Radiator bleed valve leaking

[zcacogp]

Chaps,

First post here ... be gentle. (I'm a fumbling DIY-er, not a pro. That will probably be immediately clear ... )

I have a friend whose radiator bleed valve is leaking. Apparently she has tightened it with a valve key as much as she can but it still seeps a little. Not known how long this has been a problem for - the reason she went looking was because the pressure in her radiator system has dropped such that the boiler no longer turns on ...

Are such bleed valves replaceable? Do they ever need replacing? Or is it a matter of unscrewing it as much as possible (at which point I guess it comes out in your hand) and cleaning it up and replacing it?

Having looked at the radiators in my house the bleed valves are all in the middle of a larger thing (possibly 19mm across) which clearly can be removed and replaced. Can replacements of these 'larger things' be readily purchased? I can't imagine they would cost more than a couple of quid ... What are they called? A search for 'Radiator Valve' on screwfix brings up a load of thermostatic valves, which isn't what I'm looking for.

All advice welcomed, thanks.


Oli.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

if its a modern rad ,pop down to your local merchants ,get a 1/2 inch chrome airvent come back here and we will tell you how to fit it

 

[johnmcginty]

Turn both valves off , get some towels and drain the water from it , swap it with an air bleed 1/2 " with rubber seal on turn the valves back on bobs your unkle. 😉

 

[zcacogp]

Gas Man and JohnMcGinty,

Thanks. For what it's worth, here's a picture of the part I am referring to:

What's the name of this part? Is this a 1/2 inch air bleed (is an air bleed the same as an airvent?) or something else? Given that I'm doing this as a favour I don't want to be faffing around for ages with it, so will probably buy a new one (can't be more than a couple of quid) and simply fit it, rather than going to have a look and then going shopping. *

(Slight health warning - I am assuming this is the part in question, based on the description from the girl in question. She could be mis-describing it. Do these bits regularly go wrong?)

Also, the 1/2inch size; is this a common size? When did radiators start using this size of fitting? 10 years ago? 50 years ago? I have never seen the radiator in question, or the flat it is in, so don't have any idea how old it is. It could be modern, or a victorian cast-iron thing. I just don't know ...

Thanks again for your help.


Oli.

* - Edited to add, fitting it is surely no more than screwing the old one out and screwing the new one in? With perhaps a twist of PTFE on the threads ... (PTFE may be akin to swearing on here. If so, apologies - no offence meant ... )

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

no they dont play up that often,just get what i said ,a 1/2 inch chrome air vent for a radiator,turn off both rad valves,stick a container under the side your working on. get a 22mm spanner or adjustable s,remove old one[not old lady]install new one,turn on valves and bleed rad,top up to 1 bar when cold if its a pressurised system, job done just read this again, if she is fit impress her with your knowledge

 

[zcacogp]

GasMan,

Thanks. I'll do exactly as you say, and keep this thread updated with what happens.

Thanks again for your help.


Oli.

P.S. While the lass in question is fit, she is a friend of the missis's and therefore out of bounds ... oh, and the missis is fitter ...