radiator drain valves

[roy8754]

Hi all, Hope you can help. Need to drain down my system, so went to the lowest rad with drain valve. Not seen this type before thought it would be simple. i'll try and explain the valve to you, Trv and the end that you connect the hose points vertically down, which can be unscrewed and only once you unscrew it totally, and pull it out will water flow from it. I thought if i unscrewed it a bit water would come out but it doesn't. I've even unscrewed the bleed valve to let air into rad. Any help would be much appreciated

 

[ajs heating]

unscrew screw it then place your hose on the end.

 

[Alanka]

Sometimes crud accumulates in the drain valve (which is usually the lowest point) which stops the outflow. I usually can clear this by pushing a pin or drill bit up the outlet! Have a bowl handy!

 

[Lee_H20]

if u need to drain it all down jus open the drain off valve wi a hose round it.
* start bleeding the highest radiator then check see if the water is leaving
the system
* if not the remove the hose an poke inside the valve wi a screw driver or screw ETC
*if its a combi boiler,leave the hose on close the bleed valve an add a bit more pressure to the system. If its the washer thats jammed, it should just push the washer out.

*also found a quicker way to drain down systems (aslong as the water is flowing.)
add a pond pump on the end of ure hose and leave the bleed valve open. (tried it myself a 170l unvented cylinder drained down in 17mins)

hope ny of that helps

 

[andyhardy]

Sometimes crud accumulates in the drain valve (which is usually the lowest point) which stops the outflow. I usually can clear this by pushing a pin or drill bit up the outlet! Have a bowl handy!

I have these drain valves, hideous - have to open to get flow and then put hose on high-pressure spray!

Drained my radiators today, one valve now doesn't close - the ceramic(?) washer has disintegrated. I can't find a replacement - I don't even know what it's called!

Any thoughts?

 

[WHPES]

Won't be ceramic - will just be hard perished rubber or a fibre washer.

Personally I only use standard draincocks in the pipe itself.

 

[oldplumber]

Won't be ceramic - will just be hard perished rubber or a fibre washer.

Personally I only use standard draincocks in the pipe itself.

or problem is the installer not take the doc apart before they solder it in place and melt the washer permanently in situ!

 

[WHPES]

Can't say I've ever come across that but I guess it's something you find with DIY installations.

 

[andyhardy]

Won't be ceramic - will just be hard perished rubber or a fibre washer.

That's good to know... I might be able to get away with just using a replacement washer!

Personally I only use standard draincocks in the pipe itself.

I wish that they had done so here, what a pain to use...

Thanks for your help,

That's good to know... I might be able to get away with just using a replacement washer!

Thanks for your help,

Of course, I've no idea what the original size of the washer was before it became a hardened black shard!