I bled a radiator last week and the bit that unscrews slightly sheared off
and started a slow dripping leak from the rad. I've isolated the rad
but it's now unusable until I've got a replacement part.

We're covered by E-on central heating cover who I rang last Saturday and the
soonest they can come out is Thursday (time wasters) I know
it's then going to take them weeks of messing about trying to order it, so
I'm trying to get it myself as it would be cheap and easy to fit anyway.

Right, getting a replacement part (a radiator bleed valve) is proving to be
the ultimate unforeseen challenge. Yesterday, in my lunch break I
went to...

Buildbase B&Q BSS Plumbcenter & Graham's and unbelievably not one of
them has the part.

It's quite hard to describe the part but I think the rad is by Centerrad and
it was fitted about 5 years ago. It's a traditional single rounded top style
and the bleed valve is on the right hand side, sort of offset at angle
(looking down on it). The full part (a sort of bolt that unscrews) is
about 10mm long and is threaded and about 6mm wide. There's then a screw
inside it which bleeds the rad - which is the bit that's broken.

Does anyone have any ideas of some sort of radiator valve specialist as at
the moment i'm starting to think that I might end up having to
get a new radiator to replace one that's relatively new???

Cheers.

On Tue, 13 Oct 2009 06:46:44 +0100, RedOnRed wrote:

the bleed valve is on the right hand side,

Side as in one of the large faces that face the room or wall or side
as in end? Though I don't think it matters the ...

There's then a screw inside it which bleeds the rad - which is the bit
that's broken.

.... screw valve part is probably common between all the valves. As
you have the rad isolated take the valve out and have a look at it. I
suspect it'll be square ended (approx 5mm) with a threaded section
then a point. I'd expect the pin from any bleed valve to fit.

This doesn't fit with the housing size you've quoted though. A
picture paints a thousand words, pop one up on the web somewhere.

--
Cheers
Dave.

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
Dave Liquorice wrote:


... screw valve part is probably common between all the valves. As
you have the rad isolated take the valve out and have a look at it. I
suspect it'll be square ended (approx 5mm) with a threaded section
then a point. I'd expect the pin from any bleed valve to fit.


Problem is, that's the bit that's sheared - so he can't get the pin out!
--
Cheers,
Roger
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monitored.. Messages sent to it may not be read for several weeks.
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On Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:45:21 +0100, Roger Mills wrote:

Problem is, that's the bit that's sheared - so he can't get the pin out!

Having seen the pics it would be tricky but not impossible. At least
the pin is soft so you can drill it with relative ease unlike a
hardned steel bolt. B-)

Wonder if the JML screw extractors that are on offer in Homebase at
£4.99 (normally £9.99) would work? I wouldn't pay £9.99 for 'em but
£4.99 is worth a punt.

--
Cheers
Dave.

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
RedOnRed wrote:

I bled a radiator last week and the bit that unscrews slightly
sheared off and started a slow dripping leak from the rad. I've
isolated the rad but it's now unusable until I've got a replacement part.

We're covered by E-on central heating cover who I rang last Saturday
and the soonest they can come out is Thursday (time wasters) I know
it's then going to take them weeks of messing about trying to order
it, so I'm trying to get it myself as it would be cheap and easy to
fit anyway.
Right, getting a replacement part (a radiator bleed valve) is proving
to be the ultimate unforeseen challenge. Yesterday, in my lunch break
I went to...

Buildbase B&Q BSS Plumbcenter & Graham's and unbelievably not one
of them has the part.

It's quite hard to describe the part but I think the rad is by
Centerrad and it was fitted about 5 years ago. It's a traditional
single rounded top style and the bleed valve is on the right hand
side, sort of offset at angle (looking down on it). The full part (a
sort of bolt that unscrews) is about 10mm long and is threaded and about
6mm wide. There's then a
screw inside it which bleeds the rad - which is the bit that's broken.

Does anyone have any ideas of some sort of radiator valve specialist
as at the moment i'm starting to think that I might end up having to
get a new radiator to replace one that's relatively new???

Cheers.


Try http://www.bes.co.uk/ - and type "air vent" (without the quotes) into
the search box, select the first item, and scroll down to find something
which looks like your required bit.

Chances are that the thread on the outer bit is 1/8"BSP (which is actually
nearly 10mm in diameter). I'm not quite sure which dimensions were 10 and
6mm respectively in your description.
--
Cheers,
Roger
______
Email address maintained for newsgroup use only, and not regularly
monitored.. Messages sent to it may not be read for several weeks.
PLEASE REPLY TO NEWSGROUP!

On Tue, 13 Oct 2009 06:46:44 +0100, "RedOnRed" wrote:

I bled a radiator last week and the bit that unscrews slightly sheared off
and started a slow dripping leak from the rad. I've isolated the rad
but it's now unusable until I've got a replacement part.

We're covered by E-on central heating cover who I rang last Saturday and the
soonest they can come out is Thursday (time wasters) I know
it's then going to take them weeks of messing about trying to order it, so
I'm trying to get it myself as it would be cheap and easy to fit anyway.

Right, getting a replacement part (a radiator bleed valve) is proving to be
the ultimate unforeseen challenge. Yesterday, in my lunch break I
went to...

Buildbase B&Q BSS Plumbcenter & Graham's and unbelievably not one of
them has the part.

It's quite hard to describe the part but I think the rad is by Centerrad and
it was fitted about 5 years ago. It's a traditional single rounded top style
and the bleed valve is on the right hand side, sort of offset at angle
(looking down on it). The full part (a sort of bolt that unscrews) is
about 10mm long and is threaded and about 6mm wide. There's then a screw
inside it which bleeds the rad - which is the bit that's broken.

Does anyone have any ideas of some sort of radiator valve specialist as at
the moment i'm starting to think that I might end up having to
get a new radiator to replace one that's relatively new???

Cheers.

Is it like this ?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...n/IMGP0112.jpg

Thanks for all of the replies and sorry for the delay getting back. I've
been unable to take and post pics at work.

Here's a few pics...

The radiator...
http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/...d/IMG_0870.jpg


Side on view of the radiator....
http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/...d/IMG_0871.jpg


Bleed valve on a 5 pence piece...
http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/...d/IMG_0869.jpg

http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/...d/IMG_0868.jpg


I only had the rad installed 5 years ago but Plumbcenter seem to think that
it's not made any more.


Any advice greatly appreciated.

RedOnRed wrote:
Thanks for all of the replies and sorry for the delay getting back. I've
been unable to take and post pics at work.

Here's a few pics...

The radiator...
http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/...d/IMG_0870.jpg


Side on view of the radiator....
http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/...d/IMG_0871.jpg


Bleed valve on a 5 pence piece...
http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/...d/IMG_0869.jpg


http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/...d/IMG_0868.jpg


I only had the rad installed 5 years ago but Plumbcenter seem to think
that it's not made any more.


Any advice greatly appreciated.



This air vent does not look like it has a standard BSP thread so might
be difficult to find a new one to fit.
Put the old one back with some PTFE tape

If you look here http://www.bes.co.uk/products/114.asp

at part no 16383, you can fit a compression TEE in the pipe alongside
the valve. Put the branch facing upwards and insert the air vent.

hth

Bob

"Bob Minchin" wrote in message
...
RedOnRed wrote:
Thanks for all of the replies and sorry for the delay getting back. I've
been unable to take and post pics at work.

Here's a few pics...

The radiator...
http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/...d/IMG_0870.jpg


Side on view of the radiator....
http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/...d/IMG_0871.jpg


Bleed valve on a 5 pence piece...
http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/...d/IMG_0869.jpg


http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/...d/IMG_0868.jpg


I only had the rad installed 5 years ago but Plumbcenter seem to think
that it's not made any more.


Any advice greatly appreciated.



This air vent does not look like it has a standard BSP thread so might be
difficult to find a new one to fit.
Put the old one back with some PTFE tape

If you look here http://www.bes.co.uk/products/114.asp

at part no 16383, you can fit a compression TEE in the pipe alongside the
valve. Put the branch facing upwards and insert the air vent.

hth

Bob


Thanks for that.

The part that you mention above is 15 or 22mm I think in width of the screw
and looks similar to the ones I was being shown over the counter
at BSS and Plumbcenter. The one I have is only about 6 or 7 mm across where
the thread is.

On Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:09:15 +0100, RedOnRed wrote:

If you look here http://www.bes.co.uk/products/114.asp

I was being shown over the counter at BSS and Plumbcenter. The one I
have is only about 6 or 7 mm across where the thread is.

Did you have the bust one with you when you did your trawl around the
stores? That BES link has three sizes of screw in air vent, 1/8 1/4
and 1/2" BSP. I'd ceratinly compare the 1/8" with something "6 or 7mm
across".

Got to admit that the thread doesn't look the right shape for BSP but
it could be full of sealing gunk and I'd be surprised if it really
wasn't a standard (if uncommon) part.

--
Cheers
Dave.

RedOnRed wrote:


"Bob Minchin" wrote in message
...
RedOnRed wrote:
Thanks for all of the replies and sorry for the delay getting back.
I've been unable to take and post pics at work.

Here's a few pics...

The radiator...
http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/...d/IMG_0870.jpg


Side on view of the radiator....
http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/...d/IMG_0871.jpg


Bleed valve on a 5 pence piece...
http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/...d/IMG_0869.jpg


http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/...d/IMG_0868.jpg


I only had the rad installed 5 years ago but Plumbcenter seem to
think that it's not made any more.


Any advice greatly appreciated.



This air vent does not look like it has a standard BSP thread so might
be difficult to find a new one to fit.
Put the old one back with some PTFE tape

If you look here http://www.bes.co.uk/products/114.asp

at part no 16383, you can fit a compression TEE in the pipe alongside
the valve. Put the branch facing upwards and insert the air vent.

hth

Bob


Thanks for that.

The part that you mention above is 15 or 22mm I think in width of the
screw and looks similar to the ones I was being shown over the counter
at BSS and Plumbcenter. The one I have is only about 6 or 7 mm across
where the thread is.
Please re-read my suggestion.

I am suggesting to abandon the existing bleed location and fit a new one
in the feed pipe adjacent to the radiator with an upward facing T and
the air vent which fits into a compression joint in place of the olive.

If it turns out the thread is BSP (and that would be normal) then on the
same page of the BES catalogue, you will find 1/8 BSP air vents which
should fit into the radiator.

Bob
Bob