Since radiator valves play a significant part in how well central heating radiators operate, and as most of them are visibly on show in our homes, changing your radiator valves is a great way to improve the performance, efficiency and overall look of your heating system. If you still experience any issues, such as cold patches and visible leaks, then consider removing your radiator and replacing it altogether. Takeaways The standard size of copper pipework is 15mm and all of our radiator valves have a half inch (½”) thread on the bottom (the part that connects the valve to the pipe) which makes them suitable for use with 15mm piping.

As with any type of plumbing DIY, you should have some knowledge or experience already before attempting this. We do recommend you using a professional if you've very little DIY experience and know how, or if you're not feeling confident to carry out a job like this. To do this, hold the body of the valve with the grips and use an adjustable spanner to make an upwards turn and unscrew the cap nut until water starts to flow out. If you are swapping an old thermostatic valve for a new TRV, take the thermostatic head off both valves. You should be able to turn this to remove it by hand. Whether you want to know how to replace a radiator valve because it has stopped working, or you’re replacing a manual valvewith a thermostatic radiator valve, your old valves have started to look a bit outdated and need updating or they’re leaking, this simple guide will show you, step-by-step, how to change a radiator valve.

Undo the top nut on the radiator valve and then undo the bottom nut which will allow you take the valve off completely. You may require the wrench at this point to hold the valve body. There will be a little bit of water that runs out so ensure you keep the towel underneath to prevent wetting the floor - as the water can be a little dirty. Updating your radiator valves can have many benefits on your home heating and your home decor. Here’s why: Gather all your equipment, including the new valve, and get ready to bleed your radiator and drain out all water that’s in it. Place some towels or old sheets on the floor around the radiator to dry any leaking water.

Unscrew the cap and take off the radiator valve . If you’re not sure how to do it , follow these guidelines: firstly, place some dry towels, sheets or cloths under the valve to catch any dripping water that may be left over after draining and bleeding your radiator. Next, hold the body of the old valve with a wrench while you use an adjustable spanner to unscrew the nuts. Unscrew the cap nuts and remove the body of the valve from the radiator. Use wire wool to clean away excess gunk that may have accumulated on it. Step 5. How to Fit Your New Radiator Valve The Heatlab bungs fit plumbing water tanks, header tanks, basically any domestic water tank. Get them here: heatlab header tank bungs Step-by-Step Guide to Replacing a Radiator Valve Without Draining the System - using bungs instead of draining the central heating system Once you're confident your heating system has been drained completely, you'll need to undo the two nuts connecting the valve to the radiator. Tighten the nuts by hand for speed then finish off with the adjustable spanner. Make sure it’s not too tight or you might damage the thread!Once you have tightened everything up it’s time for the moment of truth. Close up all the radiator valves which you’ve opened including the bleed valve - this is located at the top of the radiator. If you're looking to replace a radiator valve without draining your central heating system, using a bungs can make the process much easier. In this post, we'll cover the steps involved in using a bung to replace a radiator valve and provide tips to help you get the job done. What is a Bung?

A thermostatic radiator valve can save you quite a lot of money each year in heating bills and is certainly advised for most households. Refilling the system is something you can do yourself using the filling loop (a metal hose with a valve at either end). If it isn't already connected to the system then you'll need to attach it tightly. Opening the valve(s) will get the water flowing into your boiler. But if you only want to change your thermostatic or manual valve then you can skip to the final maintenance section. Once the heating system is completely drained – leave it for up to 15 minutes – you're ready to carry on. As the water is flowing, keep a close eye on the pressure gauge. The needle will move up as the water levels in the system rise and you don't want the pressure to be too high.To start, you need to turn off the heating system and give it time to cool down. About an hour should be enough but you can never be too careful. Once the old thermostatic valve or manual is open, air will escape and water will flow out of the radiator. Use a large container or wet and dry vacuum to catch the water that flows out of the radiator until there is no water left inside. This could take about 5-10 minutes or longer depending on the size of your radiator. Fit the new chrome radiator tail where the old one was removed and remember to use PTFE tape if you want to minimise risks of leaks. Slide the nut and olive onto the radiator tail. Locate your water pipe and then slide on the nut and then attach the olive. Take your new radiator valve body and connect it to the water pipe whilst lining it up and inserting it into the radiator tail. This can be a bit fiddly so please be patient. Grab your wrench and adjustable spanner. We'll be unscrewing the two nuts that connect the valve to the radiator and pipe.

Choose from classic white or chrome dial designs to match your towel rails and radiators. Manual radiator valves are simple to fit, easy to use, and come in multiple sizes. We have a range of manual radiator valves in styles to suit any home, from contemporary square angled chrome to a traditional crosshead or smooth finish valve.Before you can start removing your radiator valves you'll first need to remove all water from your central heating system. Although some people claim you don't need to do this, it's always a good idea as it can prevent any water leakage should something go wrong. Your system will usually take around 10-15 minutes to drain completely, so be patient! Step 2: Loosen The Nuts on Your Valve The great thing about thermostatic radiator valves is they're able to detect the temperature in the room. Manual radiator valves can't do this.