searching on the web, but can't see anything even remotely similar anywhere, so here i am.
Even if someone can just identify the name/type of valve it will help me track it down.. or at worst confirm my fears it's a new radiator job. Thank you

 

[jonathanb]

That looks like a 8mm twin entry pipe and valve to me (can only just make out your pic - V.dark!!) These are a terrible way of piping a radiator and are notorious for poor circulation, sludge and blocking. If you took the valve off the rad, you will be met with a length of pipe which runs internally along the bottom length of the rad (can depend on length but up to two thirds of the length of the rad) and probably a load of sludge build up! The other end of the rad is usually blanked where you would normally fit a valve on a conventional flow and return arrangement.

They were popular 20+ years ago as time saving, neat, less pipe to install and "energy efficient" as less water content -lol! If you go to a big traditional plumbing merchant you may well still be able to get a replacement, but best not to go there. Far better to convert to a twin valve arrangement, extending one pipe to the other end of the rad and fitting a valve where the blanking plug is. From you pic, you might be better to get a new rad while your at it as look like bottom corner seam starting to go and prob full of sludge anyway and may pin hole in time & can be v.messy changing these with all that sludge!



Best to get a plumber in to look at this one as not a big job for a professional, may also be able to save your valve as might just need gland nut tightening up - then you can put back on the "turning part" and away you go.

 

[anz]

RADIATOR LOCKSHIELD TWIN VALVE BRASS MICROBORE 8MM on eBay, also, Plumbing, DIY Materials, Home Garden (end time 18-May-09 17:55:16 BST)

 

[jonathanb]

Lol! just looked at pick again without sun streaming onto screen - "turning part" snapped off so new valve it is whatever you do.

 

[lisa]

Thanks both. think a new radiator/valve system maybe the best way to go here.

 

[heinz57]

Double entry rad valve. When used with double panel rads a special flexible insert is needed. May be prudent to
replace rad while your at or at least flush it out with a hose, if you do replace the rad you wont need the DE type
valve, just buy a trv valve from B&Q and extend pipe work as already mentioned.