Radiators typically work with hot water, so turn off your heating system as well as your water supply to avoid any injuries and damages to your home. Follow those 8 steps to change your radiator valve: Step 1. Turn Off Your Heating System and Your Water Supply Knowing how to use your new radiator control valves properly could help to keep your heating bills down. 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 the wall is solid masonry, you’ll have a wider choice of replacement radiators to choose from. The walls are stronger meaning you can choose any size and style. With the right fixings, large radiators can be installed on any part of the wall. Updating your radiator valves can have many benefits on your home heating and your home decor. Here’s why: But don’t worry if your pipes are slightly bigger or smaller than the standard 15mm. Sometimes copper pipes can be anything between 8mm – 28mm depending on where they are in your home and the age of the building. 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? In most cases the heating system will need to be drained before the valves can be replaced. An experienced professional may be able to replace the valves on certain radiators without fully draining the central heating system. Get radiator valve sizing rightYou may also be looking to upgrade the control valves. Replacing manual valves with thermostatic valves can give you far more control and help to lower your heating bills. When all the water has drained from the radiator, keep unscrewing the nut until you can pull the valve out of the radiator to disconnect it.

Most radiators have two radiator valves that connect the radiator to the pipes and allow hot water to enter the radiator and control how much heat is given out. 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. Your radiator should now be heating up and working perfectly if it wasn’t before. If you replaced the radiator valve because the old one was outdated or worn then I’m sure you’ll be pleased with your new, shiny valves. Work in a clean area, having a towel or a cloth handy will enable you to keep the area and floors dry and safe for any job Use a container underneath the valve to catch any drips but all of the water should have been drained from the radiator.

Radiator accessories delivered quickly

Whatever reason you have for replacing your radiator valveswe’ll guide you through the process in 6 easy steps. We’ll also show you how to change a radiator valve as well as explaining how to drain the system. This method is perfect for combi boiler systems, but if you have a conventional system (conventional cylinder tank system) you’ll require help from a registered heating engineer. A thermostatic radiator valve can save you quite a lot of money each year in heating bills and is certainly advised for most households.

Draining and refilling a heating system is an ideal time for air to get trapped in the heating system. So it's a good idea to bleed the radiators. 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.

Simple steps for successful radiator installation

Replacing a radiator valve without draining your central heating system can be done using a bung. By following the steps outlined in this post, you can successfully replace a radiator valve while avoiding the hassle of draining and refilling the system. If you're planning to redecorate then your new valves could better suit your colour scheme. Can I change the radiator valves myself? Once you’re happy that the radiator and valve isn’t leaking open up the bleed valve to let out any air that may be trapped inside the radiator. This air will prevent the water from filling the radiator.