Best Way To Unstuck TRVs

[cr0ft]

So as I'm going to be doing over a hundred of these next week, I was wondering what you guys think is the best way to do this. Not looking for a short term fix, really after what works well longer term. Replacing them all isn't really an option that's desirable if it can be avoided as it's on a massive commercial system in an older adults hospital so we can't have heating off for any length of time (even sections of it).

Normally I spray some PTFE lubricant onto the pin then exercise it loads. I then bang in more PTFE lubricant for good luck and do it a bit longer 🙂

Any better products people use or better solutions? Exercising the pin without some sort of lubricant in there rarely makes them work more than a couple of weeks in my experience.

At present this hospital has windows open as about 90% of the radiators are stuck full on :/

 

[SimonG]

Nothing long term other than replace. Giving them a tap and a wiggle has only been a temp fix just to get somebody away.

 

[cr0ft]

Wondered whether lubricating them would help longer term. One person I spoke to suggested high temperature grease worked into the pin works wonders?


Should add that the TRVs have remote sensors due to radiator covers so would very quickly get expensive to replace in terms of labour and time!

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Old danfoss ones croft ?

 

[Best]

I know what Shaun is thinking, - if the TRVs were old Danfoss then you can buy the pin with gland part and simply unscrew the old ones and screw new part in without draining water.

 

[cr0ft]

TBH haven't taken covers off to look at them yet. The ones I did on Friday in another building are though. Any chance of a photo of the ones you mean? The idea of replacing over 100 of them fills me with horrible thoughts..

Can't believe there's not a decent solution out there to inject a grease into them rather than throwing them away. For commercial properties this is a sizeable repair bill every year!

 

[Best]

I know the older Danfoss TRVs can be fixed easy and I reckon Danfoss also supply parts for their more recent valves. You will have the easiest job if they are Danfoss. I will get a link now

 

[Best]

Not sure which valves yours are with remote sensors, but here is a link to some of the glands.
If you check on Danfoss to see which yours is and what parts needed.
Danfoss Randall RAV/RAVL Replacement Gland

 

[cr0ft]

Will take a look and photograph one tomorrow and see what we can do with it. Am looking at so called intelligent TRVs but none seem to work with a capillary tube running from the control on the side of the panel to the head on the pipework.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Will take a look and photograph one tomorrow and see what we can do with it. Am looking at so called intelligent TRVs but none seem to work with a capillary tube running from the control on the side of the panel to the head on the pipework.

You mean separate head trvs ?

 

[cr0ft]

Yup, not the ones with the sensors on the wall. Ones designed for radiator covers where the head is on the cover itself and there's a capillary wire between head and actuator.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Yea normally left or right on the side

 

[cr0ft]

That's it.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

danfoss do them as well

 

[ShaunCorbs]

thought i added a link in my last post

RA2000 Sensors - Code number selector