another bleeding radiator problem

qwertyphobia

hi

I have one rad in the bathroom which is airlocked. Very cold on the top. The problem is that the little bolt thingy that you open with the key seams to have been worn down over the years.

The key doesn't seam to be getting enough grip. Any ideas about how I can bleed this radiator?

thanks

ART6

qwertyphobia wrote: »

hi

I have one rad in the bathroom which is airlocked. Very cold on the top. The problem is that the little bolt thingy that you open with the key seams to have been worn down over the years.

The key doesn't seam to be getting enough grip. Any ideas about how I can bleed this radiator?

thanks

Sounds like someone has been taking pliers or something to the square head and damaged it, since it will never wear down if the right key is used. Best bet would be to buy a new vent screw and valve complete (any heating supplier) then turn off both radiator valves and unscrew the whole bleed fitting. Screw in the new one using thread tape, and now you can open the rad valves and bleed it in the normal way.

JamesM

ART6 wrote: »

Sounds like someone has been taking pliers or something to the square head and damaged it, since it will never wear down if the right key is used. Best bet would be to buy a new vent screw and valve complete (any heating supplier) then turn off both radiator valves and unscrew the whole bleed fitting. Screw in the new one using thread tape, and now you can open the rad valves and bleed it in the normal way.

Probably correct, but a brand new key might just fit it - should probably change the vent anyway. If it is an old veha rad with the vent at the back, you cannot change the whole fitting - so a key that fits is the only answer.
Jim.

qwertyphobia

thanks guys, that sounds like a bit of a job will have to read up on it and see if it's something I want to take on

Kashkai

Don't be afraid to give it a go. Its a simple enough job to do and will save you a good few quid if you don't have to call out a plumber. However if the bleed screw is the older type at the back of the rad, this won't be as straight forward as the more modern rads where the bleed screw assembly can be completely removed and replaced in a minute.

Echelle

I am in my new house just under a year, All the radiators have thermostats, numbered from 1 to 5. Should all rads at ,say ,3 have the same temp. Mine seem to vary, also the rads are warmer at the base that at the top. Is this normal? How often should rads be bled and how would you know there's an air lock and how is the airlock removed?

qwertyphobia

Prosperous Dave wrote: »

Don't be afraid to give it a go. Its a simple enough job to do and will save you a good few quid if you don't have to call out a plumber. However if the bleed screw is the older type at the back of the rad, this won't be as straight forward as the more modern rads where the bleed screw assembly can be completely removed and replaced in a minute.

It's the old type with valve at the back.

JamesM

qwertyphobia wrote: »

It's the old type with valve at the back.

A new key might just fit it. There seem to have been 2 sizes of vent over the years. Someone bought a vent key recently and it would not fit a 30 year old rad. So maybe a new key might fit yours. People often accidently break off the vents on those rads, because they try to turn them the wrong way (being in behind the rad).
Jim.