I am currently changing a radiator in my bathroom for a towel rail. I
need to remove the old radiator. I tried to shut the radiator off from
the inlet to seal it but it stays warm. I cannot turn it anymore
clockwise. On the other side there is a end stop nut covering a screw
slot . I've turned the screw fully clockwise. As I do this water pours
out of the valve. Is this correct. I assumed closing inlet and outlet
world in effect seal the radiator. Am I just unlucky?

Also I've heard about using bungs to seal the system. Do I put one in
the outlet inside the expansion tank and the other in the overhanging
expansion pipe? I dread the though on draining the system.

I'm sorry to ramble.

Cliff wrote:

I am currently changing a radiator in my bathroom for a towel rail. I
need to remove the old radiator. I tried to shut the radiator off from
the inlet to seal it but it stays warm. I cannot turn it anymore
clockwise. On the other side there is a end stop nut covering a screw
slot . I've turned the screw fully clockwise. As I do this water pours
out of the valve. Is this correct. I assumed closing inlet and outlet
world in effect seal the radiator. Am I just unlucky?

Also I've heard about using bungs to seal the system. Do I put one in
the outlet inside the expansion tank and the other in the overhanging
expansion pipe? I dread the though on draining the system.

I'm sorry to ramble.

I fitted a towel rail in place of a rad in my bathroom recently. I think
the most common approach is to replace the valves also, because you don't
want skanky old white capped rad valves with your shiny new towel rail
(I'm making the big assumption that you have a chrome rail and not a
white one!). The usual approach here is to tie up the ball cock in the CH
feeder tank (in the loft, usually), then partially drain the heating
system- there should be a drain cock somewhere downstairs. Once your
towel rail is plumbed in, untie the ball cock and bleed the air from the
upstairs rads. Job done. Good excuse to add some fresh inhibitor to the
system as well, so do that before you untie the ball cock.


Regards, Jim.