Radiator drain off valve (designed by a cretin)

[realstokebloke]

Oh dear.

I had to drain & re-fill my open vent system while messing about changing the tanks in the loft (i now know i needn't have drained it fully - but that's ano story!)

Anyway on refilling, i was letting some water flush through the system & out at the drain off radiator valve by the door, into a hosepipe, into a bucket & away - all was fine until...i removed the hosepipe to re-tighten the drain off 'screw insert' & guess what, it must have shot out in the water in the bucket and into the flower beds at the front?

Yes, the little 'screw insert'.

So after a proverbial & fruitless needle in the haystack search i gave up looking. I have just isolated the rad at either valve & it seems tight but obviously i have a problem here.

My rads have these ridiculous drain off valves that have the 'screw insert' in the ridged extension that comes straight out vertically & away from the flange nut at the other side (not the ones with the drain off at 45 or so degrees & a proper stop that won't come out at the end).

OK, i should have forseen that maybe but nevertheless, i still think these were designed by a cretin!

Have i got any chance of getting a new screw insert to fit (i tried the insert for the radiator bleed valve but it doesn't fit).

If i can't it might be easier to drain off again & fit a proper one but as i'll have to cut the olive off the pipe (& it hasn't got a lot of slack to reach up when i fit a new one) i could really do with finding a valve with the same thread to use the same nut.

But even if i drain down again (!) i can't get the nut off w/out ruining the olive as above to take with me to check the fit of a new valve (with a "proper" drain off).

Any ideas?

Or is it just cut the olive & hope there's enough slack when it's off to allow it to stretch up for the new valve?

Thanks.

 

[realstokebloke]

I have just googled them & i'm not at all sure they make them straight like mine anymore (the cretin got fired?)

Mine look mopre like this:

Google Image Result for http://www.bes.ltd.uk/products/graphics/7506.gif

Not like this (i.e. proper ones):

Google Image Result for http://www.bes.ltd.uk/products/graphics/7781.gif

Looks like i'll just have to swap them. 🙁

 

[Helpfulplumber]

Just change it, or buy a complete one and pinch the bit you need, I think the design is ok spot of user error!!!!!

 

[JAP&H]

If fitted to all rads, can you not just replace it with a regular manual valve and drain off from another one if required?

Or replace one of your other drain off valves with a regular manual valve and fit the 'liberated' drain off where you need it.

 

[realstokebloke]

Just change it, or buy a complete one and pinch the bit you need, I think the design is ok spot of user error!!!!!

True.

Guilty as charged on user error 🙂 - but...i still think it's a terrible design & if you don't take the insert completely out when draining & put it in a safe place, it seems to me, you're stuffed as the flow must have unseated mine & flushed it out (& not suspecting the scenario, i didin't think to seive the discharge water before watering the bedding plants!). And if you do take it completely out, then it'd be a real bugger to get back in with the system full?

I have to fnd one first - & i'm guessing there's no such thing as a standard thread for the screw insert bit anyway?

 

[realstokebloke]

If fitted to all rads, can you not just replace it with a regular manual valve and drain off from another one if required?

Or replace one of your other drain off valves with a regular manual valve and fit the 'liberated' drain off where you need it.

I guess, i was just trying to avoid adding to the list of bits to do (waaaay behind with a shower fit anyway & mrs rsb wants a shower!).

But even with some swapping valves around (think i only have one other at back door), won't i have the isssue of not enough pipe after i cut the pipe below the existing olive?

I am obviously trying to avoid adding a piece of pipe every time to reach up far enough.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

can you not just cut the olive off but leave the pipe there? cut diagonally with junior hacksaw until almost through then twist off with a screwdriver.

 

[Helpfulplumber]

Why will it ruin the olive ? Just undo it and fit the next one the pictures look like they are the Sam profile.

 

[realstokebloke]

can you not just cut the olive off but leave the pipe there? cut diagonally with junior hacksaw until almost through then twist off with a screwdriver.

You see? This is exactly why I ask the pro's - thanks.

(If i can do it - clumsy clott that i am!)

 

[realstokebloke]

Why will it ruin the olive ? Just undo it and fit the next one the pictures look like they are the Sam profile.

If the old nut was a different thread to the new valve (& I understand they can be) I'd have to cut the pipe but stevb has pointed me in the right direction (unless i can find a new "insert-screwy-in-bit" that fits.

Not a snowball's they are ever sold separately by anyone?

 

[TBServices]

Instead of asking the pro's, you should have employed one. This wouldn't have happened.

I personally find that your threads are becoming tiresome and would suggest a mass boycott if my opinion held any sway.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[realstokebloke]

Instead of asking the pro's, you should have employed one. This wouldn't have happened.

I personally find that your threads are becoming tiresome and would suggest a mass boycott if my opinion held any sway.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Well, thank goodness not everyone is as grumpy and as curmmudgeonly as you are then.

Isn't that a main idea of any forum: that you can get help, advice or opinions from others?

Obviously they have to be willing to contribute and give same - but you clearly are not, so why even bother to post?

& if they are as miserable as this one (& i really couldn't be bothered to check), I don't think much of your threads either frankly.

Chill. It's a Friday and there's footy on later.

 

[glenno1]

Mebee an ireland fan

 

[realstokebloke]

Mebee an ireland fan

🙂

Must be in a big grump about something.

 

[TBServices]

You could write a book with all the free advice you've been given over the 3 thousand new threads you've started, and you're still not competent enough to carry out a simple task like draining a radiator? Maybe you should give up.

And as a matter of fact, i have given advice in response to some of your questions, but its just getting silly now.

 

[realstokebloke]

You could write a book with all the free advice you've been given over the 3 thousand new threads you've started, and you're still not competent enough to carry out a simple task like draining a radiator? Maybe you should give up.

And as a matter of fact, i have given advice in response to some of your questions, but its just getting silly now.

"3 thousand" ?

Are your estimates and costings as accurate?

🙂

As i say cheer up & really, you don't have to respond if you don't want to.

 

[WaterTight]

If this were a forum about the programme Eastenders there'd be no combination of persistant interest coupled with ignorance of the subject that would rile anyone. But it's a forum about a subject that is also an industry and an industry with many people struggling so I think it gets people's goats.

I asked ten thousand basic and obvious questions and had to have things spelled out to me bit by bit when I first came here. And I still do, just a bit less often. I also got snarled at now and then for this reason. The best one was when I admitted I'd never lifted a floorboard. I have now. Possibly as many as 20! Big boy now...

Best thing is to keep a sense of humour about it (which you are.)

Things is I had a far worse excuse than you since I'd done a plumbing course and was trying to enter the industry. So rather than just trying to learn for the love of challenges and being proactive about things (commendable) I was trying to steal jobs from experienced tradesmen (rather less so.) So you have my sympathies.

And I also happen to agree that if this isn't what forums are for then I don't know what they are for...

 

[realstokebloke]

If this were a forum about the programme Eastenders there'd be no combination of persistant interest coupled with ignorance of the subject that would rile anyone. But it's a forum about a subject that is also an industry and an industry with many people struggling so I think it gets people's goats.

I asked ten thousand basic and obvious questions and had to have things spelled out to me bit by bit when I first came here. And I still do, just a bit less often. I also got snarled at now and then for this reason. The best one was when I admitted I'd never lifted a floorboard. I have now. Possibly as many as 20! Big boy now...

Best thing is to keep a sense of humour about it (which you are.)

Things is I had a far worse excuse than you since I'd done a plumbing course and was trying to enter the industry. So rather than just trying to learn for the love of challenges and being proactive about things (commendable) I was trying to steal jobs from experienced tradesmen (rather less so.) So you have my sympathies.

And I also happen to agree that if this isn't what forums are for then I don't know what they are for...

Ha ha, cheers WT.

Should there be, therefore, a button to use for when you get an UNhelpful post / reply i wonder?

🙂

 

[Noxer]

Myson 15mm Matchmate Lockshield Radiator Valves with drain off | eBay

these look like your valves, apart from the tail piece is different which you would need to change, but i doubt you have a radiator ratchet spanner to undo old one.